CONDITION — CORDIALS. 2 1 9 



some occasions, capable of producing per- 

 manently good effects. They are more be- 

 neficial in oreneral to old horses than to 

 young ; more particularly to those that have 

 been worked hard, and accustomed to such 

 medicines, as well as to high feeding and 

 warm stables. Cordials become remarkably 

 serviceable to draught horses, when they 

 work hard, and have but indifferent forage. 

 They gently stimulate the stomach, and in- 

 crease its digestive power; whereby they 

 are capable, I apprehend, of preventing, on 

 many occasions, that fatal disease, the stag- 



gers. 



Cordials have an excellent effect, when 

 the animal has been fatigued with a long 

 run, or a severe journey, refusing his food, 

 and seemingly exhausted. A good cordial 

 preparation at such times restores the appe- 

 tite, promotes digestion, and renovates the 

 strength and spirits. I do not mean, how- 

 ever, that the cordial balls commonly made 

 up, have this useful property. On the 

 eontrar}^, they often do harm, but most com- 

 monly they are quite inert ; for example. 

 Bracken's cordial, which is the receipt gene- 

 rally used, has a considerable proportion of 



L 2 



