GRUEL — LAXATIVES. 249 



useful as an article of diet for sick, or con- 

 valescent horses than water-gruel, provided 

 it is properly made ; and as this is seldom 

 done, we shall give the best method of mak- 

 ing it. Take of fine and sweet oatmeal, four 

 ounces, water, two quarts. Put the water 

 over a slow clear fire to boil, and mix the 

 oatmeal gradually with as much cold water 

 as will make the mixture quite liquid. Add 

 this to the water over the fire, before it get> 

 very hot, and continue to stir the whole until 

 it boils. The gruel is then made, but may 

 be improved by letting it simmer some time 

 longer over a slow, clear fire, for horses are 



very nice, aud perhaps would not touch it, 



if ill the least smoaky. Should the gruel be 



too thick, add warm water. 

 HYDR AGOGUES. Medicines that purge 



violently, and produce thin watery stools. 



Of this kind are elaterium and gamboge. 



It is a class of medicines of little or no use 



in veterinary practice. 



LAXATIVES. Medicines that pur^e very 



gently, and without irritatitig the system. 



They are employed chiefly in febrile com- 



plaints, accompanied with costiveness, iji 



which cases the strongest purgativ^»s would. 



M 3 



