MEDICINE. 497 



stools will be sufficient for every good purpose. Violent disease will alone 

 justify violent purging. 



The Barbadoes aloes have a greater purgative power than the Cape, exclusive 

 of griping less and being safer. In addition to this, the action of the bowels is 

 kept up longer by the Barbadoes aloes than by the Cape. If the horse is well 

 mashed, and carefully exercised, and will drink plenty of warm water, the Cape 

 may be ventured on, or at least mixed with equal quantities of the Barbadoes ; 

 but if there is any neglect of preparation for physic, or during the usual opera- 

 tion of the physic, the Cape are not always to be depended upon. The combi- 

 nation of alkaline compounds with aloes alters the results of the medicine. 

 Their action is quickened, but their purgative properties are impaired, and they 

 cease to operate specifically on the larger intestines. Such is the opinion of 

 Professor Morton, and undoubtedly the latter would be an advantage gained. 

 The activity of the aloes may be occasionally increased by a few drops of the 

 croton oil. Mashes are useful helps when physic is administered. 



Some persons are fond of what are called half-doses of physic. Three or four 

 drachms are given on one day, and three or four on the following ; and perhaps, 

 if the medicine has not operated, as in this divided state it will not always, two 

 or three additional drachms are given on the third day. The consequence is, 

 that the bowels having been rendered irritable by the former doses, the horse 

 is over-purged, and inflammation and death occasionally ensue. In physicking 

 a horse, whatever is to be done should be done at once. Whatever quantity is 

 intended to be given should be given in one dose. 



The system of giving small doses of aloes as alteratives is not good. 

 These repeated minute doses lodging in some of the folds of the intestines, 

 and at length uniting, often produce more effect than is desirable. It is 

 never safe to ride a horse far or fast, with even a small dose of aloes within 

 him. 



Most of all objectionable is the custom of giving small doses of aloes as a 

 nauseant, in inflammation of the lungs. There is so much sympathy between 

 the contents of the chest and the belly in the horse, and inflammation of one 

 part is so likely to be transferred to another, that it is treading on very dan- 

 gerous ground, when, with much inflammation of the lungs, that is given which 

 will stimulate and may inflame the intestines. 



Aloes are most commonly, because most easily, administered in the form 

 of ball, but in a state of solution their effect is more speedy, effectual, and 

 safe. 



Aloes are useful in the form of tincture. Eight ounces of powdered aloes, 

 and one ounce of powdered myrrh, may be put into two quarts of rectified 

 spirit, diluted with an equal quantity of water. The mixture should be daily 

 well shaken for a fortnight, and then suffered to stand, in order that the un- 

 dissolved portion may fall to the bottom. This will constitute a very excellent 

 application for wounds, whether recent or of long standing and indisposed to heal. 

 It is not only a gentle stimulant, but it forms a thin crust over the wound, and 

 shields it from the action of the air. 



The principal adulteration of aloes is by means of resin, and the alteration of 

 colour is concealed by the addition of charcoal or lamp-black. This adultera- 

 tion is easily enough detected by dissolving the aloes in hot water. All aloes 

 contain some resinous matter, which the water will not dissolve and which has 

 very slight purgative effect. The excess of this resin at the bottom of the 

 solution will mark the degree of adulteration. 



Alteratives are a class of medicines the nature and effect of which are often 

 much misunderstood, and liable to considerable abuse. It is a very convenient 



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