512 MEDICINE. 



produce too much irritation in the intestinal canal, especially if the fever is the 



precursor of inflammation of the lungs. 



Mashes constitute a very important part of horse-provender, -whether in 

 sickness or health. A mash given occasionally to a horse that is otherwise fed 

 on dry meat prevents him from becoming dangerously costive. To the over- 

 worked and tired horse nothing is so refreshing as a warm mash with his usual 

 allowance of com in it. The art of getting a horse into apparent condition for 

 sale, or giving him a round and plump appearance, consists principally in the 

 frequent repetition of mashes, and, from their easiness of digestion and the mild 

 nutriment which they afford, as well as their laxative effect, they form the 

 principal diet of the sick horse. 



They are made by pouring boiling water on bran, and stirring it well, and 

 then covering it over until it is sufficiently cool for the horse to eat. If in the 

 heat of summer a cold mash is preferred, it should, nevertheless, be made with 

 hot water, and then suffered to remain until it is cold. This is not always 

 sufficiently attended to by the groom, who is not aware that the efficacy of the 

 mash depends principally on the change which is effected in the bran and the 

 other ingredients by the boiling water rendering them more easy of digestion, 

 as well as more aperient. If the horse refuses the mash, a few oats may be 

 sprinkled over it, in order to tempt him to eat it ; but if it is previously designed 

 that corn should be given in the mash, it should be scalded with the. bran, in 

 order to soften it and render it more digestible. Bran mashes are very useful 

 preparatives for physic, and they are necessary during the operation of the 

 physic. They very soon become sour, and the manger of the horse of whose 

 diet they form a principal part should be daily and carefully cleaned out. 



When horses are weakly and much reduced, malt mashes will often be very 

 palatable to them and very nutritive : but the water that is poured on a malt 

 mash should be considerably below the boiling heat, otherwise the malt will be 

 set, or clogged together. If the owner was aware of the value of a malt mash, it 

 would be oftener given when the horse is rapidly getting weaker from protracted 

 disease, or when he is beginning to recover from a disease by which he has been 

 much reduced. The only exception lo their use is in cases of chest affection, in 

 which they must not be given too early. In grease, and in mange accompanied 

 by much emaciation, malt mashes will be peculiarly useful, especially if they 

 constitute a principal portion of the food. 



Mustard, Sinapis. — This will be found occasionally useful, if, in inflamma- 

 tion of the chest or bowels, it is well rubbed on the chest or the abdomen. The 

 external swelling and irritation which it excites may, to a greater or less degree, 

 abate the inflammation within. 



Myrrh may be used in the form of tincture, or it may be united to the 

 tincture of aloes as a stimulating and digestive application to wounds. Diluted 

 with an equal quantity of water, it is a good application for canker in the mouth, 

 but as an internal medicine it seems to be inert, although some practitioners 

 advocate its use, combined with opium, in cases of chronic cough. 



Nitrous ^Ether, Spirit op, is a very useful medicine in the advanced 

 stages of fever, for while it, to a certain degree, rouses the exhausted powers of 

 the animal, and may be denominated a stimulant, it never brings back the 

 dangerous febrile action which was subsiding. It is given in doses of three or 

 four drachms. 



Olive Oh is an emollient and demulcent. Its laxative effect is very incon- 

 siderable and uncertain in the horse. 



Opium. — However underrated by some, there is not a more valuable drug 

 on our list. It does not often act as a narcotic except in considerable doses; 



