342 QUACK MEDICINES. 



This class of grooms is rather inclined to administer purga- 

 tives, cordials, diuretics, and such like, on their own hook 

 rather than on discrimination, without much sense or reason, 

 with the mistaken idea that they are necessary in order to 

 keep the animal in good condition. 



Diuretics, which they are so fond of giving, rather tend to 

 weaken a horse, as they are a source of great irritation, very 

 exhausting, reducing his strength, and act as a serious drain on 

 his constitution. 



Regular work, regular times for feed and water, good 

 grooming and ventilation, are far better than unnecessary 

 medication. 



It is a good rule, and should be enforced in every stable, 

 that the master be consulted in these matters, as there are few 

 grooms that positively know disease when they see it, and it is 

 often wonderful how horses survive the enormous doses of 

 medicine given them when it is poured down their unwilling 

 throats by quarts. 



Even if a horse-owner be so fortunate as to possess a really 

 intelligent, superior servant, who has served his apprenticeship 

 in some good stable, he should insist on being invariably con- 

 sulted before medicine is administered. 



He should acquaint himself with the man's reasons for 

 wishing to administer medicine at all, his idea of the ailment 

 that he supposes exists, of the symptoms from which he diag- 

 noses it, and of the nature and action of the drug which it is 

 proposed to exhibit. 



If he sees that the symptoms do exist and that the nature 

 of the medicine is such as would counteract such an ailment, 

 which a very small share of common-sense will enable him to 

 discover, he will do well to sanction the proceedings. 



VETEKINAKY QUACKS NOT ALL DEAD YET. 



The Portland, Me., Advertiser says : 



" Dr. Maxwell, the well known veterinary surgeon, was be- 

 fore the municipal court this morning for cruelty to a horse. 



