ALOES. 611 



Strongly Purging Ball. 



Barbadoes aloes ... ... ... ... 6 drachms. 



Tartar emetic ... ... ... ... 2 „ 



Ginger ... ... ... ... ... 2 „ 



* 



Treacle or lard sufficient. 



If required for immediate use, a ball can be made up by adding 

 a little water to the powdered aloes, without any treacle or other 

 substance to make its particles adhere together. 



Ready-made balls of aloes can be obtained at any k\rge chemist's 

 shop. 



Solution of Aloes. 



Powdered Barbadoes aloes ... ... ... 1 part. 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 7 parts. 



Spirits of wine ... ... ... ... 1 part. 



. Dissolve the aloes with the water in a water bath, which con- 

 sists of a vessel placed inside another vessel containing water. 

 Care should be taken that the temperature of the solution does not 

 at any time rise beyond 120° F. Exposure to a temperature 

 exceeding 150° F. alters the composition of aloes and impairs its 

 purgative property. When the aloes is dissolved add the spirits 

 of wine. An ounce of this solution will contain a drachm of aloes. 

 If time be an object, the aloes for a drench may be dissolved in a 

 pint of warm water. 



A quarter more aloes than would be required for a ball should be 

 allowed for a drench, in order to make up for loss by spilling. 



MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE BEFORE AND AFTER 

 GIVING ALOES. — ^For at least a day before the physic is adminis- 

 tered, the animal should be given only bran mashes and hay, and 

 the allowance of the latter should be somewhat restricted on the 

 last night. The physic is given on an empty stomach, early in the 

 morning ; immediately afterwards a bran mash is given ; that over, 

 the horse goes to exercise for perhaps an hour, watered when he 

 returns. The water should be as warm as he will take it, and he 

 should have as much as he pleases throughout the day. Bran mash 

 should be given as often as corn usually is, and better warm than 

 cold ; if both are refused, bran may be tried, but no corn, and but 

 little hay. Sometimes gentle exercise may be given in the after- 

 noon, and also next day. The physic usually begins to operate 

 next morning, though it rarely takes effect in twelve hours, fre- 

 quently not for thirty. When the physic begins to operate, the 



39* 



