II 
mucilage of linseed, with one ounce of spirit of ammonia, and three ounces 
of brandy, repeated every two or three hours. 
Here ends the list of poisons. 
ON REMEDIES WHICH CAN BE SAFELY GIVEN IN ORDER 
TO PRESERVE CONDITION. 
WE may now show how the preceeding poisons administered with the view 
of improving the condition and acting as alteratives may be dispensed with, 
and their place taken by remedies at once more efficient and not dangerous. 
We must remember, first and chiefly, that medicines cannot alone bring 
about that healthy condition which it is our object to secure, but they can be 
of great service in aiding other measures adopted to attain this end. 
Moreover, it must always be borne in mind, that when the condition is 
satisfactory, proper measures should be taken to secure the maintenance of 
health. Enforced idleness, over-work, over-feeding, under-feeding, insufficient 
air, over-crowding, disease, and pain, are all antagonistic to the preservation 
of condition. The cause of the loss of appetite should be ascertained, as 
sometimes this may proceed from irregularities of the teeth, which may 
require rasping, or other treatment. 
If the skin is out of order, and grease or humour manifest themselves, one 
may administer a full dose of aloes, and afterwards balls made of one drachm of 
grey powder and gentian to eight drachms, given twice daily. In addition, 
half an ounce of bicarbonate of potassium may be given twice daily in the 
drinking water. It must always be remembered that after a full dose of 
aloes, a horse requires three full days’ rest and bran mash diet. 
-Very commonly, from some cause or other, the attendant perceives that 
the animal would be all the better for some alterative medicinal treatment: 
- It is hardly necessary to say that the cause of “indifferent condition” should 
first be inquired into, in order that if possible it may be rectified. Is the food 
good? Is it in proper amount and of good quality? Are the hay and oats 
good? Are the meals given regularly? Are the bowels too costive, or the 
reverse? All these questions present themselves for consideration. 
As ageneral alterative, a table-spoonful of powder, composed of four parts 
of precipitated sulphur, four parts of nitrate of potassium, one part of gentian, 
one part of fenugreek, half a part of carbonate of iron, with a little essential 
‘oil, such as oil of cajuput, one-sixteenth of a part, may be given once daily in 
the food. Or we may give eight drachm balls, composed of resin five parts, 
nitrate of potassium one part, gentian two parts, carbonate of iron one part, 
. cubebs one quarter of a part, aniseed one quarter of a part, made up with 
oil of turpentine, and soft soap. These balls may be given every other day, 
or every day at first, for a week or so. 
Before commencing with condition powders or balls it is well to give 
a moderate dose of aloes, from three to six drachms. The aloes should be of 
the best- quality. The practice of administering small doses of aloes 
