THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXVI, 
No. 307. 
JULY, 1853. 
Third Series, 
No. 67. 
ACTION OF MEDICINES— GENTIAN WITH ALOES— 
AND TARTAR EMETIC. 
By T. Hurford, V.S., 15th Hussars. 
Bangalore, Madras. 
Dear Sir, — In the February number of the Veteri- 
narian, there is a communication from Mr. Western, 
relative to Aloes and Gentian. He has failed in inducing 
purgation by combining these medicines and giving a smaller 
dose of Aloes. Your experience also goes to confirm Mr. 
Western’s experiments. Now, though it may be presumption 
on my part, I have a different opinion of the action of these 
medicines : I have tried them, and I cannot help believing 
what I have seen and proved. It is an unfortunate pro- 
pensity in us, to ride a hobby till we break it down. To try 
and guard against this, I think I distinctly stated I had no 
idea that Gentian and small doses of Aloes would be a good 
and staxidard purge; but that, as a remedial measure, I knew 
that a small dose of Aloes, assisted by Gentian, would pro- 
duce increased action of the bowels, without the danger to be 
apprehended from a full dose of Aloes. I believe, however, 
I must now change my mind, and incline to the opinion that 
it is a safe and efficient purge for all horses and at all times; and, 
strange to say, this has been brought about as a consequence 
of Mr. Western’s experiments. I have taken ten horses pro- 
miscuously, and have given them doses : the cases, with the 
result, I annex. You will see that nine of these have been 
purged, one not. 
This is not a matter of opinion, it is a fact, patent to 
every one ; whence, then, the difference in results ? 
I know not how to account for the failure of yours and 
Mr. Western’s experiments, unless in this way: — you limit 
yourselves too much in the doses, which require apportioning 
according to the size, age, &c. of the horse ; or else, you have 
xxvi. 48 
