190 OPERATION OF ALOES ON THE HORSE - . 
The time of the first attack was at half-past eleven o’clock. 
Injections had been given, but no faeces had been expelled. 
The hand had been passed up the rectum, which was found 
empty. The horse had been walked during the excessive 
heat out of one of the town gates — the Porta alia Croce — it 
being market day, to put him in a sheep fold, to induce him 
to stale, but with no effect , of course . He was then walked 
about for half an hour in a field ; but the best of all the 
answers was, that no internal medicine had been given. 
On hearing this, a few seconds only having elapsed since I 
entered the stable, I administered an ounce and a half of my 
purgative mass, that is to say, one ounce of Cape aloes ; 
changed the wet clothing, ordered all hands to leave the 
patient, and set him free, when he fell down as if shot. 
Having done these essential things, and watching my 
patient more minutely, in reply to further interrogations, I 
was informed that the horse had been bled before my arrival. 
I saw the blood, about three quarts, an emission which was 
to have been repeated had I not arrived. 
Looking calmly at the case, and the progress of the symp- 
toms,! could see but slender hopes of a successful termination ; 
the patient had been five hours getting worse, and I feared 
that some displacement of the intestines had occurred. 
During his pains, and even in the intervals between the 
spasmodic attacks, he made the greatest attempts to lie 
on his back, and placing his legs against the wall, suc- 
ceeded in balancing himself there, frequently struggling, 
however, but without moving himself out of that position ; ex- 
cept in the more violent efforts, and then only for a moment. 
Waitingpatiently, giving an enema occasionally, and using all 
care to prevent him injuring himself in his struggles, in about 
an hour from the time I gave the medicine, I began to cherish 
hopes, from several improving symptoms then perceptible. 
The intervals between the spasms were longer, the pulse 
becoming fuller, softer, more regular and distinct ; the ears 
and head became warm and dry ; and the surface of the body 
likewise had ceased to throw out the cold, deadly sweat. 
About two hours from my first treatment the horse lay quiet, 
his nostrils were still; the pulse improved ; and all muscular 
twitching of the body had ceased. The mouth being dry, I 
ordered a pail of warm water and a bottle to be brought, and 
began by opening his lips, to pour the water from the bottle, 
and as he eagerly drank it, he lifted his head up after it, look- 
ing for more. I gave him six or seven bottlefuls in succes- 
sion ; he afterwards lay quiet for a few minutes, then rose, 
sighed, shook himself, and staled, to the great delight of the 
