80 
MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG HORSES. 
tain from corn will be more than equivalent to the expense, 
especially those which are promising to make hunters of the 
first class ; but for hacks and carriage horses it can only be 
necessary under particular circumstances. It is of the utmost 
importance to watch the progress of these animals ; for it is 
as necessary to guard against an over accumulation of fat as 
the other extreme. The month of May or June is the most 
seasonable period for performing the operation devised to 
prevent colts from propagating their species. There is a 
phenomenon attendant upon this, regarding the cause of 
which I never could obtain any satisfactory explanation ; 
nevertheless, general observation confirms the fact, that colts 
which have been castrated at a season of the year when their 
coats are long and rough, are never fine during the winter, 
whereas those which have been operated upon soon after 
they have shed their coats, almost invariably look well. This 
should not be delayed too late, from causes which it is not 
necessary to enumerate, and likewise that the patients may 
recover before the hot weather sets in. 
Many persons are of opinion that it is unnecessary to ad- 
minister physic to foals and young horses ; but a few obser- 
vations will dispel that notion. After a foal has been 
w^eaned and deprived of its mother’s milk, the liver very fre- 
quently assumes an inactive sluggish disposition. The coat 
indicates this by its harsh unhealthy appearance, and the 
animal gives evidence of being what is termed hidebound. 
Very often the legs will fill from an irregularity of the circu- 
lation, consequent upon the state of the liver. In such 
cases, one or two mild doses of aloes become indispensable. 
Diuretics are of no use under these circumstances, their 
action being on the kidneys and urinary passages, which are 
not the seat of disorder. For foals recently weaned, one 
drachm of aloes, with an equal portion of ginger and of soap, 
is the proper quantity ; but, if that does not relax the bowels 
sufficiently, the proportion of aloes may be increased on the 
second occasion. A slight dose only is required, because the 
aloes, being supposed to act primarily on the liver, it is 
merely necessary to stimulate that organ to its healthy action. 
The only restriction necessary in the diet is substituting 
bran mashes for hay during the twenty-four hours preceding 
the time of administering the medicine, and carefully pro- 
tecting the animal from the effects of rain ; otherwise, if the 
weather be favorable, no danger need be apprehended from 
the animal being at large in the paddock or field during the 
operation of the physic, while the exercise will assist the 
desired result. Foals which have been fondly treated when 
