AND TRAINING OF THE ENGLISH RACE-IIORSE. 57 
have extended, we should feel ourselves justified in saying that 
the disorder is epidemic, or rather endemic, but not contagious : 
in fact, we do not believe that there is any contagion in the case. 
We imagine that the circumstance of many horses being all ex¬ 
posed to the same influential agents (whatever they may be) is 
sufficient to account for the whole being disordered; and that if 
a fresh horse introduced into the place contracts the disease, it- 
is because he has been exposed to the same exciting causes. 
Mr. Darvill says, 
“ It lias been a rule with me, whenever the disease has made its appear¬ 
ance among horses in the regiment in which I am serving, to remove those 
which have been affected from those which were in health . I have frequently 
observed, from horses standing next to each other in bail stables, that 
those which have been labouring under the disease have not been removed 
more than a day or two, before those which had stood next to them have 
become affected.” 
And a very good rule this is of Mr. DarvilPs. But he appears 
to follow it from the apprehension of contagion ; a notion which 
our experience leads us to deprecate. We repeat, however, the 
rule is a good one. It is very proper that such subjects should 
be separated, not so much on account of others as for their own 
sakes; and that they should, as Mr. Darvill recommends, “ be 
removed to a well ventilated loose box.” 
Concerning remedies for this “distemper,” we believe that it is 
pretty well assented to by all veterinarians of experience, that it 
does not afford cases for active or copious evacuation, either by 
the lancet or medicinally : our author instructs us, “ as the dis¬ 
ease is so often followed by debility, neither bleeding nor purging 
should be carried to too great extent;” an admonition which our 
own practice fully corroborates. In short, bleeding seems only 
advisable at or shortly after the commencement of the malady, 
and then only under circumstances of inflammatory indications, 
and full habit and condition. The bowels are to be “ relaxed,” 
not “briskly purged:”for which purpose Mr. Darvill prescribes, 
Barbadoes aloes two drachms, castor oil six ounces; dissolve the 
aloes in four ounces of warm water, and then add the oil. 
In this unchemical mixture, the solution of the aloes and the 
addition of the castor oil will have the effect of accelerating the 
operation of the former. The present case, however, is one in 
which we cannot perceive much advantage from this ; and there¬ 
fore, for our own part, w.e should prefer exhibiting the aloes 
(which in our opinion would be aided by the addition of some 
diaphoretic and diuretic medicine) in the more certain and con¬ 
venient form of ball; 
[To be continued.] 
VOL. in. 
l 
