If a full dose of physic be given when the bowels are costive, it is apt to produce colic and inflammation. The medicine is dissolved in the stomach, passes into the intestines, and mingles with their fluid and semifluid contents; but, as it travels on, it arrives at a point where the contents are solid; the physic is arrested; it lies longer there than at any previous part of its course; its continued presence produces spasmodic and painful contractions of the bowels to force it on. If the intestinal contents be very obstinate, if the obstruction be not dissolved, irritation and inflammation succeed, and the horse's life is in danger. To obviate this, the bowels for one or two days previous are to be gently and uniformly relaxed by giving bran mashes, by withholding grain, and by stinting the allowance of hay. If the horse can take exercise, one day is sufficient to prepare him. A the usual feeding hour, he has a bran mash, warm or cold, whichever he likes best. He gets water often, and in full measure, as much as he will take, and, if possible, he should have walking or trotting exercise, perhaps morning and afternoon. At night he receives less than the ordinary allowance of hay; and, if a great eater, a muzzle is put upon him, that he may not eat the litter after his hay is finished.

Few, however, need to be stinted in their fodder. Most of them may have the ordinary allowance. Those that will not eat mashes, nor drink freely, and those that can not take exercise, are the only horses that need to be kept short of fodder. Early next morning the physic is given on an empty stomach. Treatment under Physic. - Half an hour, or directly after physic is given, the horse gets a bran mash; that eaten, he goes to walking exercise, for perhaps an hour; he is watered when he returns. The water should be tepid, warm as the horse will take it. He is to get it often, and as much as he pleases. It should all be warm, that is, it should not be very cold. Some horses, particularly when under physic, refuse tepid water. It is often offered too warm. It is better that he have it cold, than that he have none. But from the time physic is given till it ceases to operate, all the water should be warm as the horse will take it, yet not so warm as to make him refuse it. During the remainder of this day, the horse has a bran mash as often as he is accustomed to get grain. Warm are better than cold mashes; if refused they may be given cold; if both be refused, dry bran may be tried. Whether bran be eaten or refused, the horse is to have no grain.

The hay may be sprinkled with plain, or with salt water. Sometimes a little more exercise is given in the afternoon; and when the horse is difficult to purge, he is all the better of more exercise, weather and the legs permitting it. In wet weather, the horse is not to go out. In cold weather, he is to be clothed, both in the stable and at exercise. The exercise is given at a walking pace, but in cold weather part of it may be faster. It should be fast enough to keep the horse warm, but not so fast as to heat him. Next morning, about twenty-four hours after the physic has been given, purging commences. Sometimes it begins sooner. I have seen physic operate in ten hours, and I have known thirty hours elapse ere the horse was fairly purged. The more exercise he takes, and the more water he drinks, the sooner he is purged. When the dose is strong, exercise mus be given with more caution than when it is weak. But too much exercise, particularly beyond a walk, will make even a weak dose over-purge the horse.

If not purging freely next morning, when the stable is opened, the horse may go out and remain for an hour at a walk, with an occasional slow trot. Whenever purgation is fairly established the horse should be brought in, and stand in the stable till his physic sets, that is, till it ceases to operate. Some continue the exercise for a good while after the horse is purging; and when very copious purgation is wanted, or when the dose is not very strong, this may be done, the danger of carrying the process beyond the horse's strength being always remembered. A full dose, with proper preparation; and proper treatment, usually continues to operate pretty smartly for twelve hours. All this time the horse gets bran mashes and water as on the preceding day. At night the evacuations should be less fluid, and by next morning they ought to be quite natural. After this the horse returns to his usual diet.

Colic

If the horse appear in pain, pawing the ground, looking at his flank, rising and lying, or rolling when down, he may have a clyster of warm soapy water, and go to exercise. This sometimes happens before purgation begins. If the pain be very severe, producing perspiration, a cordial ball may be given and more clysters, and exercise, only a walk.

Super-purgation occurs frequently, either from the dose being too strong, or from the horse getting too much exercise. If the physic continue to operate so as to threaten evil, it may be stopped very readily by giving the horse a few oats or beans, one or both. If the horse will not eat, give him a cordial ball; withhold water, and give oatmeal gruel instead; bandage the legs, clothe the body, give a good bed, shut up the stable, and do not take the horse out. In half an hour after giving the cordial, again try the horse with oats or beans. Should these means fail, or should the horse very rapidly become weak, dejected, losing flesh from the back, crest, and thighs, let him have half a pint of mulled port wine, well spiced in as much warm water, and add an ounce of laudanum to it. Repeat this dose every four or five hours till purging stops. It will always succeed, if the horse be not indeed at death's door before the treatment is begun. Bleeding in such a case destroys the horse.