Mix together two ounces of Spirits of Turpentine, and one ounce of Tincture of Opium, and add a pint and a half of warm water.
In mild cases of gripes this single draught will generally suffice; but in violent attacks, four or five quarts of blood ought to be immediately taken away, and the draught, after an interval of a couple of hours, repeated; also two or three ounces of the turpentine liniment should be well rubbed upon the surface of the belly. If no dung is passed, let the horse be raked, and have clysters of salt and water (about four ounces of salt dissolved in four quarts of water) thrown up every hour until the bowels be relaxed. When the horse continues to lie down and rise in the stall, and to roll upon his back, relief will frequently be given by walking exercise for ten minutes.
Those cases, in which the symptoms do not intermit, and in which the pulse and breathing are much quickened, are not gripes, but inflammation of the bowels. Take away five or six quarts of blood without loss of time, and give a draught composed of eight or ten drams of aloes dissolved in a pint and a half of hot water,[22] with the addition of an ounce of tincture of opium, inject clysters frequently, rub a blister upon the belly, composed of equal parts of oil of turpentine and blistering liquid, wrap the legs in flannel bandages, making use of the turpentine liniment to the legs if cold, and clothe warmly. Water, with the chill taken off, should be plentifully given; or, what is better, water-gruel.
If the symptoms do not speedily subside, draw three or four quarts of blood again, and repeat the blister to the belly, and clysters and turpentine liniment to the legs if not warm.
No. VIII.—Vermifuge Powder.
Three drams of this powder, containing one dram of Calomel and two drams of Tartarized antimony, form a dose.
To be given in a bran mash at night to a horse having worms, and to be followed up by the administration of a dose of physic the following morning—paying attention to the directions already laid down under the head—Cathartic Mass. The powder and physic may be repeated in the course of a week or ten days.
No. IX.—Anti-purgation Powder.