These medicines are seldom wanted in training. Their principal use is to give the horse an appetite. There are many spare feeders among fast-working horses. They are apt to refuse their food every time they are excited, or exhausted by more than usual work. To such, a cordial is now and then of some service. There is no need for the costly and complicated preparations which are sometimes given.

These should all be ground to a fine powder, and beaten into a solid mass with treacle or honey. Divide the whole into twelve balls. One may be given at any time when there is no fever. When the eye and nostrils are red, the mouth and skin hot, they are forbidden.