THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES 



635 



tion, or the opening will only be increased in size, and the bowel will pro- 

 trude without any covering of skin ; but it should be just sufficient to cause 

 adhesive inflammation, experience in such matters alone enabling the 

 operator to hit upon the right amount. 



Fia. 117. — Huisn's Hernia Clamp. 



In all operations for hernia chloroform is of great assistance, as it 

 prevents the risk of a protrusion of the bowel while the knife is being 

 used, which will otherwise sometimes happen during the struggles of the 

 horse. 



This appliance is made by Mr. Huish in aluminium, thereby reducing 

 the weight 75 per cent. 



THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES 



The country gentlExMAN who has been more or less associated from child- 

 hood with the domesticated animals wiM hardly need to be reminded of the 

 great difference in size, habits, and constitution of patients fi'om time to 

 time requiring medical treatment. 



The difference between the management of the unhaltered colt on the 

 hill-side and the ponderous dray-hoi'se suffering from mad staggers in a 

 narrow stall will sufficiently illustrate my meaning. 



In the endeavour to administer medicaments we need to call into requisi- 

 tion all the arts of the pharmaceutical chemist, considerable strategy, and 

 not a little physical coui'age, if we would succeed in regular dosing with 

 the agents of our choice. Drugs are not forced down the reluctant throats 

 of animals in the wholesale manner of former times, but the difficulties 

 attendant on their administration offer to the idle an inducement to trust 

 too much to the Vis medicatrix naturce. Some of the methods adopted 

 in menageries may be studied with advantage : every device rather than 

 force is made use of, while in too many stables the twitch is employed 

 without first making the attempt to give an ordinary draught by simply 

 holding the head up. 



The majority of horses accustomed to the restx'aint of bit and bridle will 

 take a draught without serious opposition if the head is held up by placing 

 the hand under the chin and introducing the fluid in small quantities. It 

 is the impatience of the operator which causes more than half the trouble in 

 drenching. One man will often succeed in giving a draua;ht where half-a- 



