48 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS <>F MONTANA. 



METHOD OF DRENCHING. 



The sheep i.s a docile and easily managed animal, so that no method 

 of applying remedies presents any difficulties. The onl^^ question in 

 this connection to be considered by the sheep owner is that of the con- 

 venience and rapidity of application. In cases where hundreds of 

 sheep are poisoned simultaneously no direct remedy is practicable 

 which requires special skill or an}^ great length of time for its appli- 

 cation. Probably the method which will prove most convenient for 

 the stockman is that of drenching. For this purpose a cow horn, 

 long-necked bottle, or regular drenching bottle ma}^ be used. 



In drenching, the sheep should be set upright and care should be 

 exercised that the solution is not spilled or wasted. With but little 

 experience the drench may be given rapidly with no danger to the 

 sheep. Where any considerable number of sheep are poisoned at one 

 time it will be found convenient to dissolve a large quantity of potas- 

 sium permanganate in such proportions that an amount of the solution 

 convenient for drenching, say a pint, will contain the required amount 

 of potassium permanganate. This substance is a powerful agent and 

 forms a somewhat explosive mixture when combined with organic 

 substances, and therefore must not be mixed with sirup or similar 

 substances. Otherwise, no special precaution is to be observed in its 

 use. It would, of course, be a strong irritant if taken as a salt or in 

 a concentrated solution, but no injurious effects were noted when solu- 

 tions of the strength recommended were given to lambs two weeks old. 



The difficulties of drenching horses and cattle are not great in case 

 of dairy cows and family horses. In treating range stock, however, 

 it will be necessary, of course, to rope the animal before administering 

 the drench. 



On account of the physiological action of a few poisonous plants in 

 causing paralysis of the throat, or because of the difficulty in managing 

 an animal, it is sometimes impossible in the case of sheep, cattle, and 

 other ruminating animals to force the antidote down the throat. In this 

 case the solution should be injected directly into the stomach through 

 the walls of the body. As is well known, the stomach in ruminating 

 animals is joined without any intervening spaces, as in the case of 

 horses, to a certain part of the body wall. This circumstance renders 

 it safe by use of the trochar and canula, sold by dealers in veterinary 

 instruments for the purpose (or even a common knife), to make an 

 opening into the stomach and to inject the antidote. It is a common 

 practice thus to perforate the stomach of a cow or sheep to relieve gas 

 pressure in case of bloat, and the same method is occasionally employed 

 in administering medicines. A full account of the practice, with direc- 

 tions for locating the particular area for the incision, is given in the 

 directions for the treatment of bloat. 



