POISONOUS PLANTS 251 



If there are a great number of animals to be drenched 

 the mixture can be made according to this scale in large 

 quantities and given on the basis of a pint of water to 

 each dose. A drench is best given through a horn, as 

 there is no danger of its being broken as a bottle may be. 

 Set a sheep up to give a drench but larger animals must 

 of course be thrown. Never drench an animal through 

 the nostrils. Think how it hurts to get liquids in one's 

 own nose. A gentle horse may be tied to a high post 

 so that his head is at the right angle, taking care not 

 to have the rope tied hard and fast, lest the animal cast 

 itself in struggling and choke before it can be relieved. 



A cow, if lying down, should have her head set up 

 on the horns, or, if standing, handle her much as 

 directed in the case of a horse. Slip the drenching in- 

 strument into the mouth, taking care that it is not 

 allowed to get between the grinders and, if a bottle, 

 be broken. Allow the liquid to slowly find its way 

 down the throat. Give time for the animal to swallow, 

 remembering it is a case of forcing and that it will be 

 likely to put off swallowing as long as it can. 



Poisons Do Not Affect All Animals Alike. Stock- 

 men have often been puzzled over the way in which 

 animals in the same herd and subjected to the same 

 conditions are affected by poisonous plants. With sheep 

 this is quite noticeable. Out of a herd of sheep many 

 will die at once ; others linger along and recover, and 

 some do not appear to be troubled at all. This, in 

 ruminants, generally is due to the condition of the ani- 

 mal's stomach. 



As few poisons can injuriously affect an animal until 

 taken into its system, if the stomach is full the progress 

 of the poisonous matter is slow and may be all neutral- 



