MODERN FARRIER. 15 



draw out the tongue of the animal with the left 

 hand towards the left side, and introducing his right 

 hand, with his fingers surrounding one end of the 

 ball, place it adroitly beyond the root of the tongue ; 

 then instantly letting go the tongue, and permitting 

 the horse to raise his head, the ball will be gradually 

 swallowed. If the ball has a disagreeable taste, it 

 ought to be wrapped in wafer paper. Should the 

 ball be composed of hot or stimulating ingredients, 

 the horse should be allowed to drink hefore it is 

 administered ; and if the ball contains arsenic, cor- 

 rosive sublimate, blue vitriol, or such like substances, 

 a considerable quantity of some mucilaginous drink, 

 as water-gruel or linseed-tea should be given. It is 

 always better to mix up the ball with molasses, ho- 

 ney, or extract of liquorice, softened with water, 

 than with gummy substances, which are apt to be- 

 come hard. Some people are very expert in giving 

 balls without the use of any instrument ; and this 

 when it can be done, is by far the best mode. 



8. Powders. 



Antimony, sulphur, nitre, and some of the aro- 

 matic seeds, are usually reduced to fine powder, and 

 mixed with the corn and bran that is placed before 

 the animal. Such medicines as do not readily dis- 

 solve in water should be moistened before mixing 

 with the food. When horses seem to dislike medi- 

 cine in this foj-m, or when it appears to disagree 

 with the animal's stomach, it ought to be adminis- 

 tered in a different manner. 



9. Drenches. 



In compounding a drench, it is necessary that the 

 substances composing it be thoroughly mixed with 

 each other. Oils and balsams should be well com- 

 bined with the watery part of the medicine, and dry 



