20 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



his head, while the left is employed in seizing the tongue firmly 

 but gently across its middle (fig. 437). Two or three inches of tongue 

 should project beyond the hand and be turned up to the tush on the 

 horse's right side. The ball is then quickly carried along the mouth and 



dexterously placed high upon the back of 

 the tongue, and the hand withdrawn; the 

 tongue is then released, and the free end 

 of the halter quickly wound round the jaws, 

 while the operator takes a step to the 

 right to watch the downward course of the 

 ball along the channel of the neck. If it 

 is not seen to pass, it is well to wait for 

 a moment or two, as some old stagers will 

 appear quite quiet until released and then 

 cough up or quietly drop the ball from the 

 mouth when unobserved. If it does not 

 appear to have been either swallowed or 

 ejected, water may be offered, and, if taken, 

 one may be pretty sure that the bolus has 

 reached the stomach. 



A gag (fig. 438) or "balling iron" is 



sometimes used to fix the mouth open. If 



the reader will try to swallow with his own 



mouth open, he will realize that it is not 



a desirable instrument to employ for this purpose, although it has its uses, 



as will be seen elsewhere. 



The same difficulty of deglutition applies when the improved mouth-gag 

 or speculum of Mr. Huish is used. 



A simpler and safer instrument is the balling-gun (fig. 439), made on 

 the principle of a child's pop-guii, with an enlarged end to contain the 



Fig. 438.— A Horse-Gag 



Fig. 439.— Balling-Gun 



bolus. Another, with a spring and a trigger, sometimes forms a mural 

 ornament in the veterinary surgeon's establishment, but is rather a 

 dangerous implement in the hands of a novice, while unnecessary in the 

 case of the expert, who is satisfied to wear a leather glove on his right hand 

 and secure himself from injury by holding the tongue in the manner 

 already described. Where malignant disease is suspected, but not 



