OF FARRIERY. 



29 



procnrp your physic of persons who are res- 

 pectable, and that prepare great quantities. 

 It is most likely, from their using large quanti- 

 ties, that it is not prepared with stale drugs, 

 and also from experience, they are good judges 

 of the quality : but, giving a Horse-prescrip- 

 tion to an apothecary, or a country druggist, it 

 is likely to be made up of drugs that have 

 been years in his shop, and, perhaps, originally, 

 not of the best quality. 



By the continued use of one person's physic, 

 you will become acquainted with its strength 

 and quality, and may, with confidence, if you 

 think necessary, for either small, young, or 

 weakly Horses, diminish the dose, suitable to 

 the constitution you wish give it to. 



Every groom should be expert and handy 

 in giving a ball ; for there is an art in giving 

 a Horse a ball, which a looker-on cannot easily 

 discover ; and, it being a material thing to give 

 it well, I shall point out such particulars as 

 may assist the young practitioner. 



The generality of things may be done with 

 deliberation, but the giving a ball must be 

 done expert and quick ; if not, it becomes dis- 

 agreeable to the Horse, and difficult to the 

 operator. A balling-iron is frequently used 

 by those who are not expert at it, and it may 

 be best for those who are not in the habit of 

 giving balls ; but those who are accustomed 

 to give balls, will do it as well, and sooner, 

 without. 



First, you should be certain you are tall 

 enough to reach, should the Horse raise his 

 head before you make the attempt ; if so, you 

 must stand on something to raise you. Let 

 the person who stands on the near side, and 

 holds the Horse's mouth open, put the ball 

 partly into your waistcoat pocket, so much 

 remaining out, that you easily take hold of it 



when you have drawn the Horse's tongue out. 

 Stand before the Horse, and take the farthest 

 hold of the tongue with your left hand, draw- 

 ing as much out of the mouth as it will admit, 

 and in such manner, that you are able to press 

 it against his grinders, which effectually pre- 

 vents him from shutting his mouth, folding 

 your right hand in as small a compass as you 

 can, hold the ball at the extreme end with 

 the three first fingers, and put it over the root 

 of the tongue, thrusting it as far as you can; 

 withdraw your hand, and let go the tongue, 

 and bridle the nose in a little, to prevent his 

 coughing it up : you must wait patiently uatil 

 you see it pass down, and be very attentive, 

 for you cannot be too certain of having seen 

 him swallow it. If he hesitates to swallow it, 

 elevate his head a little, and again bridle in 

 the nose, and that will occasion him to s\^al- 

 low ; for isonie Horses will, if you are not 

 mindful, hold the ball at the top of the throat, 

 till you loosen the head, and then cough it up 

 again ; or it may be lodged at the extremity of 

 the grinders, you will perceive him chewing 

 it, and at last put it out of his mouth. 1 have 

 seen awkward persons spoil several balls, 

 before they could put one fairly dowii : if you 

 are not expert, the Horse will make the more 

 resistance. 



Water may be given, as much as he will 

 drink; warm water will occasion the physic 

 to operate the sooner, if he will drink it ; but, 

 as before stated, give gruel, if he refuse the 

 tepid water ; and after a few hours, give water 

 that has been standing in the stable some 

 hours, the raw chill will then be taken off, and 

 will not hurt him. If the physic be prepared 

 without calomel, or other mercurials, which is 

 not proper medicine for conditioning of Horses, 

 on such occasions cold water should never be 



