METHODS OF ADMINISTERING MEDICINES. 



By Ch. B. Michener. V, S. 

 [Revised by Leonard Tearson, l\. S., V. M. D.] 



^fedicinc may enter the body tlirongli any of tlie folio-wing: desig- 

 nated channels: First, by the mouth; second, by the air passages; 

 third, by the skin; fourth, by the tissue beneath the skin (hypo- 

 dermic methods) ; fifth, by the rectum: sixth, by the genito-urinary 

 passages; and, seventh, by the blood (intravenous injections). 



By the mouth. — Medicines can be given by the mouth in the 

 form of solids, as powders or pills; liquids, and pastes, or electuaries. 



Powders. — Solids administered as powders should be as finely pul- 

 verized as possible, in order to obtain rapid solution and absorption. 

 Their action is in this way facilitated and intensified. Powders must 

 be free from any irritant or caustic action upon the mouth. Those 

 that are without any disagreeable taste or smell are readily eaten 

 Avith the feed or taken in the drinking water. When placed with the 

 feed they should first be dissolved or suspended in water and thus 

 sprinkled on the feed. If mixed di'y the horse will often leave the 

 medicine in the bottom of his manger. Xonirritant powders may be 

 given in capsules, as balls are given. 



Pills, or " &rt77,9," when properly made, are cylindrical in shape, 2 

 inches in length and about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. 

 Thej'^ should be fresh, but if necessary to keep them some time they 

 should be made up with glycerin, or some such agent, to prevent 

 their becoming too hard. Very old. hard balls are sometimes passed 

 whole with the manure without being acted upon at all. Paper is 

 sometimes wrapped around balls when given, if they are so sticky as 

 to adhere to the fingers or the balling gun. Paper used for this pur- 

 l)ose should be thin but firm, as the tougher tissue papers. Balls are 

 preferred to drenches when the medicine is extremely disagreeable or 

 nauseating; when the dose is not too large ; when the horse is difficult 

 to drench; or when the medicine is intended to act slowly. Certain 

 medicines can not or should not be made into balls, as medicines 

 requiring to be given in large doses, oils, caustic substances, unless in 

 small dose and diluted and thoroughh^ mixed with the vehicle, deli- 

 quescent, or efflorescent salts. Substances suitable for balls can be 

 made uj) by the addition of honey, sirup, soap, etc., when required 

 for immediate use. Gelatin capsules of different sizes are now obtain- 

 able and are a convenient means of giAing medicines in ball form. 

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