AGE 



Some persons prefer to 

 use an instrument called 

 a balling gun instead of 

 A Balling Gun. their hands, an illustra- 



tion of which appears. 



To administer a drench, the tongue should not be held, but 

 the head should be raised a little by aid of a twitch or blunt- 

 pointed pole 

 passed through 

 a loop tied round 

 the upper jaw. 

 In the absence 

 of a drenching- 

 horn, a soda- 

 water bottle or similar vessel may 

 be used, if the edges are smooth. 

 Stand on the off side of the 

 horse, pull the lip away from 

 the side of the gum so as to 

 form a pouch, and administer 

 the drench slowly so as to allow 

 time for its being swallowed. 

 If the horse should commence 

 coughing, the drenching should 

 be temporarily stopped, and his head should be let go. A 

 common mistake in connection with giving a drench is to 

 raise the horse's head too high, as this prevents him 

 swallowing the dose. 



Powders are easy things to administer, as they can be 

 given in either gruel or a mash. (See Medicines, Prescriptions.) 



Age. — As probably everybody is aware, the age of a horse 

 can be ascertained by an inspection of the teeth on his lower 

 jaw, from which information can be derived by remembering 

 the following facts. The first set of teeth are known as milk 

 teeth, which are gradually shed and replaced by permanent 

 ones, which alter in appearance as the horse grows older. 



5 



Drenching a Horse. 



