ME A SURING— MEDICINES 



Measuring. — See Height. 



Medicines. — Considerable knowledge and a great deal 

 of care are necessary when horses have to be physicked 

 successfully, not merely as regards the actual administra- 

 tion of the drugs, but through the difficulty that exists in 

 ascertaining the nature of an attack and prescribing the proper 

 remedy. It is often necessary, too, that two or more drugs 

 should be contained in a prescription, and as these must be 

 carefully weighed in order to ensure their proper proportions 

 only being made up, some skill and experience are required 

 to carry out what is necessary, and delicate scales must be 

 used for the purpose. Above all, the utmost vigilance has 

 to be exercised when poisons are being dispensed, especially 

 in the case of those of which the action is cumulative and 

 which have to be administered in frequent doses, as a mistake 

 of even the fraction of a dram may lead to most serious 

 results. Excepting in straight away cases, therefore, where 

 the symptoms are clear and the treatment simple, it is 

 always the best and wisest course to pursue to procure 

 professional advice, and it will usually be found that this 

 is cheapest in the long run. At the same time, it must 

 frequently occur that the services of a competent veterinarian 

 are not always available at a moment's notice, and then 

 something must be done for the patient pending his arrival, 

 whilst it may be added that some owners and stud grooms 

 possess a considerable medical knowledge, and so can 

 temporarily treat the horse successfully. On no account, 

 however, should ignorant persons be allowed to measure 

 out medicines, to act on their own responsibility, or to 

 open the stable medicine chest or cupboard. This is a 

 most important order for a master to issue, as some people, 

 and these are usually the most ill-qualified to handle drugs, 

 possess a mania for physicking horses. 



The stable medicine chest should be kept in an accessible 

 place ; a cupboard in the harness room is the best of all, as 

 the temperature of this apartment is usually even, and it is 



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