INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND MEDICINES. 575 



Twitch. — ^This has been described and illustrated in the chapter on 

 Operations. One should be kept hanging in the stable constantly, ready 

 for immediate use. 



III. A cheap and serviceable Surgical Outfit. 



The following convenient outfit will serve the purposes of the great 

 majority of horsemen, and can be selected, at very moderate cost, from 

 the stock of any surgical instrument dealer. Most of the instruments, 

 in fact, can be bought at the larger drug stores of cities. Everything 

 should be kept together, in a neat wooden box. 



1. A thumb lancet, and, if wished, a fleam. 



2. A pair of spring forceps. 



3. A bistoury, blunt pointed. The slightly curved form, with the 

 sharp edge on the inside, is considered the best for most purposes. 



4. An aneurismal (a long, blunt) needle, which is also very serviceable 

 for introducing small setons. 



5. A silver probe. 



6. A shoeing (or frog) knife. 



7. A pair of curved scissors. 



8. A broad scalpel, for which, however, any straight, broad-bladed 

 knife, with a keen edge, may be substituted. 



9. A seton needle. 



10. A few surgical needles, of different sizes and shapes ; some white 

 thread, and thin cat-gut or, instead of the latter, fine sewing silk. A 

 leather case or roll will be needed to keep these articles in. 



rv. Veterinary Medicines and Doses. 

 The following list comprises the principal drugs used in veterinary 

 practice, those of them not among the farmer's own stores being easily 

 procurable at any drug store. Many of these it will be advisable to keep 

 always on hand, — say enough for ten doses, — everything in white bottles, 

 the latter well corked and carefully labeled. Corrosive subtances it will 

 not do to cork ; the stoppers must be ground glass. When medicines 

 have been kept so long that they have lost their strength, they should be 

 thrown away, and replaced with fresh. Old compounds not likely to be 

 used again soon, ought not to be kept with the other medicines. The best 

 plan is to throw them away, as they will only clutter up any cupboard 

 you may put them in, and ten to one, even if you want to use the same 

 prescription again, you will decide to compound it afresh. 



