DISEASES OF HORSES 29 



METHODS OF ADMINISTERING MEDICINES. 



Medicine may enter the body through any of the following desig- 

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

 third, by the skin ; fourth, by the tissues beneath the skin ; fifth, by 

 the rectum ; sixth, by the genito-urinary passages ; and seventh, by the 

 blood. 



(1). Medicines can be given by the mouth in the form of 

 solids, as powders or pills ; liquids and pastes. Solids administered as 

 powders should be as finely pulverized as possible, in order to secure 

 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 with 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 dry the 

 horse will often leave the medicine in the bottom of his manger. Non- 

 irritant powders may be given in capsules, as balls are given. 



Pills, or balls, when properly made, are cylindrical in shape, 2 

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

 They 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 some- 

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

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

 should be thin but firm, as the tougher tissue papers. Balls are pre- 

 ferred 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 thoroughly mixed with the vehicle, deli- 

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

 made up 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 giving medicines in ball form. 



Liquids may be given as drenches when the dose is large, or they 

 may, when but a small quantity is administered, be injected into the 

 mouth with a hard-rubber syringe or be poured upon the tongue from 

 a small phial. 



Pastes are medicines mixed with licorice-root powder, ground 

 flaxseed, molasses, or sirup to the consistency of honey, or a soft solid. 

 They are intended, chiefly, to act locally upon the mouth and throat. 

 They are given by being spread upon the tongue, gums, or teeth with 

 a wooden paddle or strong long-handled spoon. 



When balls are to be given we should observe the following direc- 

 tions: In shape they should be cylindrical, of the size above men- 

 tioned, and soft enough to be easily compressed by the fingers. If 

 made round or egg-shaped, if too long or too hard, they are liable to 

 cause choking. Balls may be given with the balling gun (obtainable 



