DISEASES OF HORSES 31 



mouth, when the base of the bottle is to be elevated, and about 4 

 ounces of the liquid allowed to escape on the tongue as far back as 

 possible, care being taken not to get the neck of the bottle between the 

 back teeth. The bottle is to be immediately removed, and if the horse 

 does not swallow this can be encouraged by rubbing the fingers or 

 neck of the bottle against the roof of the mouth, occasionally remov- 

 ing them. As soon as this is swallowed repeat the operation until he 

 has taken all the drench. If coughing occurs, or if, by any mishap, 

 the bottle should be crushed in the mouth, lower the head immedi- 

 ately. 



Do not rub, pinch, or pound the throat nor draw out the tongue 

 when giving a drench. These processes in no way aid the horse to 

 swallow and oftener do harm than good. In drenching, swallowing 

 may be hastened by pouring into the nose of the horse, while the head 

 is high, a few teaspoonfuls of clean water, but drenches must never be 

 given through the nose. Large quantities of medicine given by pour- 

 ing into the nose are liable to strangle the animal, or, if the medicine 

 is irritating, it sets up an inflammation of the nose, windpipe, and 

 sometimes the lungs. 



(2). Medicines are administered to the lungs and upper air 

 passages by insufflation, inhalation, injection, and nasal douche. In- 

 sufflation consists of blowing an impalpable powder directly into the 

 nose. It is but rarely resorted to. Gaseous and volatile medicines are 

 given by inhalation, as is also medicated steam, or vapor. Of the 

 gases used there may be mentioned, as the chief ones, sulphurous 

 acid gas and, occasionally, chlorine. The animal or animals are to be 

 placed in a tight room, where these gases are generated until the 

 atmosphere is sufficiently impregnated with them. Volatile medi- 

 cines as the anesthetics (ether, chloroform, etc.) are to be given by 

 the attending surgeon only. Medicated vapors are to be inhaled by 

 placing a bucket containing hot water, vinegar and water, scalded 

 hay or bran, to which carbolic acid, iodine, creolin, compound tinct- 

 ure of benzoin, or other medicines have been added, in the bottom of 

 a long grain bag. The horse's nose is to be inserted into the top of the 

 bag, and he thus inhales the medicated steam. Care must be taken 

 not to have this hot enough to scald the animal. The vapor from 

 scalding bran or hay is often thus inhaled to favor discharges in sore 

 throat or distemper. 



Injections are made into the trachea by means of a hypodermic 

 syringe. This method of medication is used for the purpose of treat- 

 ing local diseases of the trachea and upper bronchial tubes. It has 

 also been used as a mode of administering remedies for their constitu- 

 tional effect, but is now rarely used for this purpose. 



The nasal douche is employed by the veterinarian in treating 

 some local diseases of the nasal chambers. Special appliances and 

 professional knowledge are necessary when using liquid medicines by 

 this method. It is not often resorted to, even by veterinary surgeons, 

 since, as a rule, the horse objects very strongly to this mode of medi- 

 cation. 



