32 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



(3). Medicines are often administered to our hair-covered ani- 

 mals by the skin, yet care must be taken in applying some medicines 



as tobacco water, carbolic-acid solutions, strong creolin solutions, 



mercurial ointment, etc. over the entire body, as poisoning and 

 death follow in some instances from absorption through the skin. For 

 the same reasons care must also be exercised and poisonous medicines 

 not applied over very large raw or abraded surfaces. With domestic 

 animals medicines are only to be applied by the skin to allay local 

 pain or cure local disease. 



(4) . Medicines are frequently given by the hypodermic syringe 

 under the skin. It is not safe for any but medical or veterinary prac- 

 titioners to use this form of medication, since the medicines thus 

 given are powerful poisons. There are many precautions to be ob- 

 served, and a knowledge of anatomy is indispensable. One of the 

 chief precautions has to do with the sterilization of the syringe. If it 

 is not sterile an abscess may be produced. 



(5) . Medicines may be given by the rectum when they can not 

 be given by the mouth, or when they are not retained in the stomach ; 

 when we want a local action on the last gut; when it is desired to 

 destroy the small worms infesting the large bowels or to stimulate the 

 motion of the intestines and cause evacuation. Medicines are in 

 such cases given in the form of suppositories or as liquid injections. 

 Foods may also be given in this way. 



Suppositories are conical bodies made up of oil or theobroma and 

 opium (or whatever medicine is indicated in special cases), and are 

 introduced into the rectum or vagina to allay irritation and pain of 

 these parts. They are not much used in treating horses. 



Enemas, when given for absorption, should be small in quantity, 

 neutral or slightly acid in reaction, and of a temperature of from 90 

 to 100 F. These, like foods given by the rectum, should be intro- 

 duced only after the last bowel has been emptied by the hand or by 

 copious injections of tepid water. Enemas, if to aid the action of 

 physics, should be in quantities sufficient to distend the bowel and 

 cause the animal to eject them. Simple water, salt and water, or soap 

 and water, in quantities of a gallon or more, may be given every half 

 hour. It is best that the horse retain them for some little time, as the 

 liquid serves to moisten the dung and favor a passage. Stimulating 

 enemas, as glycerin, should be administered after those already men- 

 tioned have emptied the last bowel, with the purpose of still further 

 increasing the natural motion of the intestines and aiding the purg- 

 ing medicines. 



Liquids may be thrown into the rectum by the means of a large 

 syringe or a pump. A very good irrigator can be bought of any 

 tinsmith at a trifling cost, and should be constantly at hand on every 

 stock farm. It consists of a funnel about 6 inches deep and 7 inches 

 in diameter, which is to be furnished with a prolongation to which a 

 piece of rubber hose, such as small garden hose, 4 feet long may be 

 attached. The hose, well oiled, is to be inserted gently into the rec- 

 tum about 2 feet. The liquid to be injected may then be poured in 

 the funnel and the pressure of the atmosphere will force it into the 



