THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES G37 



be accurately measured ; the effect can be observed in a few minutes of a 

 drug that by the usual channel would take half-an-hour. Chemical changes 

 must necessarily take place in the stomach or duodenum before entering 

 into the circulation, and some proportion be lost in the bulky contents of 

 the stomach. That the fulness or otherwise of the stomach may have 

 a modifying influence upon the action of remedies introduced into it may 

 be proved by a familiar example in our own persons. A draught of 

 mineral water or saline taken before breakfast will readily effect the desii'ed 

 purpose in the empty stomach, but fail altogether when taken after a 

 meal. It may be said then, that some medicaments can with advantage 

 be given subcutaneously, while others are better introduced into an empty 

 or a " prepared " stomach. 



Powders as a form of medicament to be given in the food are not likely 

 to suffer in popularity among stablemen and horse-keepers not expert in 

 the art of administering draughts and balls or provided with the appliances 

 for subcutaneous injection. There is no difficulty in putting sulphur and 

 nitre, or any favourite nostrum, into a bran mash or sprinkling it upon 

 damped chaff or corn. It will always commend itself to the groom as a safe 

 and easy method. While the habitual use of so-called condition powders 

 or other medicines is to be condemned, it is often convenient to make use 

 of the manger as a receptacle for medicines. If we take samples of the 

 principal grasses in a pasture, or in the dried form, and chew them, the 

 prevailing acrid, bitter taste will perhaps account for so dainty a feeder as 

 the horse being willing to eat such bitter drugs as Epsom salts. It miglit 

 be supposed that very few horses would voluntarily take a medicine that 

 causes such wry faces when given to men, but actual experience proves 

 that a very large proportion of horses will take food so adulterated. In 

 fact, with the exception of pungent substances, as ammonia and camphor, 

 tar, essential oils, etc., there are but few drugs which may not be given in 

 food to horses whose appetite remains with them in illness. Nay, some horses 

 have such gross palates, that they will take chlorodyne in a mash, this useful 

 preparation being redolent of oil of peppermint, than which there is nothing 

 more pungent, or it would be supposed more repulsive, unless it be assafoetida, 

 and experience has proved that many horses will eat the latter. 



In giving a ball, place a halter on the head without a knot, so that the 

 jaws may be widely opened. Then turn the hoi'se round in the stall and 

 back him up to the manger, lay hold of the tongue and draw it out of the 

 mouth, grasp it with the left hand, which must also hold the halter-cord so 

 short that the strain is partly taken off the tongue, and then holding the 

 ball in the right hand with the fingers enclosing it like a cone, and the arm 

 bare, it should be rapidly carried to the back of the mouth and deposited 

 there, holding the head up till it is seen to pass down the gullet. Cautious 

 grooms use a balling iron, which gags the mouth and protects the arm, but 

 a hand)^ man will have less difficulty in introducing his hand than in insert- 

 ing the gag, unless the horse is a determined biter, when it may bo 

 absolutely necessary. In that case the gag is insinuated with as much ease 

 as a bit in a flat direction, and the handle being suddenly depressed, the 

 mouth is made to open, and the teeth cannot be brought together. Then 

 holding the handle together with the halter in the left hand, the right easil\' 

 introduces the ball into the pharynx. 



