224 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



giving of tlie ball, and saves the operator's right hand, to a great 

 extent, from becoming scratched by the horse's back teeth." 



A most essentia] precaution to observe, is to have the ball 

 moderately soft ; nothing can be more dangerous than a hard one. 



To give a drink or drench. — This requires as much care as 

 giving a ball, in order to avoid choking the horse, though it is 

 unattended with risk to the administrator. An ordinary glass 

 or stone bottle may be used, provided there are no sharp points 

 around the mouth, though the usual drenching horn or a tin 

 vessel with a narrow mouth or spout are safer. When giving 

 the drink it is necessary to raise the horse's head, so that the 

 nose be a little higher than the horizontal line. This may be 

 done, if the horse is quiet, by an assistant ; but if he is restless, 

 it is necessary to keep the head elevated by a loop of cord 

 inserted into the mouth over the upper jaw, the prong of a 

 stable fork being passed through it, and the handle steadily 

 held by the assistant. The drink is then to be given by a 

 person standing on the right side (the assistant being in front 

 or on the left side of the horse), the side of the mouth being 

 pulled out a little, to form a sack or funnel, into which the 

 medicine is poured, a little at a time, allowing an inter\^al now 

 and again for the horse to swallow. If any of the fluid gets 

 into the windpipe (which it is likely to do if the head is held 

 too high), coughing will be set up, when the head should be 

 instantly lowered. Neither the tongue or the nostrils should 

 be interfered with. 



Powders may be given in a little mash or gruel, well 

 stirred up. 



Fomentations or bathing is the application to the skin or 

 feet of warm water. If a wide surface is to be fomented (as 

 the chest, abdomen, or loins), a blanket or other large woollen 

 cloth should be dipped in water as hot as the hand can com- 

 fortably bear it, moderately wrung out, and applied to the 

 part, the heat and moisture being retained by covering it with 



