coNDiTioNrNG.] MODEEN VETEEINAET PEACTICE. [coNDixioimfO. 



which — the day on wliicli he takes his niedi- ' 

 cine — he should bo kept on cold bran mashes ; 

 then, at night, say an hour bc>fore the last 

 visit to the stable, bis medicine should be 

 administered to him. The motive for giving 

 the medicine at night, is because some horses 

 having weakly constitutions, the medicine is apt 

 to gripe them, which, on the following day, 

 will be perceptible, and, witli this advantage, 

 it will occur in the day time, when every horse 

 may have attention from any quarter it may 

 be necessary to require it. Having done this, 

 either tie him up close, or put on a muzzle, so 

 tliat he may be kept without food all night. 

 This, on giving him a little exercise in the morn- 

 ing, will occasion his medicine to operate much 

 quicker than any other way. Immediately on 

 returning to stable, give him a handful of the 

 best hay — first having offered him some chilled 

 water to drink — and a bran mash slightly 

 warmed ; for, from the sickness occasioned by 

 the medicine, horses are, sometimes, with diiS- 

 culty induced to eat anything warm during 

 the operating of the physic ; but in such cases, 

 we have invariably horned down about two 

 quarts of gruel at intervals, which, in a short 

 time, bas restored the tone of the stomach. 

 This treatment, with good hay, is the only 

 food necessary till his physic is set, as it is 

 termed— that is, done working. Were more 

 substantial food to be given, it might lessen 

 the effect or operation of the physic, or be 

 thrown out whole and undigested ; conse- 

 quently, it is best not to give any. 



Here it is requisite to caution the gentle- 

 man or the groom, to be certain that the 

 drugs, of which the medicine is composed, are 

 genuine and good. There is no more serious 

 evil than giving to a horse lad and cJiea]) 

 drugs ; and we have experienced this evil to a 

 very great extent, especially in the country. 

 When we have sent a prescription to be made 

 up, whether it bas been from ignorance of 

 the quality of the drugs, or whether from 

 avarice, thinking a cheap or spurious article 

 might do for a horse, we will not pretend to 

 say ; but physic, prepared with bad materials, 

 not only deceives and disnppoints its pur- 

 chaser, but may do infinite mischief, even to 

 the extent of causing the loss of a valuable 

 horse. Therefore, we recommend physic to 

 be bought of sucb vendors as are respectable, 



and who prepare it in large quantities. AVo 

 recommend this, because sucli are not so likely 

 to have stale drugs ; and also are, from expe- 

 rience, likely to be good judges of their quality : 

 whilst, giving a horse-prescription to im 

 apothecary, or country druggist, he will pro- 

 bably prepare it with drugs that have beer* 

 years in his shop, and perhaps, originally, not 

 of the best quality. 



Every groom should be expert at giving a 

 ball. There is an art in doing this properly, 

 which a looker-on cannot easily discover ; and, 

 as it is a material thing to give it well, we 

 shall here point out such particulars as may 

 assist the young practitioner. 



In giving a ball, great celerity must be used; 

 for if it is not done quickly, it becomes dis- 

 aerreeable to the horse, and difficult to the 

 operator. A balling-iron is frequently used 

 by those who are not expert at it, aud it may 

 be best for those who are not in the habit of 

 giving balls ; but those who are accustomed to 

 give them, will do it as well, and sooner, 

 without this instrument. 



Before attempting to give the ball, you should 

 be certain you are tall enough to reach, should 

 the horse raise his head. Let the person who 

 stands on the near side, and holds the mouth 

 of the animal open, put the ball partly into your 

 waistcoat pocket, so much remaining out, that 

 you can easily take hold of it when you have 

 "drawn out the tongue of the horse. Stand 

 before him, and take the farthest hold of the 

 tongue with the left hand, drawing as much 

 out of the mouth as it will admit, and in such 

 a manner as will enable you to press it against 

 his grinders, which will effectually prevent 

 him from shutting his mouth. Having accom- 

 plished this, fold the right hand in as small a 

 compass as possible, holding the ball at tbe 

 extreme end with the three first fingers : then 

 put it over the root of the tongue, thrusting it 

 as far in as you can. This done, withdraw the 

 hand, let go the tongue, and bridle the nose 

 in a little, to prevent the horse from coughing 

 it up. You must now wait patiently until 

 vou see it pass down, and be very attentive, 

 for you cannot be too certain of having seeu 

 it swallowed. If he hesitates to let it pass 

 down, elevate his head a little, and again 

 bridle in the nose, and that will occasion him 

 to swallow it. Some horses will, if you are 



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