880 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



THE PILL. 



This constitutes a more safe and expeditions method of 

 giving medicine than drenching, and in cases of chronic dis- 

 eases, and all others that can wait upon slow action, it is to 

 be given the decided preference. The medicine may be mixed 

 with some flour and water, and the whole rolled into a pill 

 about an inch in thickness and an inch and a half in length. 

 Put this on the end of a stick, pull out the horse's tongue 

 carefully, place the pill on the roots of that organ, if neces- 

 sary pushing it back gently with the stick. Now let the 

 tongue fly back suddenly, and the horse will be compelled to 

 swallow the dose. Care must be taken not to injure the 

 throat with the stick. A person with a small hand may in- 

 troduce the pill with the ends of the fingers better than with 

 the stick. 



IN THE FEED. 



This is the style of medicating which horsemen prefer, as 

 it is attended with no danger and but little trouble. But 

 there are a great many medicines which can not be given in 

 this way ; and, at any rate, it is only applicable to those cases 

 where speedy action is no especial object. Another difficulty 

 arises from the fact that many horses refuse to take medicine 

 thus. Hunger, however, will generally bring the animal to 

 it ; but if he manifests an unusual aversion to the food, it will 

 be better to give the remedy in the form of a pill rather than 

 starve him long. In fact some medicines are so exceed- 

 ingly distasteful, that with them it will be of no use to try 

 any thing but the pill. 



Some skill is desirable in disguising the medicine in the 

 feed. It may be put at the bottom of some meal, or only a 

 little given at first, until the horse has learned to eat it with 

 less disrelish. "Whatever is given in this way should be re- 

 duced to a fine powder, and mixed with such feed as bran or 

 meal mashes, cut feed, or oats. % 



