VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. 627 



laxative effect is desired without the possibihty of the 

 physic griping. 

 Clysters. — These often form very important medicaments 

 in veterinary practice, and have the valuable properties of 

 being always safe to the animal, and commonly easy to give. 

 From the length of time it requires to open the bowels 

 by purgatives given by the mouth, clysters are often our 

 principal dependence ; and when aperients cannot be 

 used they are our only real means of dependence. 

 Nutriment may be administered in this way, when circum- 

 stances prevent its being received in the usual manner. 

 When clysters are given to remove costiveness, it is always 

 proper to back-rake first (see Raking), as it removes any 

 hardened dung that might obstruct the passage of the 

 Hquid. The apparatus for administering a clyster may 

 be a large hog's or ox's bladder, capable of holding 

 five or six quarts, attached to a smooth wooden pipe an 

 inch in diameter, and fourteen or sixteen inches long ; but 

 a much more efficient apparatus is Reid's patent syringe, by 

 which almost any quantity may be forced up to the required 

 distance in the intestines. The liquor should not be too 

 warm ; but the pipe oiled, the process must be con- 

 ducted gently, so that the horse may not be surprised, 

 by the clyster being suddenly thrown up. This is a better 

 instrument for giving injections than the pewter syringe 

 sold for this purpose by the instrument-makers. 



A laxative Clyster. 



No. 1. — Thin gruel, or broth five quarts. 



Epsom or common salt one pound and a half. 



A Clyster for Gripes. 



No. 2. — Oil of turpentine half a pint. 



Thin gruel four quarts. 



Mr. Gowing once relieved a lingering case of spasmodic 

 colic by administering a pint of turpentine in two quarts 

 of soap and water, as an injection. 



A nourishing Clyster. 



No. 3. — Thick gruel three quarts. 



Strong ale one quart. 



Mix.— Or, 



Strong ale one quart. 



Thick milk two quarts. 



Mix. 



s s2 



