64 



PHYSIC. 



certain. But should violence be exerted, animal fear is apt to be supei. 

 rior to bodily pain ; the tongue and arm may be simultaneously bitten 

 through. The practiced veterinary surgeon, however, takes advantage 

 of the first emotion of surprise which the creature experiences at the 

 liberties taken with, and the indignities offered to, its person. Having 

 the ball ready in the right hand, he, standing on the left side, quickly 

 introduces the bolus into the wondering quadruped's mouth. 



The medicine is lodged at the back portion of the tongue, whence, as 

 the horse does not expectorate, the creature has no ability of expelling 

 it, save only by coughing. During the spasm, which accompanies this 

 act, the soft palate is raised and the ball is carried outward with the 

 volume of violently-expired breath. Some horses acquire a habit of 

 thus returning all forms of physic, and will cough up a ball twenty times. 

 Such a circumstance illustrates the necessity of distracting the attention 

 of the quadruped the instant the hand is retracted ; for in the confusion 

 of the moment the most inveterate "dodger" may be surprised into 

 swallowing any abhorrent morsel. 



IHB CUSTOMARY MODB OF DISTRACTING THE HORSE'S ATTENTION, AFTER IT HAS RECKIVEB A BALIi. 



The hand, during the delivery of the ball, being rapidly thrust into 

 the mouth, is frequently cut by the sharp edges of the molar teeth. No 

 knowledge, which has hitherto been attained by veterinary science, can 

 point out the animal possessed of grinders of this dangerous description, 

 and the only protection as yet suggested is to cover the hand with a 

 glove. But a glove cannot be washed and dried so readily as the hand; 



