DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 199 



in the left hand, while an assistant stands on the left side and 

 holds the mouth open. The ball is to be held by the finger 

 and thumb of the right hand, drawn into as small a compass 

 as possible, and passed as far as the horse's throat. This 

 must be done by a quick motion of the hand, which should 

 be kept towards the roof of the mouth, as there is more room 

 for it in that direction. The most safe and efficient method 

 of giving medicine to either horses, cattle, or sheep, is in a 

 fluid form. 



Balsam. A name applied to several resinous substances, 

 such as balsam of tolu, Peruvian balsam, balsam copaiba, &c, 

 Canada or fir balsam j the medicinal properties are stimulant 

 and diuretic. 



Balsam Copaiba, or Capivi, is used for chronic cough ; the 

 dose is about one ounce. 



Balsam of Sulphur. A preparation made by boiling 

 sulphur and olive oil together, until united in the form of a 

 dark-colored tenacious mass. This has been much esteemed 

 by old farriers in obstinate coughs. When mixed with a 

 small proportion of oil of anise seed, it has been thought more 

 efficacious, and is then named anisated balsam of sulphur. 



Bandage. Strips of linen, cotton, or flannel, about three 

 or four inches wide. They are serviceable in habitual swell- 

 ings of the legs, in weakness of the fetlock joint. They 

 are likewise used for the purpose of keeping on dressings, or 

 assisting in uniting parts that are cut or lacerated ; they assist 

 by pressure in expelling matter, or preventing the descent of 

 ruptures, and as compresses for restraining bleeding, or 

 hemorrhage. The mode of applying the bandage to the leg 

 is as follows : the material, after being cut the proper width, 

 mast be rolled up, and the bandage fixed by taking two or 

 three turns in the same place ; after which the roller may be 

 carried round spirally, taking care that every turn of the 

 bandage overlaps about two thirds of the preceding one. 

 When the inequality of the parts cause the margin to slack, 

 it must be reversed, or folded over ; that is, its upper margin 

 must become the lower, &c. A bandage should be mod- 



