DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 41 



HOLDING THE TONGUE WHEN GIVING 

 MEDICINE. 



That animals may swallow freely, and the medicine 

 go down the right way, their tongues should be free. 

 As a caution on this point, a case was related to us for 

 publication. An ox, after eating hearty, and drinking 

 late in the morning, was puffed up. On being worked, 

 the swelling went down. On drinking again at night, 

 the swelling returned. Some medicine was prepared, 

 but the swelling had abated, and the ox was eating hay. 

 The medicine was given, to prevent a recurrence of the 

 disorder. It was given by holding his tongue out of his 

 mouth, and pouring the medicine down his throat. He 

 breathed not again, but fell douTi, and died immediately. 



On examination, his windpipe, for eight inches in 

 length, was completely filled with chewed hay. It is 

 supposed that on holding the tongue, the windpipe is 

 open, and is liable to receive whatever is poured down 

 the throat ; and the reason that no more injury is done in 

 this way, is because the medicines are generally liquid. 



Pouring medicine down the throats of animals, with 

 the tongue held, generally occasions coughing, which is 

 doubtless owing to some of it going down the wrong 

 way. The use of those parts connected with the roots 

 of the tongue, is doubtless necessary in closing the 

 passage into the windpipe, which is effected in the act 

 of swallowing in the natural way. 



MODE OF GIVING LIQUID MEDICINE. 



Sometimes, when medicines have no nauseous taste, 

 animals will drink them voluntarily. Or, if refused in 

 this state, they may be induced to take them in palata- 

 ble food. But there are numerous cases in which it is 

 necessary to turn the medicine down the throat. Some 

 use a junk bottle for this purpose ; a horn is better, as a 

 bottle is liable to be broken. In using a horn, stop up 

 the large end, and pour from the small one, as it is less 

 liable to waste. 



4# 



