130 



The Care of Animals 



of giving medicine to horses is b\^ means of a small 

 syringe (Fig. 29); the horse's mouth is opened with 

 the left hand, the medicine forced into the back part 

 of the mouth, and the sj^ringe withdrawn. With a 

 little practice, by this method one can give medicine 

 easily and quickly, without loss and without irritation 

 to the animal. In giving drenches to cattle, 

 the animal's head is raised by placing the 

 thumb and first finger of the left hand in the 

 nostrils and lifting the head high enough to 

 keep the medicine from running from the 

 mouth. An assistant, by taking hold of the 

 horns, can steady the animal's head. Fig. 30. 

 In giving medicine to dogs, the mouth can 

 be opened by taking hold of the upper jaw 

 with the left hand and pushing the sides of 

 the lips between the teeth. The medicine 

 should then be quickly poured in well back 

 on the tongue, in order that it may be swal- 

 lowed at once. Pigs are difficult to drench, 

 r/'^; ^"; but by cutting a hole in the toe of an old 



Hard rub- '' ° 



ber syringe slioc, aud placlug thls lu the crcaturc's mouth, 

 for him to chew on, the medicine can be poured 

 into the shoe and so it will be swallowed. 

 In giving drenches, great care should be exercised 

 not to strangle the animal, or to get medicine into its 

 lungs. Swallowing is impossible if the head is tipped 

 too high or too far back. Never attempt to give medi- 

 cine while an animal is struggling violently, squealing, 

 coughing, or emitting other vocal sounds, or when it is 

 only partially conscious, as the medicine is very likely 



for giving 

 medicine 



