ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES TO THE HORSE. 



CHAPTEK III. 



Administration of Medicines to the Horse, 



It is important tliat all the drugs pre- 

 scribed be of good quality, and not inferior 

 to those used for mankind. 'Jhe struc- 

 ture and functions, of the horse are of a similar 

 character to those of man and the higher 

 animals, and the action of medicines is, in 

 many cases, likewise similar. The changes 

 also in the structure and functions which are 

 caused by disease are similar to those of man, 

 and verv much the same principles are in- 

 volved in their treatment. Therefore, it is 

 reprehensible to conclude that inferior, coarser 

 or more impure drugs, will l\o for a horse. 

 In fact, as the course of some diseases is more 

 rapid in the horse than in man, the highest 

 C|uality of drugs is necessary, in order to 

 ensure swift action. For example there is an 

 absolute necessity, in order to save life, of a 

 quick and certain action of the purgati\e drug 

 "aloes" in impaction of the bowels. This 

 disease rims its course to a fatal termination, 

 or to recoverv, as the case mav be, fre(|Ui-nil\- 

 in twenty-four hours, and, imless the first dose 

 of purgative medicine can be relied upon, a 

 cure is very uncertain. The same is true as to 

 the need of purity of digitalis, which max be 

 useful in pneumonia, broken wind, and heart 

 derangements. Many other instances could 

 be given of similar nature, and it would not be 

 necessary to draw such particular attention to 

 this point, were it not for the prevalent notion 

 among druggists that an inferior qualitv or 

 strength of a drug will do for a hors^e. 



Too much importance cannot be given to 

 the care which it is necessarv to use in 

 giving medicine, not only to prevent choking, 

 or unnecessary excitation of the animal, 

 but also to ensure certaintv of action. 

 The horse is notably most sensitive to taste 

 and smell, and nauseous drugs are at times 

 very difficult to administer without crueltv, or 

 causing undue excitation. For this reason, 

 different methods exist. First and most im- 

 portant is the method of giving medicine in 

 the form of a ball or "bolus."' This should 

 never exceed one ounce in weight, nor three 

 inches in length, by three-qilarler inch in 

 diameter. It should be cylindrical in shape, 

 and soft in consistence — never hard and dry. 

 It should be wrapped in paper, either oiled, 

 or moistened immediatelv before being given. 



((ielalin capsules, which answer ihe pur- 

 pose admirably, can now be purchased.) 



Balls are better given by hand, but for those 

 who, from want of practice, or other reason, 

 object to the manual mellu)d, a "balling gun," 

 as sold by the instrtmu-nt makers, ma}- be em- 

 ployed. If the ball is to be given manuallv, 

 the tongue must be grasped firmlv with 

 the left hand, and gently pulled forward, and 

 the ball placed with the tips of the first three 

 fingers of the right hand at the back of the 

 root of the tongue. As the hand is with- 

 drawn from the moiuh, the left hand releases 

 the tongue, which carries the ball backward 

 when being withdrawn into the mouth. Hold 

 the head in a natural position with mouth 

 closed, until the ball is seen on the outside of 

 the neck to pass ddwn the gullet. It is alwavs 

 advisable to dlTer a drink of water after 

 balling, in order to facilitate passage, and 

 prevent it being coughed up. 



Occasionally if placed too far back, or if the 

 throat is S)re, it will be at once coughed up. 

 If so, do not attempt to force swallowing, but 

 allow it to come away without being broken 

 by the teeth or chewed, and see that it is 

 properly re-wrapped before repeating the 

 administration. If the balling gun be used, 

 the same method must be emploved, with the 

 exception that the gun is substi'tuied for the 

 fingers of the right hand. It is necessary 

 lo take care to leave the ball just at 

 the ba<'k of the root of the tongue, and no 

 further, and away from the molar teeth. 



Many naus<»(His drugs and those requiring 

 a great volume of water in their s-ilution are 

 better given in the form of a ball, especiallv 

 aloes and its combinations. 



In cases of bad sore throat, or swollen 

 glands of the throat, however, it will be found 

 useless to try this form of administration. 



The second and perhaps more common 

 method of administering medicine is in liquid 

 form as a draught, or "drench," as it is 

 commonly called. In this method it is best to 

 use either a proper tin drenching bottle, or an 

 ordinary wide-mouthed glass one, such as a 

 soda-water bottle. The' horse's head must 

 be raised, either by the left hand held under 

 the lower jaw, or by a rope looped around the 



