t6 



ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES TO THE HORSE. 



ii[)pcr jaw, aiul |)a.s.sc'cl uwv a bfam, or by llic 

 "twitch" on tlu; upper nuslril, tlie ])articiilar 

 method depencliiii,' iipt)n tlie ameiialjihly of 

 the animal. When tlie head is thus secured, 

 a trifle above the level, the medicine should be 

 poured slowly into the cheek of the left side, 

 so that it may run dow n the side of the molar 

 teeth into the mouth. Do not attempt to pass 

 the neck of tiie botlle into the moulh past tlu' 

 teeth, and if tiie least sign of choking should 

 arise, let the head down, C|uite regardless of 

 spilling the medicine. Oi>\iously it is better 

 to lose the medicine than choke the horse. If 

 {]\e animal does not swallow, gently rub or 

 strojce the neck or tickle the palate, i.e., the 

 roof of the mouth, or the inside of the 

 lips, with the fingers, whereupon the 

 mouth usually opens, and swallowing 

 occurs. If this fails, the tongue ma\- 

 be drawn forward and then released, or a 

 clean sponge may be dipped in cold water, 

 placed in the nostrils, and sfjueezed so that a 

 little water may trickle dow n. 'J'liis last method 

 invariably causes instant swallowing. All 

 other practices intended to evoke swallow- 

 ing are to be censured. On no account ever 

 give medicine by the nostrils. It is a most 

 cruel and dangerous practice, and causes man\- 

 deaths from traumatic inflammation of the 

 bronchial tubes and lungs, which mav 

 perhaps be put down to the original disease 

 by those who use this barbarous method. In 

 giving drenches do not dilute too much witli 

 water, as the risk of choking is therebv much 

 increased. Drenches should not, as a rule, ever 

 exceed one pint in c|uantitv, and rareh- is it 

 necessary for them to be over eight fluid 

 ounces. 



A third and valuable method of giving 

 medicine, especially during convalescence 

 when the appetite is good, is in the form of 

 powders, mixed with the food or water. 

 Nearly all the neutral salts of sodium, potas- 

 sium, and iron, can be given this wav, 

 and some vegetable tonics, if some flavouring, 

 such as aniseed, be added to them. \\'hen 

 the animal will readily take medicine with its 

 food, this plan is far preferable to anv other. 



A fourth, and sometimes ver\- valuable 



method, is bv ii\i)oLlermic injection. This 

 means shoidd be only rart'lv res(jrted to, as 

 llie risk of abscess from a non-sterilized 

 syringe and the powerfid action of the drugs 

 used in this method, make it too dangerous for 

 any but properly qualified ]Dractitioners. 

 However, at times, tlie necessitv is great, 

 when ra])itlit\' of action is demanded, and the 

 risk must be taken. Alwavs see that the 

 syringe is perfectly cleaned before putting 

 away alter use, and, if n(;t made of glass, 

 immersed in boiling water or, if so, in solution 

 of perchloride of merciirv for a few minutes 

 before being used. 



Injection of medicine into a vein or the 

 trachea can only be performed by experienced 

 veterinarians. 



The greatest care, we repeat, should be 

 exercised in the giving of medicine. In the 

 case of disorders involving the brain and ner- 

 vous system, and in that of j'oung unbroken 

 animals, or those of a highly nervous tempera- 

 ment, it is very easy to destroy all the good 

 effects of the medicine by the mode of its 

 administration, or actuallv do more harm than 

 good. Patience and sympathy are always 

 needed, and a bad-tempered man should never 

 be allowed within tallying distance of a sick 

 horse. 



Till' practice of suspending medicines 

 in oils of various kinds, for example 

 linseed oil, should be severely condemned. 

 The horse has a decided natural objection to 

 oil, and there is no necessity whatever for 

 mixing linseed, or other nauseous oils, with 

 drenches. If oil, as a laxative, is deemed 

 advisable, one or two moderate doses of castor 

 oil may be given for that express object of 

 opening the bowels. 



A peculiar form of inflammation of the 

 mucous coat of the bowels often follows the 

 excessive use of linseed f)il in cases of 

 abdominal disease, and it is generallv objec- 

 tionable in any quantity for diseases of the 

 kmgs or bronchial tubes, and absolutely per- 

 nicious in low fevers, such as influenza, dis- 

 temper and lung fever. This oil should be 

 for the most part excluded from the category 

 of internal medicines. 



