596 



The Book of the Horse. 



alternate days, will prove beneficial in other cases. After administering the medicine for ten 

 days, desist for a similar time. 



Hozv to give a Ball. — A word or two respecting the administration of medicine to the horse in 

 the form of ball. The ball should never be given when hard and dry, a condition they are often in 

 after keeping a length of time. It should always be put into the mouth by the hand. To adminis- 

 ter it, the ball should be taken in the right hand, between the three 'first fingers, and having 

 moistened the hand and ball by dipping them into a pail of water, the horse's tongue should be 

 grasped with the left hand, and drawn forward in the mouth ; at the same time, if the end of the 

 organ be turned upwards towards the roof of the mouth by the left thumb, it will act somewhat 



SKELETON OF HORSE. 



as a gag, and prevent the animal closing the mouth ; the right hand should be passed to the 

 back of the mouth, and the ball deposited; at the same time that the right hand is being withdrawn, 

 the tongue should be allowed to recede ; by this means the bolus is carried farther back, and 

 the act of swallowing thereby induced. Should this act not be performed for a minute, a 

 swallow of water may be offered or a handful of hay given. The throat should not be 

 interfered with, or coughing may be created. If the animal attempts to cough, he may be 

 prevented by firmly holding the jaws together. 



Pleurisy, Inflamed Lungs, Bj-oncJiitis, and Influenza, are maladies with which the practical 

 veterinary surgeon alone can deal, and as the first hours of such attacks are of the utmost 

 importance, no time should be lost in securing the assistance of such a man. If time must 



