AND PHARMACOrCEIA. 433 



instrument has been contrived for introducing balls into the 

 mouth, and is sold by the veterinary instrument makers. 



When a ball is found to exceed the proper size, it should be 

 divided and given separately, as much injury has been done by 

 giving balls too large, especially when they have become dry and 

 hard, or wrapped in thick paper. I have known two horses 

 killed in this way. In making balls, the dry ingredients should 

 be finely powdered and well mixed ; the liquid for forming them 

 into balls should be adapted to the nature of the other ingre- 

 dients. When a ball contains any acrid, or very powerful ingre- 

 dient, such as sublimate or arsenic, flour and paste may be em- 

 ployed for mixing it up, and a small bran mash should be given 

 a little before or after it. After giving a ball, grooms sometimes 

 press or pinch the throat for the purpose of making the hoi'se 

 swallow it: but this should never be done, as it is apt to excite 

 coughing, by which swallowing is prevented. The only thing 

 necessary after the hand is withdrawn is to keep the mouth shut, 

 and press the nose downwards, in a moderate degree, towards 

 the chest. Previous to the composition of a medicine it is neces- 

 sary to consider whether its operation is required on the stoniach, 

 the alimentary part of the intestinal canal, or the large intes- 

 tines. If on the stomach, a drench is the best form ; if on the 

 alimentary canal or small intestines, a soft ball, containing a small 

 quantity of potash or soda, should be preferred, unless there is 

 any ingredient in the ball which renders an alkali improper. 

 There is a quality in potash which may be considered an incon- 

 venience, but is really an advantage ; a ball containing potash 

 continues soft, and, if kept, becomes too soft by the moisture 

 which the potash attracts ; therefore it must be given soon after 

 it is made. In forming a cathartic, soap is the best article that 

 can be employed, provided it be not incompatible with the other 

 ingredients of the ball Balls, made with soap, even if kept some 

 time, may be given without that danger which attends the ex- 

 hibition of old or hard cordial or diuretic balls, which do not 

 contain soap or potash ; therefore, balls which are intended to be 

 ke})t some time, such as diuretics, should always be formed Avith 

 soap. Balls made with resin or turpentine, nitre, &c., or cordial 

 balls made with syrup, and kept to become hard, are not only 

 liable to remain in the large intestines, causing the conglu- 

 tination of the earthy matter contained in the excrement, or 

 serving as a nucleus for it, and producing the large stones some- 

 times "found there, but are liable also to stick in the oeso- 

 phagus or gullet, and so low down, that is, within the cavity of 

 the chest, as to remain undiscovered, and cause the animal's death. 

 I have met witli such cases, and was not aware of the circumstance 

 till after the horse's death, when I discovered the ball wrapped in 

 brown paper, and firmly lodged in the lower part of the oesophagus. 



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