178 HOW TO PHYSIC A HOKSE. 



taken, the edges of the wound should be brought smoothly 

 together, and secured by a sharp pin, around which a little 

 tow or a few hairs of the horse should be twisted. The 

 blood, while it is flowing, should be made, by a gentle 

 pressure on the vein below the aperture, to spring out in a 

 clear, full jet, and to fall into the centre of the vessel used 

 to receive it. If it be allowed to trickle down the sides of 

 the pail, it will not undergo the changes by which the 

 extent of inflammation may be judged. The operator 

 should accurately know the size of the vessel he uses, so as 

 to calculate the flow of blood. 



In giving medicine, if balls be used, they should never 

 weigh above an ounce and a half, or be above an inch in 

 diameter, and three in length. The horse should be lashed 

 in the stall, the tongue should be drawn gently out with 

 the left hand on the off side of the mouth, and fixed there, 

 not by continuing to pull at it, but by pressing the fingers 

 against the side of the lower jaw. The ball is then taken 

 between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, the arm 

 being bared and passed rapidly up the mouth, as near the 

 })alate as possible, until it reaches the root of the tongue, 

 when it is delivared with a slight jerk, the hand is with- 

 drawn, and the tongue being released the ball is forced 

 down into the oesophagus. Its passage should be watched 

 down the left side of the throat, and if it do not pass im- 

 mediately, a slight tap under the chin will easily cause the 

 horse to swallow it. The only safe purgative for a horse 

 is Barbadoes aloes, or the flour of the Croton bean, for 

 some peculiar purposes ; but its drastic, nature renders it 

 undesirable as a general aperient. When aloes are used, 

 care should be taken to have them new, as they speedily 

 lose their power, and they should be freshly mixed. Yery 

 mild doses only should be used ; four or five drachms are 

 amply sufficient, if the horse have been prepared, as he 



