392 THE HORSE. 



obscure, but ultimately referable to injury or inflammation of the urinary 

 organs. Hence, too, the impropriety of sutfering' medicines of a diuretic 

 nature to be at the command of the ignorant carter or groom. In swelled 

 legs, cracks, grease or accumulation of fluid in any part, and in those 

 superficial eruptions and inflammations which are said to be produced by 

 humours floating in the blood, diuretics are evidently beneficial ; but they 

 should be as mild as possible, and should not be oftener given or continued 

 longer than the case requires. For some cautions as to the administration 

 of diuretics, and a list of the safest and best, the reader is referred to page 

 215. The expensive Castile soap, and camphor, and so often resorted 

 to, are not needed ; the common liquid turpentine is quite sufficient in all 

 ordinary cases, and nitre and digitalis may be added if fever is suspected. 



Drinks. — Many practitioners and horse proprietors have a great objec- 

 tion to the administration of medicines in the form of drinks. A drink is 

 not so portable as a ball, it is more troublesome to give, and a portion of 

 it is usually wasted. If the drink contains any acid substance, it is apt to 

 excoriate the mouth, or to irritate the throat already sore from disease, or 

 the unpleasant taste of the drug may unnecessarily nauseate the horse. 

 There are some medicines, however, which must be given in the form of 

 drink, as in cholic, and the time, perhaps, is not distant when purgatives 

 will be thus administered, as more speedy and safer in their operation. In 

 cases of much debility and entire loss of appetite, all medicine should 

 be given in solution, for the stomach may not have sufficient power to dis- 

 solve the paper in which the ball is w^rapped, or the substance of the ball. 



An ox's horn, the larger end being cut slantingly, is the usual and best 

 instrument for administering drinks. The noose of a halter is introduced 

 into the mouth, and then, by means of a stable fork, the head is elevated 

 by an assistant considerably higher than for the delivery of a ball. '^ The 

 surgeon stands on a pail or stable basket on the off'-side of the horse, 

 and draws out the tongue with the left hand ; he then with the right hand 

 introduces the horn gently into the mouth, and over the tongue, and 

 by a dexterous turn of the horn empties the whole of the drink into the 

 back part of the mouth ; the horn is now quickly withdrawn, and the 

 tongue loosened, and the greater portion of the fluid must be swallowed. 

 A portion of it however will often be obstinately held in the mouth for a 

 long time, and the head must be kept up until the whole is swallowed, 

 which a quick, but not violent slap in the muzzle will generally compel 

 the horse to do. The art of giving a drink consists in not putting too 

 much into the horn at once; introducing the horn far enough into the 

 mouth, and quickly turning and withdrawing it, without bruising or 

 wounding the mouth, the tongue being loosened at the same moment. 

 A bottle is a disgraceful and dangerous instrument to use. 



Elder. — The elder leaf, boiled in lard, forms an emollient ointment, 

 usefully applied to inflamed and irritated parts. 



Epsom Salts. — See Magnesia. 



Fomentations open the pores of the skin and promote perspiration 

 in the part, and so abate the local swelling, and relieve pain and lessen 

 inflammation. They are often used, and with more efiect when the in- 

 flammation is somewhat deeply seated, than when it is superficial. The 

 effect depends on the warmth of the water, and not on any herb which 

 may have been boiled in it. They are best applied by means of flannel, 

 frequently dipped in the hot water, or on which the water is poured, and 

 the heat should be as great as the hand will bear. The benefit that might 

 be derived from them is much impaired by the absurd method in which the 

 fomentations are conducted. They are rarely continued long enough, 



