ADMINISTEATIOS" OF BALLS. 143 



AD]SJ:i]snsTRATiO]^ OF Balls. — The giving of balls to horses, 

 like the giving of drenches, is to some extent attended with 

 danger, especially if the operation be performed by an unskilled 

 person. The danger attending the administration of a ball 

 extends to both patient and operator. Instances occasionally 

 occur of a horse having his tongue pulled from its attachments, 

 or otherwise injured in a very severe manner. Sometimes the 

 operator is severely bitten upon the hand, and the bones of the 

 fingers are crushed by the teeth. Accidents, however, of such 

 severity are not common ; and when they do occur, they may 

 in a great measure be fairly set down as arising from the 

 ignorance or awkwardness of the operator. 



Injury to the tongue of the animal frequently happens 

 from the operator seizing hold of the organ and dragging it out 

 of the mouth, much in the same manner as he would drag at a 

 cart rope. The horse, feeling acute pain from the violence of 

 the proceeding, starts back with alarm, while the operator 

 continues to pull forward with perhaps greater force ; and the 

 result is, if the pulling be continued, that the organ is perhaps 

 irreparably injured. 



The proper way to administer a ball is as follows : — 1st, 

 Place a halter upon the head of the animal, which widen at the 

 bottom, so as to allow of the jaws being readily opened to 

 their full extent ; then tie a knot with the halter shank close 

 to its noose, then turn the animal round in the stall, and place 

 an assistant to steady its head. The operator must then in- 

 sinuate his left hand into the mouth of the patient, and lay hold 

 of the tongue, which he must draw gently forwards, pressing 

 the organ firmly down to the jaw, and at the same moment 

 firmly placing the thumb beneath the under jaw, thus fixing the 

 tongue as it were in a vice ; then, with the ball held between 

 the thumb and the fingers of the right hand gathered together 



