BALLS AND DREKCHES. 205 



rubbing of the throat, as practised by many operators, 

 will cause the horse to cough while in the act of swal- 

 lowing. Drenches should always be given with as 

 muti: gentleness as possible ; soothing the horse with 

 the hand about the face and muzzle, and talking to him 

 a few minutes before operating, will have the effect of 

 allaying the fears of nervous horses. It is not neces- 

 sary to have more persons in the stable with the oper- 

 ator than a boy to hold the jug containing the medicine, 

 as a lot of lookers-on only alarm the horse with their 

 noise and movements. The horn may generally be in- 

 troduced into the horse's mouth by merely pressing 

 down the tongue with the fingers of the left hand, and 

 the thumb placed under the jaw, instead of dragging it 

 out of the mouth, as is commonly done.' A small 

 quantity of the liquid only should be given at once, 

 and if at any time a horse happens to cough, or appears 

 distressed while being drenched, his head should be im- 

 mediately let down. 



Corns are the most common and troublesome, if not 

 the most painful affliction with which, the feet of the 

 horse are visited, and, like corns in the feet of the 

 human being, are mostly produced by bad-fitting shoes, 

 though, I believe that, like many diseases, they are 

 frequently transmitted by descent, for I have known 

 colts afflicted with corns before they have been shod ; 

 still, it may be fairly surmised, that in the majority of 

 cases they proceed from bad shoeing. They often pro- 

 duce serious lameness, and not unfrequently mislead 



