VETERINARY OPERATIONS. 243 



112. Mode of giving a drink. Exactly the same process is pur 

 sued, except that a horn holding the liquid matter is forced up the 

 mouth ; the passage being raised beyond the level line, the liquid is 

 poured out from the larger end of the horn, and when the tongue is 

 loosened it is swallowed. Clark, however, ingeniously proposes to 

 substitute the smaller end of the horn, the larger being closed, by 

 which, he says, the horn can be forced up the mouth between the 

 teeth, and poured farther back so as to ensure its not returning. 



Fomentations and Poultices. 



113. Fomentations are very commonly recommended of various 

 herbs, as rhue, chamomile, St. John's wort, wormwood, bay leaves, 

 &c. but the principal virtue is to be found in warmth and moisture, 

 which unload the vessels ; but this warmth ought not to be too con- 

 siderable, except when the inflammation is within, as in inflamed 

 bowels. Here we foment to stimulate the skin, and cannot foment 

 too hot ; but when we do it at once to an* inflamed part, it ought not 

 to be more than of blood heat ; and it should be continued long, and 

 when removed the part should be dried or covered, or cold may be 

 taken, and the inflammation increased instead of diminished. Ano- 

 dyne fomentations are made of poppy heads and of tobacco, and are 

 frequently of great use. 



114. The method of applying fomentations is conveniently done by 

 means of two large woollen cloths wrung out of the heated liquors ; 

 as one is cooling the other should be ready to be applied. 



115. Poultices act in the same way as fomentations in allaying 

 irritation and inflammation; but are in other respects more conve 

 nient because they act continually. It is an error to suppose that 

 poultices, to be beneficial, should be very hot ; however hot they 

 may be applied, they soon become of the temperature of the sur- 

 rounding parts. When poultices are applied to the extremities, a 

 stocking, as has been before stated, is a convenient method of appli- 

 cation. When it is drawn over the leg and bound around the lower 

 part of the hoof, or of the pastern, or otherwise, the matter of the 

 poultice may be put within, and it may be then kept in its situation, 

 if" high up on the extremity, by means of tape fastened to one part 

 of it, and passed over the withers or back to the other side, and 

 again fastened to the stocking. In this way, also, loose bandages 

 may be retained from slipping. Cold poultices are often useful in 

 the inflammations arising from strains, &c. In these cases bran 

 and goulard water form a convenient medium ; but when the poul 



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