ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES, 11 



tered by this channel, as the action of medicine is less prompt and pow- 

 erful than when given by the mouth. Before giving medicine in this 

 way the rectum should first be emptied by a warm water injection. 



Encmata or injections of hot water are also used in cases of constipa- 

 tion. It is unnecessary to mention what the temperature of water 

 should be for giving an injection, as no one ever uses a thermometer to 

 ascertain the temperature of water which is to be used for this purpose. 

 When the hand is placed in the water to be used the water should feel 

 pleasantly warm, and an injection should never be given without first 

 testing the temperature of the water with the hand. Two quarts is a 

 sufficient quantity to use as an injection, and if it is desired to render 

 the injection stimulating a little soap may be added, though it should 

 be borne in mind that the injection will be retained longer if no soap is 

 added to it. If it is therefore desired that the injection should be 

 retained as long as possible it is best not to add soap. We may men- 

 tion that injections are not so much used, nor do they prove as servicea- 

 ble in treating the diseases of the ox as they do in those of the horse. 



Suppositories. A suppository is usually composed of agents which 

 exercise a soothing and anodyne effect on the part to which it is applied, 

 and this effect is in time diffused to the adjoining parts. It is depos- 

 ited in the rectum in the solid form and is usually cone-shaped. The 

 rectum should be evacuated before introducing the suppository. They 

 are not frequently used in veterinary practice. 



BY THE VAGINA. 



Inflammation is sometimes set up in the walls of the vagina, which 

 maybe occasioned by the bull during service, or while the calf is being 

 c\ 1 1 acted during difficult labor. In such cases the antiseptic and heal- 

 ing agent should be dissolved in tepid water and applied once or twice 

 a day to the affected parts with a syringe. When the cleaning (pla- 

 centa) has been retained in the womb instead of coming away shortly 

 after calving, a purulent (mattery) discharge is set up, which is com- 

 monly known as the whites (leucorrhea). In such cases the womb 

 should be washed out daily by connecting a long flexible tube with a 

 syringe, which is passed by the hand into tlie month of tbc womb so a,s 

 to wash out, cleanse, and set up a healing action in the surface of that 

 organ. 



BY THE NOSTRILS. 



Inhalation. Medicinal agents which arc volatile that is, capable 

 of being diffused in the air an- >omrtim-> administered in this way. 

 The object may be to diffuse a certain quantity of gas, such as chlorine 

 or .sulphurous acid gas in the air of a utable, which the animals sub- 

 jected to such treatment must breathe for a certain length of time. 

 This system of treatment is frequently resorted to when the bronchial 

 tubes of young cattle are infected with worms. Volatile agents, such a<* 



