218 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



jaw. The ball, being now taken between the tips of the 

 fingers of the right hand, is passed rapidly up the mouth, 

 as near to the palate as possible, until it reaches the root 

 of the tongue ; it is then delivered with a slight jerk, and 

 the hand being immediately withdrawn and the tongue 

 liberated, the ball is forced through the pharynx into the 

 oesophagus. Its passage should be watched down the left 

 side of the throat ; and if it is not seen going down, a slight 

 tap or blow under the chin will generally cause the horse 

 to swallow, or a few gulps of water will carry it down. If 

 the gullet should be small, or strictured, and the ball should 

 remain in some part of it, the tube used for " the hove " in 

 cattle may be employed to remove it. 



Blisters. — The modus operandi and the application of 

 blisters will be found under Operations hereafter. The 

 leading substance is the Cantharides, or Spanish fly, though 

 various substances are used for the purpose of vesication. 

 As a simple blister, none equals in certainty and mildness 

 the Spanish fly. In acute inflammatory disorders, however, 

 its action is too slow, and caustic liquor of ammonia is 

 resorted to ; euphorbium is also introduced as a substitute 

 for cantharides. The tincture of croton is also used as an 

 economical substitute for the flies. 



(A) BLISTER FOR GENERAL USE. 



Powdered cantharides . . .1 pound. 



Lard 8 pounds. 



The liquid blister is made by substituting eight pints of 

 oil for the eight pounds of lard, and allowing the flies to 

 digest for a fortnight, or boiling them in a water bath. A 

 pound of camphor is a good addition; it does not lessen 

 the action of the blister, but diminishes its irritation. 



(B) A POWERFUL BLISTER. 



Spanish flies 



Lard 



Resin 



Oil of turpentine 



turpentine. When beg 

 powdered flies. 



1 pound. 

 3 pounds. 



2 pounds. 

 1 pound. 



Melt the resin with the lard, aiier which add the 



to cool, throw in the 



