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CHAPTER XXVIII. 



Administration of Medicines, 

 different methods and respective proportions of medicines 



BY THE MOUTH BY THE RECTUM BY SUBCUTANEOUS (hYPODERMIC) 



INJECTION BY THE WINDPIPE BY PUNCTURE INTO THE LARGE 



INTESTINE BY A VEIN BY THE SKIN BY THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE 



AND CORNEA. 



Different Methods and Respective Proportions of 



Medicines. 



In order to produce a general effect, medicines are usually given 

 to horses by the mouth, rectum, subcutaneous tissue (tissue im- 

 mediately below the skin), and windpipe; and occasionally by a 

 vein, and by puncturing the large intestine. As a rule, medicines 

 are administered locally, by application to the skin, mucous mem- 

 brane, cornea, and subcutaneously. 



iiccording to M. L. Guinard, the effect of the active principle of 

 a medicine in solution, when given by the rectum, is two or 

 three times ; when given subcutaneously, seven or eight times ; 

 and when given by the windpipe, from fifteen to twenty times 

 greater than when given by the mouth. Consequently, the re- 

 spective doses should be proportionately diminished. We may 

 assume that the rapidity of absorption is approximately propor- 

 tionate to the effect produced ; supposing that the solution is at 

 the same temperature in all these cases. Cold solutions are ab- 

 sorbed much more slowly than warm ones, the temperature of 

 which should not be much above blood heat, say not over 105° F. 



By the Mouth. 



This is the usual way of administering medicines to horses, be- 

 cause it is simple, easy of execution as a rule, and because it is 

 the best method for the absorption of oily and solid agents. Al- 



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