274 VETERINARY HOMCEOPATHY. 



fails this agent may usefully be employed, especially in the more 

 acute cases, when the spasms are violent and attended by intervals 

 of specially marked exhaustion. We are not able to offer any 

 well-defined indications which will enable one to differentiate be- 

 tween these remedies. 



In administering medicine the attendant must exercise great 

 caution not to alarm or startle his patient, and must show unmis- 

 takeable forbearance and patience; if the horse is able to swallow, 

 the homoeopathic remedies, being capable of administration in 

 small quantities of water as a vehicle, can be gently introduced to 

 the back of the mouth by using a syringe for the purpose; or if 

 that is not practicable the drops be mixed in a teaspoonful of 

 glycerine and thence laid on the tongue; if this also is impractica- 

 ble by reason of the close proximity of the teeth, then a rather 

 larger dose, half as much again, must be injected well up the 

 rectum. 



The horse should, as a rule, be put into slings at the outset of 

 the attack, unless there is reason to conclude from previous exper- 

 ience that it will annoy or irritate the animal. 



Ice enclosed in muslin bags should be applied down the course 

 of the spinal column and kept in position by means of long tapes 

 tied round the abdomen, unless made sufficiently large to lie where 

 placed without shaking off; when removed a soft hor.se cloth 

 should be thrown loosely over the body to check a possible chill 

 from the melted ice running over the sides. One of the chief diffi- 

 culties that one has to contend with in a case of this sort is to 

 induce the animal to take any nourishment; under no circum- 

 .stances is food taken freely, therefore when presented it should be 

 of a nourishing character and in concentrated form, such also as 

 will check any tendency to constipation; eggs beaten up in new 

 milk; beef tea, etc., etc.; if it is not partaken of voluntarily and 

 the exercise of force to introduce it by the mouth is calculated to 

 upset the horse, then an effort must be quietlj' and gentlj' made 

 by means of the enema pump to introduce a substantial quantity 

 per rectum. 



The frequency of the dose depends a good deal upon the severity 

 of the attack, the intervals ranging from one to three hours; as 

 infrequently as possible is our advice in order to avoid unneces- 

 sary disturbance. 



