11 



the horse's head may be held up by the left hand, while the mediciue is 

 poured iuto the mouth by the right. The left thumb is to be placed in 

 the angle of the lower jaw, and the fingers spread out in such a manner 

 as to support the lower lip. Should the dose be large, the horse ugly, 

 or the attendant unable to support the head as directed above, the 

 head is then to be held up by running the tines of a long handled 

 wooden fork under the nose-band of the halter ; the halter-strap or a 

 rope may be fastened to the nose-band and thrown over a limb, beam, 

 or through a pulley suspended from the ceiling. Another way of sup- 

 porting the head is to place a loop in the end of a rope, and introduce 

 this loop into the mouth just behind the upper front teeth or tusks, the 

 free end to be run through a pulley, as before described, and held by 

 an assistant. It is never to be fastened, as the horse might do himself 

 serious injury if made fast. The head is to be elevated just enough to 

 prevent the horse from throwing the liquid out of his mouth. The line 

 of the face should be horizontal, or only the least particle higher. If 

 the head is drawn too high the animal can not swallow with ease, or 

 even with safety. (If this is doubtful, just fill your mouth with water, 

 throw back the head as far as possible, and then try to swallow). The 

 person giving the drench should stand on some object in order to reach 

 the horse's mouth, on a level, or a little above it. The bottle or horn is 

 then to be introduced afc the side of the mouth, in front of the molar 

 teeth, in an upward direction. This will cause the horse to open his 

 mouth, when the base of the bottle is to be suddenly elevated, and 

 about 4 ounces of the liquid allowed to escape on the tongue as far back 

 as possible, care being used not to get the neck of the bottle between 

 the back teeth. The bottle is to be immediately removed, and if the 

 horse does not swallow this can be encouraged by rubbing the fingers 

 or neck of the bottle against the roof of the mouth, occasionally remov- 

 ing them. As soon as. this is swallowed repeat the operation until he 

 has taken all the drench. If coughing occurs, or if, by any mishap, the 

 bottle should be crushed in the mouth, lower the head immediately. 



Do not rub, pinch, or pound the throat, nor draw out the tongue 

 when giving a drench. These in no way aid the horse to swallow and 

 oftener do harm. 



BrencJies must never be given throngh the nose; they are liable to 

 strangle the animal, or, if the medicine is irritating, it sets up an in- 

 flammation of the nose, fauces, windpipe, and sometimes the lungs. 

 Cattle are easily drenched by simply holding them by the nose with the 

 left hand, while the medicine is poured into the mouth with the right. 

 Balls are not to be given to cattle ; they often become imbedded in the 

 great mass of food in the stomach and act tardily or not at all. 



(2) Medicines are administered to the lungs and upper air passages 

 by insufflation, inhalation, and nasal douche. Insufflation consists of 

 blowing an impalpable powder directly into the nose. It is but rarely 

 resorted to. Gaseous and volatile medicines are given by inliakitiony 



