SPECIAL REPORT 



ON 



DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



METHODS OF ADMINISTERING MEDICINES. 



By CH. B. MICHENER, V. S., 



Professor of Cattle Pathology and Ohstetrics at the New York College of Vetei-inary Sur^ 

 geons, Inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry, etc. 



Medicine may enter the body through any of the following designated 

 channels : First, by the mouth ; second, by the lungs and upper air- 

 passages; third, by the skin; fourth, under the skin (hypodermic 

 methods) ; fifth, by the rectum ; and, sixth, by intra- venous injections. 



(1) By the mouth. — Medicines can be given by the mouth in the 

 form of powders, balls, drenches, and electuaries. 



Fotcders.— These should be as finely pulverized as possible, in order 

 to secure a rapid solution and absorbtion. Their action is in this way 

 facilitated and intensified. Powders must be free from any irritant or 

 caustic action upon the mouth. Those that are without any disagree- 

 able taste or smell are readily eaten on the feed or taken in the drink- 

 ing water. When placed on the feed they should first be dissolved or 

 suspended in water and thus sprinkled on the feed. If mixed dry the 

 horse will often leave the medicine in the bottom of his manger. 



Balls.— When properly made these are cylindrical in shape, 2 inches 

 in length and about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. They should 

 be fresh, but, if necessary to keep them some time, they should be made 

 up with glycerine, or some such agent, to prevent them from becoming 

 too hard. Very old, hard balls, are sometimes passed whole with the 

 manure, without being acted upon at all. Paper is to be wrapped 

 around balls when given ; it should be thin but firm ; toilet paper is the 

 best. Balls are preferred to drenches when the medicine is extremely 

 disagreeable or nauseating ; when the dose is not too large ; when the 



