MEDICINES 453 



ultimately referable to Injury or inflammation of the urinary or- 

 gans. Hence, too, the impropriety of suffering medicines of a 

 diuretic nature to be at the command of the ignorant carter or 

 groom. In swelled legs, cracks, grease, or accumulation of fluid 

 in any part, and in those superficial eruptions and inflammations 

 which are said to be produced by humors floating in the blood, 

 diuretics are evidently beneficial ; but they should be as mild as 

 possible, and not oftener given or continued longer than the 

 case requires. For some cautions as to the administration of diu- 

 retics, and a list of the safest and best, the reader is referred to 

 page 231. The expensive Castile soap, and camphor, so often 

 resorted to, are not needed, for the common liquid turpentine is 

 quite sufiioient in all ordinary cases, and nitre and digitalis may 

 be added if fever is suspected. 



Drinks. — ^Many practitioners and horse-proprietors have a 

 great objection to the administration of medicines in the form of 

 drinks. A drink is not so portable as a ball, it is more trouble- 

 some to give, and a portion of it is usually wasted. If the drink 

 contains any acid substance, it is apt to excoriate the mouth, or 

 to irritate the throat, already sore from disease, or the unpleasant 

 taste of the drug, may unnecessarily nauseate the horse. There 

 are some medicines, however, which must be given in the form 

 oi drink, as in colic ; and the time, perhaps, in not distant when 

 purgatives will be thus administered, as more speedy, and safer in 

 their operation. In cases of much debility and entire loss of ap- 

 petite, all medicine should be given in solution, for the stomach 

 may not have sufiicient power to dissolve the paper in which tha 

 ball is wrapped, or the substance of the ball.* 



An ox's horn, the larger end being cut slantingly, is the usual 

 and best instrument for administering drinks. The noose of a 

 halter is introduced into the mouth, and then, by means of a sta-. 

 ble-fork, the head is elevated by an assistant considerably higher 

 than for the delivery of a ball. The surgeon stands on a pail or 

 stable-basket on the off-side of the horse, and draws out the 

 tongue with the left hand ; he then, with the right hand, intro- 

 duces the horn gently into the mouth, and over the tongue, and 

 by a dexterous turn of the horn empties the whole of the drink 

 — ^not more than about six ounces — ^into the back part of the 

 mouth. The horn is now quickly withdrawn, and the tongue 

 loosened, and the greater portion of the fluid will be swallowed. 

 A portion of it, however, will often be obstinately held in the 

 mouth for a long time, and the head must be kept up until the 

 whole is got rid of, which a quick, but not violent slap on the 

 muzzle will generally compel the horse to do. The art of giving 



* See note on p. 225. 



