642 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES. 



provided at the other end with a transverse piece of wood or other 

 substance which will prevent this end from being pushed through 

 the tube. Having withdrawn the guarded end of the stick two or 

 three inches out of the tube, insert the ball into' the other end, 

 which then put into the horse's mouth, and push the ball forward 

 by the thumb, from the guarded end. 



5. As a drench. 



The usual way to give a drench is as follows : Raise the horse's 

 head so that the line of his lower jaw is horizontal, or inclined 

 slightly upwards. If he be quiet, an assistant on the near side 

 should hold his head up with his hands ; but if he be fractious, 

 his head can be kept in position by means of a loop or cord of 

 sufficient length passed under his upper jaw, and resting on the 

 palate at the space which is bare of teeth (the interdental space). 

 It is convenient to run one of the prongs of a stable fork through 

 the upper end of the loop, and to give the hajidle to an assistant 

 to hold ; though it is better to have a staff with a loop of cord 

 passed through it at one end, made for the purpose, than to employ 

 a sharp-pointed instrument near the animal at a moment when he 

 may be apt to struggle. 



Tlie person who gives the drench should stand on the oS side, 

 and introduce the bottle, or other vessel which holds the medicine, 

 into the mouth just in front of the grinders, at the space which is 

 bale of teeth, and should direct it well back. Only a little at a 

 time should be given, say, one or two wine-glasses full, and ample 

 time should be allowed the horse to swallow the fluid. If he makes 

 the slightest effort to cough, his head should instantly be lowered, 

 so that the fluid may not go the " wrong way." His tongue should 

 on no account be drawn out of his mouth and held, and his nostrils 

 should not be grasped with the hand ; for a sudden gasp for breath 

 might carry the fluid into the windpipe, and consequently set up 

 inflammation of the lungs. 



The mouth of the drenching vessel should be broad, so that the 

 fluid may readily escape. An ordinary glass bottle is bad ; as its 

 neck is narrow, and it is apt to break and hurt the mouth, unless 

 it be covered with leather. A wide and smooth-mouthed block-tin 

 vessel, containing about a pint and a half, fulfils its purpose. 



Even with the greatest care, the foregoing method of drenching 

 is sometimes attended with disastrous results, on account of the 

 liquid going the wrong way, because the head is held in an ab- 

 normally high and extended position. 



A French way of drenching is as follows : — Put the drench into 

 a syringe, close the animal's mouth by means of a nose-band, place 

 the pipe of the syringe between the bars of the animal's mouth 

 on one side, and slowly inject the drench. The portion of the 



