COMMON MEDICINES 281 



cine is poured into the mouth. Medicines should not be given 

 through the nose because of danger of choking, and of causing 

 pneumonia. For supporting the 

 head to give a drench, a rope may 

 be tied to the noseband of halter 

 and thrown over the beam — never 

 tied, but held by an assistant. Bet- 

 ter still, a cloth loop may be passed 

 around the upper jaw back of the 

 front teeth and through the nose- 

 band of the halter in such way that 

 it cannot slip off. This cloth loop is 

 fastened to the overhead rope, 

 which should be held — not tied. 

 Medicines may be given when the 

 patient is lying down, but the oper- 

 ator must be careful not to pour 

 out any medicine when the patient 

 is about to struggle lest choking 

 occur. Plenty of time should be 

 taken. 



A bottle of rubber or horn, or a dose syringe, is much pref- 

 erable to a glass bottle, which may break readily, and cut the 

 mouth. 



Cathartics 



Aloes. — Cathartic, 1 laxative, 2 or bitter tonic, depending upon 

 the dose given, is very reliable and satisfactory for horses, but 

 less so for ruminants. It is very soluble in alcohol and boiling 

 water, but imperfectly so in cold water, and usually requires 

 15 to 20 hours for operation. It is often desirable to combine 

 it with one fourth its weight of ginger, and give it in conjunc- 

 tion with nux vomica in case the bowels are torpid. Large rec- 

 tal injections of warm water may be given until the physic acts. 



Doses. — Cattle, 1 to 2 oz. ; horses, 2 to 8 drams ; sheep, 1 to 2 

 drams; hogs, 1 to 2 drams. 



These doses may be administered in a ball with ginger and 

 lard or molasses, or, as a drench, in water or sirup. 



Epsom, salts (sulphate of magnesia). — This is a saline ca- 



1 Cathartic, moderately vigorous physic. 

 'Laxative, mild physic. 



Fig. 91. — Holding Horse 's 



Head for Drenching. 



(M. H. B.) 



Note cloth loop under nose- 

 band. 



