ON DRENCHING HORSES AND CATTLE. 
23 
and is, in nine cases out of ten, the cause of all the mischief. It is, I 
consider, on this principle that the Professor recommends a bottle 
as a substitute. I have found it convenient on various occasions, 
especially when administering the gripe tincture. 
When the animal is down, by placing the knee on the neck, and 
gently raising up the mouth, it may thus be easily poured down 
without spilling one drop, assuming that the individual is a power- 
ful man ; if not, he will, of course, require an assistant. And yet, 
where we have to contend with a vicious temper or great restless- 
ness, the brittleness of the bottle would, I imagine, often render it 
a dangerous process. 
On the whole, I should much prefer the small end of the common 
horn. It would, perhaps, be difficult to select an instrument more 
generally adapted than the Light Company Rifle’s powder horn. 
I am aware that when a large quantum of liquid is required, for 
instance, in a stoppage of the bowels or gorged stomach, it could 
not answer the purpose. In such cases I suppose we should all 
agree that nothing can compete with Read’s admirable stomach 
pump. 
As may be gathered from these few observations, experience has 
taught me to attach much importance to the position of the head. 
Common sense must teach us that the undue elevation of head, which 
is so often resorted to, will incapacitate the organs for those func- 
tions on the free exercise of which success in the attempt must 
evidently depend. Let any one make the trial on himself. Let 
him raise his head as high as possible, and he will find the act of 
swallowing difficult, and, with the mouth wide open, altogether im- 
practicable. 
With a little presence of mind, and humouring the animal, and 
if we watch our opportunity and use promptitude, I think a sys- 
tematic adherence to these practical suggestions would make the 
cases of failure of very rare occurrence. I have had some difficult, 
and even rather dangerous encounters ; but I have not yet met with 
a defeat. 
Perhaps my little reputation for drenching and balling, particu- 
larly when living in Exeter, may make me somewhat too self-con- 
fident ; but, deprecating all arrogance, as I do, I think, had my friend 
the late Mr. White been alive, he would have encouraged me, had 
I been a nearer neighbour of Professor Stewart, to have accepted 
his bet of fifty pounds, to drench either of the horses he mentions 
without twitching and without any assistance. 
