233 
ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
or they may be powdered and suspended in thick gruel or mucilage. 
They may he given, in a liquid form, from a horn or bottle ; or, as « 
short cylinder or pill, which may be lodged over the middle of the root 
of the tongue ; or, as a sticky mass, they may be smeared on the back 
of the tongue ; may be given as an injection into the rectum ; or, finally, 
in the case of certain powerful and non-irritating agents, they may ba 
injected under the skin. 
No agent should be given until sufficiently diluted to prevent irritation, 
if retained a few minutes in the mouth, and irritants that will not mix 
with water (oil of turpentine, Croton oil, etc.,) should be given in a bland 
oil, in milk, or in eggs after being thoroughly mixed. 
How to Give Medicine. 
Few things are so awkwardly done, as a rule, as giving medicine to 
farm animals. In the hands of a careful and expert person, a strong 
glass bottle is good. A better instrument is a flattened bottle of block 
tin, which for cattle should hold two quarts. The most usual instrument, 
and on the whole the best for ordinary operations, is the horn. Select 
one of which the point turns down and the large end up ; form this of the 
proper size and fashion so the opening will be oblique. 
Drenches should always be thoroughly mixed, and well shaken before 
they are given. If a fit of coughing ensues, free the animal at once and 
until it be ended. In operating with cattle do not irritate the animal un- 
duly. Always operate from the right or off side. Pass the left hand 
over the head, and in front of the horn, seize the upper jaw firmly in 
front of the grinders, turn the head firmly back, the operator standing 
well braced, the back firm against, and as well forward of the shoulders 
as possible. Thus having the animal with one side against a wall, or the' 
side of the stall, it must be a very vicious cow or bull that a strong, expert 
man cannot handle. If, however, the operator does not stand well for- 
ward and well braced, he may be severely kicked, since an ox, like s 
deer, can reach well forward with their hind feet. The* usual quantity 
for an ox is from one to two quarts at a dose, if liquid, of ordinary do- 
©octions and solutions. 
Injections, or Clysters. 
A large number of medicines, both liquid and solid, may be as easily 
administered per rectum as by the mouth. In administering injections, 
it is not necessary that much pressure be used. The intestinal canal of 
animals is lower than the opening. Thus fluid substances will fall by 
J*. ... .. . 
