574 
ON DRENCHING THE HORSE. 
spine, after which let the skin of a sheep recently killed be 
placed along the back. Repeat the medicine, which I endea¬ 
voured to get down by means of a tube, and continue the injec¬ 
tions. 
Ith .—The medicine has slightly operated : the symptoms are 
unaltered. Repeat blister, and give extr. conii 5 ii in solution, ol. 
croton gtt. XV, and repeat injections. 
lOM.—There has been a gradual change for the better : the 
feces are discharged in a semi-fluid state, and the rigidness of the 
muscles much relaxed, as were also the jaws. I continued 
this treatment, moderating the quantity of the hemlock accord¬ 
ing to circumstances, until the 17th, when I found any further 
medical treatment unnecessary. She is now at work, and much 
improved in condition. 
ON DRENCHING THE HORSE. 
By Mr, \V. C. Markham, London. 
As a sincere admirer of veterinary science, I could not but feel 
sorry, on reading some remarks by Professor Stewart, respecting 
the drenching of horses. He gives us some good advice respect¬ 
ing the manner of holding a horse’s head while administering 
a drink, and the disposition of the mouth-strap, and the position 
of the assistant, and the humouring of the horse when an un¬ 
pleasant drink is given ; and he then concludes, to my astonish¬ 
ment and dismay, with strongly recommending that all drenches 
should be given with glass bottles. To be sure, he guards him¬ 
self against the first and palpable objection to this instrument; 
for he tells the wight engaged in the administration of the 
drench, “Keep it away from the teeth. You are not a good 
operator if you let it be crushed between them.” 
Now, Mr. Editor, in nine cases out of ten, the giving of 
drenches is not performed by the veterinary surgeon or his assist¬ 
ant, but the drench is sent by some inferior servant, either to be 
administered by him, or, perhaps, by the ostler or the groom. I 
once saw a horse’s mouth dreadfully cut by the giving a drink from 
a glass bottle. I confess that the form of the bottle is very conve¬ 
nient; but why not have these bottles made of strong block-tin? 
Any tinman could make them, and make them to any size, as 
a pint, a pint and a half, or two pints. I have used such for the last 
nine years with complete satisfaction. Such a bottle is, indeed, 
far “ better than a horn.” 
A little afterwards. Professor Stewart tells us, “ Now, you are 
never to give a draught to any horse unless you think he will 
