The Methods and Technic of 
Administering Anthelmintics 
T HE method of administering drugs is a matter of considerable 
practical importance. Much of the veterinarian’s success depends 
on the ease with which he can administer a drug, and there is 
often a marked difference between the young inexperienced man and 
the older experienced man in the readiness with which they solve the 
problems of treatment presented by refractory patients. The inept 
manner of the beginner creates an unfavorable impression on the client 
and contrasts unfavorably with the skill of the practiced man accus¬ 
tomed to handling animals. Familiarity with animals and with 
methods of handling them is, like many other things, best acquired in 
childhood, and the boy who is raised with horses, cattle, sheep, swine, 
dogs, cats and poultry becomes the man who finds the administration 
of drugs an easy matter, as a rule. Owing to the nature of the drugs 
used in anthelmintic medication, the common necessity for fasting in 
connection with the treatment, and for other reasons, resort to the 
administration of drugs by the hypodermic needle or in feed, and 
similar easy methods of administering treatment are not feasible or 
are usually not feasible. This subject appears, therefore, to warrant 
some special consideration. It is discussed here with reference to the 
animals to be treated. 
HORSE 
It is not an uncommon practice to administer anthelmintics in 
feed to horses. However, the results obtained with drugs which are 
commonly administered in this way are not very satisfactory. Hall, 
Wilson and Wigdor reported a series of critical tests on horses with 
various anthelmintics, including, among other things, tests of tartar 
emetic and of iron sulphate administered in the feed. These drugs 
are often recommended for administration in this manner. 
One horse was given 2 drams of iron sulphate in a mash daily for 7 
days; it passed 4 cylicostomes, postmortem it had 288 cylicostomes, 80 
strongyles and 3 pinworms. Another horse was given 14 doses of 
iron sulphate, in amounts of 4 drams to a dose, in a medicated mash 
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