HOW TO GIVE MEDICINES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 8

HOW TO GIVE MEDICINES

An essential point to be remembered by everyone in giving medicine to live stock, especially in a liquid form, is that tho tongue should be free (says the "Live Stock journal"). Tt is mninly by the muscular movements of this organ that the entranco to the wiivipipe _is _ closed during the passage of food or liquid into the gullet. The introduction of the smallest quantity into tho air passages at once causes intenso irritation, made evident by coughing. By preventing the natural movements of the tongue, we run much risk of producing suffocation. To illustrate: An ox, after eating heartily and drinking late in the morning was puffed up, the swelling disappearing after work. On again drinking at night tho swelling returned. Some medicine was prepared; but the swelling had abated, and the animal was eating hay. But to prevent a recurrence of tho disorder, tho medicine was given by holding his tonguo out of his mouth while pouring it down his throat. He fell down and died immediately. On examination, eight inches of the windpipe was completely filled up with chewed hay, conveyed there by the liquid, and strangulation was produced.

The ball is the most convenient form of administering . medicine to a hor.e when ho will not take it in food. • Tho ball should be prepared with oil, rather than with syrup, and both in size am! shape should resemble a small hen's egg. One person can givo it' by standing at the right shoulder of tho animal when backed into a stall. With the' loft hand draw tho tongue 'out gently upon the right side, cot pulling it, but simply pressing it npon the lower jaw. The ball held between tho tips of the fingeri of tho right hand, is couveyed into the posterior portion of the mouth, and the hand quickly .withdrawn and the tongue liberated. If the ball is not seen to pass down tlio gullet on the left side of the throat, a gentle blow oil the chin will cause the animal to swallow, or water may bo offered.' AVhere the animal is at all refractory or vicious, it may be necessary to hold the jaws open by tho halter-rope, or in some cases by the balling-iron—an instrument made for tin's use. In giving a drench to a horse, a horn should bo used in preference to the bottle, for fear of breakage. Standing at the right shoulder, raise the head with the left hand under- the jaw, and with the right hand pass the Up of the horn into the side of the mouth, and empty its contents, the head being kept up until they are swallowed. If the animal is violent, place a twitch upon the nose, to bo held by an assistant; or, if he re-fuses-to open the ifiouth, the tongue maybe gently hold to one side, the horn, introduced, quickly emptied, and the tongue liberated at once. Under all circumstances, tho greatest gentleness must be exercised.' Nothing can be gained by impatience or by harsh treatment. For the ox or cow liquid medicine is preferable, given from the bottle rather, tlinn tho horn. The bottle is more manageable, and one is less tempted 'to uso force, pry open the jaws, and perhaps thus lacerate the tongue also. Elevate the head only enough to prevent the liquid running from the mouth. The bottle should not be pushed back far into the throat. The tongue should be left free. The following is a very neat ana efficacious method. If place, (he left sido ,of the animal against a wall, and standing on the .right side seize hold of the upper jaw by passing the left arm over the head, and bending the latter far round to the right, slightVy. elevating it. With the right hand pour the contents of the-bottle into the mouth at its angle, using the least possible force.

Sir A. E. Pease, Bart, president of the Cleveland Bay Horse Society, has (says the "Live Stock Journal") urged his fellow members to get back to the old type of horse, the short-legged, strong and powerful type of their forefathers, with the added qualities of endurance typical of the breed. He urged breeders to stick to their old-fashioned type of mare, for a demand was coming after the war.