The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-11-16
GIVING MEDICINE TO ANIMALS.

In administering medicine to his
horses the knowledge of how TO do il is
most essential to every farmer, and he
may not be able 10 always acquire il
ready manner of giving medicinal sub
stances is by mixing them with the food
or drink. This, however, is rot always
practicable, as the animal may refuse
the mixture, or may be too weak TO
make the effort to take t. 1t must
then be given by ball, or by drench
from horn or bottle. One most essen
tial anatomical point to be remembered
by every one in the giving of medicine,
especially in the liquid form, is that the
tongue should be free. 1t is mainly by
the muscular movements OF this organ
that the entrance to the windpipe is
closed during the passage of food or
liquid into the gullet. The introduce
ton of the smallest quantity into the
air passage at once causes intense irri-
tation, made evident by coughing. By
preventing natural movements of the
tongue we run much risk of producing
sufiiocation. To illustrate: An OK after
eating heartily, and drinking late in the
morning, was pulled up, the swelling
disappearing after work. On again
drinking at hight the swelling returned.
Some medicine was prepared, but the
swelling had abated and the animal
was eating hay. But, to prevent re-
currence of the disorder, the medicine
was given by holding his tongue out of
his mouth while pouring it down his
throat lie fell down and died imme-
diately. On Examination eight inches
of the windpipe were found TO be COM
pletely filed with chewed hay conveyed
there by the liquid, and strangulation
was produced.
When practicable the bali is the most
convenient form of administering med
icine TO q horse when he will not take
il in food. The ball should be prepared
with oil, rather than with syrup,
and both in size and shape should re-
semble small hens egg. One person
can give it by standing at the right
shoulder of the animal when backed
into a STALL With the left draw the
tongue out gently upon the right side,
not pulling it, but simply pressing it
upon The lower jaw. The ball, held be-
tween the tips of the fingers of the right
hand, is conveyed into the posterior
portion of the mouth, and the hand
quickly Withdrawn, and the tongue lib
Grated. If the ball is not seen to pass
down the gullet on the left side of the
throat, gentle blow on the chin will
cause the animal to swallow, or water
may be offered. Where the animal is
at all refractory or vicious, it may be
necessary to hold the jaws by the hal
ter rope, or in some cases by the ball
ing-iron, an instrument made for this
use
In giving q drench TO horse horn
should be used in preference to bot
tie, 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 liz of the horn
into the side OF the mouth and empty
its contents, the head being Kept up
until they are swallowed. If the ami
mai is violent, place twitch upon his
nose to be held by an assistant, or if he
refuses to open his mouth, the tongue
may be gently held TO one side, the
horn introduced, quickly cmptied, and
the tongue liberated at once. Under
all circumstances the greatest gentle
uess must be exercised. Nothing can
be gained by impotence or by harsh |
treatment.
For the OK or COW liquid medicine is
preferable, given from the bottle rather
than the horn. The bottle is more |
manageable aud one is less tempted to |
use it to pry open the jaws, and per-
haps thus lacerate the tongue also.
Elevate the head only enough to pre-
vent 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 very |
neat and efficacious method: If stand |
ing, place the left side of the animal
against 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 around to
the right, slightly elcvating it. With
the right hand pour the contents Of the
bottle into the mouth at its angle, using |
the least possible Observation-Disclosures.