TO GIVE A BALL.
Turn the animal round in the stall so as to have his head to the light, making the least possible fuss or noise.
Stand on a stool on the off side, and, gently putting your hand in the mouth, draw the tongue a little out; place the fingers of the left hand over it, and keep it firmly in this position by pressure against the jaw—not holding the tongue by itself, as a restless horse, by suddenly drawing back or sideways while his tongue is tightly held, may seriously injure himself.
The ball, having been oiled to cause it to pass easily, is to be taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, and then, making the hand as small as possible, pass the ball up the mouth by the roof to avoid injury from the teeth. Directly the ball is landed well up on the root of the tongue, take away that hand, and as soon as it is out of the mouth, let the left hand release the tongue, which, in the act of being drawn to its proper place, will help the ball down.
An assistant standing at the near side may be useful to hand the ball to the operator, and to gently keep the jaws open while the ball is being given.
Have a warm drink ready to give immediately after the ball is taken.
It may be remarked that in racing stables, where such things are generally well done, young and small boys will, quite alone, coolly take spirited, and often vicious animals, and in the most gentle manner administer the ball, unsuspected by the beast himself, who is hardly made aware of the operation he is undergoing.
To give a Drench.—Turn the animal round in his stall as in administering a ball. Use a cow’s horn, the wide end having been closed up by a tinman.
Pour in the liquid at the narrow end, the mouth of which should be an inch in diameter.
The operator, standing on the off side, should have an assistant; both should be tall, or make themselves so by standing on firm stools or a form.
The assistant must raise the horse’s head till his mouth is above the level of his forehead, and keep it in that elevated position steadily while the drench is administered—such position being necessary to facilitate the passage of the liquid down the throat by its own gravity, the tongue not being here an available agent, as with the ball.
The operator, taking the wide end of the horn in his right hand, can steady and assist himself by holding the upper jaw with his left, and, leaving the tongue at liberty, will discharge the drench from the horn below the root of the tongue if possible.
A proper drenching-horn should be always kept at hand, and be well cleaned after use.
A glass bottle should never on any account be substituted for the proper instrument.