This will be found useful in inflammation of the chest or bowels. When using, it should be well rubbed on.
CANTHARIDES.
Are the basis of the most approved and useful blister. In blistering, the hair should be cut or rather shaved off close, then rubbing in the ointment well for at least 15 minutes, repeating it every day until it does its work. After it has acted you may relieve the torture of the animal by the application of olive oil or lard. In deep seated sprains or inflammations, the blister should not be discontinued too hurriedly. An infusion of 2 ounces of the flies in a pint of oil of turpentine for several days is used as a liquid blister, and when sufficiently reduced with common oil, is called a sweating oil, and gradually abates or removes old or deep inflammation or cause of lameness.
CHARCOAL.
This is occasionally used with linseed meal, for poulticing offensive ulcers and cracked heels; it removes the unwholesome smell and purifies the parts so that they heal easily.
BALL OR PILLS.
The usual and most convenient mode of administering medicines, is in the form of balls compounded with sweet oil. Balls should never weigh more than 1½ ounces, otherwise they will be so large as not to pass down the gullet. They should not be more than one inch in diameter, and three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls is not difficult to acquire. The horse should be backed in the stall, the tongue drawn out gently with the left hand on the off side of the mouth, not continuing to pull, but by pressing the finger against the lower jaw. The ball being now taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, is passed rapidly up the mouth as near the palate as possible, until it reaches the root of the tongue. It is then delivered with a slight jerk, the hand being immediately withdrawn. Its passage should be watched down the left side of the throat; if it does not pass down a slight tap under the jaw or chin, will generally cause the horse to swallow it, or a few gulps of water will convey in into the stomach. Very few balls should be kept made.