DRENCHES. The giving of medicines in a liquid form, is called drenching. A common utensil from which to give, is a horn properly prepared. A strong, long necked bottle is better. In giving the dose, hold the animal's head up so the line of the nose is horizontal. Draw out the tongue, but do not pull violently on it and allow free movement of the lips and jaw, and also sufficient movement of the tongue to assist the act of swallowing. If the animal make an effort to cough, release, to prevent choking. Induce an effort to swallow by gently rubbing the throat, and pressing in the space between the lower jaw hones. In giving drenches to horses, the head may be held up, by means of a forked stick supporting a loop passed over the upper jaw. In giving drenches to cattle, unless very unruly, by pressing the back to the shoulder, passing the left hand over the face, putting the thumb in the nostril and with the fingers open ing the mouth between the nippers and grinders, the animal may be held still and the drench administered by allowing it to trickle gently down the throat. If poured down quickly it will enter the first stomach where it should never go. In case of locked jaw, or paralysis of the organs, both food and medicine may be pumped into the stomach through the nostrils by means of a flexible tube. This, however, should always be done, if it be possible, under the advice of a competent veterinary surgeon. The following formulas, for drenches, are by the late Dr. Dadd, and will be found useful: Physic Drench cathartic,—six drachms pulverized aloes, one ounce of syrup of buckthorn, one ounce of tincture of ginger. Alterative Drench, to change morbid action, -one ounce of sulphur, two drachms powdered mandrake, one pint of thin gruel. Antispasmodic Drench, for spasmodic action, either nervous or muscular, —one ounce tincture of assafcetida, one ounce tincture of valerian, three ounces syrup of garlic, one pint of gruel. For spasmodic cough,-one-half ounce balsam copaiba, three drachms sweet spirits of nitre, one-half drachm sulphuric ether, one-half ounce tincture of musk. Half of the above quantity to be given, night and morning, in gruel. Tonic Drench, for weakness and debility,—three ounces port wine, one-half ounce tincture of cinnamon, four drachms powdered goldenseal. To be given in thin gruel. Should the bowels be torpid, omit the port wine. and substitute one and a half ounces of pale brandy. Diuretic Drench,—one-half ounce fir balsam, two drachms sweet spirits of nitre, one ounce tincture of assafcetida. To be given in a. thin mucilage of slippery elm. Nauseant and Diaphoretic Drench, to increase the function of cutaneous exhalants in febrile diseases,—two drachms powdered lobelia, one drachm powdered bloodroot. To be given in warm water, repeated
at given intervals. Stimulating Drench,—one-half ounce of capsicum, one-half ounce tinc ture of ginger, one-half ounce tincture of cinna mon. To be given in gruel. Narcotic Drench, to relieve pain and induce sleep, —three drachms, tincture Indian hemp, one-half drachm of chloro form. To be given in warm water. An infu sion of poppies, or hops, is a good anodyne. Sedative Drench, to lessen arterial drachms tincture of arnica, one pint of water. To be repeated, gradually lessening the dose. Cooling and Refrigerating Drench, for fevers or thirst,—one-half ounce cream of tartar. To be given in an infusion of lemon balm. Phthisical Drench, for phthisis pulmonalis, —ten grains pow dered iodine, twenty grains powdered hydriodate of potassa. To be given daily in a decoction of comfrey (symphytum officinale). Vermifuge Drench, —four drachms aloes, twenty drops oil of wormseed, one ounce powdered male fern (aspidiuni felix mas). To be given in one pint of weak soap suds an hour before feeding. Partur ient Drench, given to arouse the uterus in protracted labor,—three and one-half drachms, spurred rye (secale cornutum). To be given in a decoction of re a m). Ant acid Drench, to correct flatulency,—two ounces lime water, one-half ounce tincture of gentian, one-half ounce tincture of ginger. To be given in an infusion of horse mint (monarch pa ',data). Lithontriptic Drench, for urinary calculi,—two. ounces of lime water, four ounces honey, one pint infusion of sassafras. To be given daily, for a fort night or more. Saline Aperients,—either of the following is a dose: twelve ounces epsom salts, twelve ounces glauber salts, eight ounces rochelle salts, one to two ounces sulphur. Demulcents, intended to lubricate and sheathe mucous sur faces,—mucilage of slippery elm, mucilage of gum acacia (arabic), mucilage of gum tragacanth, mucilage of Iceland moss, mucilage of benne leaves (sesamum indicum), mucilage of licorice root. The mucilage is made by pouring boiling water on a certain quantity of either of the above articles, named under demulcents, and stirring until the required consistence is obtained. The dose is as often as may seem to be required. The late Mr. Stewart, a well known English authority, during his life insisted, and we think properly, that draughts, particularly when pungent or dis agreeable, are dangerous. That by. no care can the danger be altogether avoided. That no draught should be given unless the horse be in danger of dying without it. That a draught is. seldom or never absolutely necessary but in dis eases that make the horse lie. (See Ball. Bolus.)