BALL. Bohm. In farriery, a well-known form of medicine, for horses or other animals, which may be passed at once into the stomach. They should be made of a long oval-shape, and about the size of a small egg, being best conveyed over the root of the tongue by the hand. This method of administering medicines is preferable in most cases to that of drenches, but should never be given unless, the actual necessity exists, since good nursing, and bran mashes will effect a cure in ordinary ailments. The recipes for a few forms of ball, are appended • Mild physic ball—six drachms Barbadoes aloes, two drachms powdered ginger, two drachms castile soap, twenty drops oil of cloves; syrup of buckthorn sufficient to form a ball. Strong-physic ball— eight drachms Barbadoes aloes, two drachms powdered ginger, two drachms castile soap, twenty drops oil of cloves; syrup of buckthorn sufficient to form a ball. Calomel ball for a light horse—one drachm calomel, six drachms powdered aloes, two drachms powdered ginger, two drachms castile soap, twenty drops oil of cloves; syrup of buckthorn sufficient to make into a ball. Calomel ball for a heavy horse—eight drachms powdered aloes; otherwise same as the last. Diuretic ball—four ounces castile soap,
two ounces powdered nitre, two ounces powdered rosin, half ounce oil of juniper; anise-seed powder and treacle sufficient to make into eight balls. Cordial ball—four ounces powdered cunrimin seed, four ounces powdered anise-seed,four ounces powdered caraway seed, four ounces liquorice powder, two ounces powdered ginger; honey sufficient to make into balls the size of a hen's egg. To give a ball properly, a balling iron (a ring sufficiently large to admit the hand, and with cheek pieces) should be used. Have the horses head held well up, pull out the tongue, but do not pull on it strongly. Introduce the ball well back at the root of the tongue, with draw the hand, return the tongue to the mouth, close the jaws and hold the head for a short time or until the ball is swallowed. 'I his may be facili tated by gently stroking the throat between the jaws, or by slightly pinching the throat, or, rather, by slight but direct pressure on the throat, under the jaws.