DRENCHING CATTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4732, 1 August 1924, Page 2

DRENCHING CATTLE.

ADMINISTERING THE DOSE. THE METHOD TO ADOPT. This is the most common method of giving medicine to cattle, a very satisfactory method, and one that does not require much skill. The container that is usually used for this is a long-necked bottle, a wine bottle, Dr even a beer or whisky bottle will answer if the other is not to be had. With reasonable care any of these can be used with very little danger, and with good satisfaction. For those who prefer it there is on the market a ruboer bottle .which is made solely for this purpose. The only danger in using a glass bottle is in the fact that the operator may permit the neck of the b ttle to get between the teeth of the cow, and in this way become broken; then the animal would no doubt injure her mouth With the' broken glass. This will, not happen with the careful operator.

If the operator is right-handed, says Dr. 3 H. Conn, in the American “Shorthorn World,” take the bottle containing the drench in the right hand ; it should be caught well to the bottom and with a fairly firm yet flexible grip. Some operators prefer to have the animal confined in a standi ion, while others prefer having her held by a halter. The latter method gives you more room, and in most cases the animal can oe drenched with greater ease to the operator. With the thumb and fingers of the left band catch the animal by the fleshy part of the nose that forms the partition of the nostrils, and to which the 'end of the nasal cartilage Is attached ; a firm grip should’ be taken, but care should be exercised that the nails of the fingers do not injure the mein! ranes of the nose; the head should be drawn slightly forward and upward, and the left elbow should rest firmly against the neck. In this position, while the animal's nose is held firmly in the left hand, the movements of the head from side to side can be largely controlled. When the animal’s head is drawn forward and up it will begin lickig and chewing, and as the movements progress the animal’s mouth is opened so that the neck of the bottle can be inserted, which is through the space on the side of the jaw just back of the inciso l - or front teeth. The neck of the buttle should be pushed quickly backwards until it strikes the tongue, and it should be allowed to rest bn the top of it; the grip on the bottle can be lessened now, and the bottle tipped up enough to allow some of the contents to run into the animal’s mouth. The weight of the bottle shotil ; be allowed to rest upon the tongue to the extent that it will becarrier. back and forth as the animal swallows. As the liquid finds its. way over ihc base of the tongue it is (swallowed ; care should be taken that the contents are not emptied into the mouth faster than the animal can swalkw it. If the bottle is allowed to res’, on the tongue in the manner given above there is practically no danger of the animal getting the neck of it oetween the teeth and crushing it. The animals that cannot be given medicine in this way are very few indeed. and hardly need be considered. This is by far the best method of giving large doses of any medicine, such as salte and other laxatives that require a large volume.