ringe.
This method of medication is used for the purpose of treating local
diseases of the trachea and upper bronchial tubes. It has also been used
as a mode of administering remedies for their constitutional effect, but
is now rarely used for this purpose.

_The nasal douche_ is employed by the veterinarian in treating some
local diseases of the nasal chambers. Special appliances and
professional knowledge are necessary when using liquid medicines by this
method. It is not often resorted to, even by veterinary surgeons, since,
as a rule, the horse objects very strongly to this mode of medication.

BY THE SKIN.--Medicines are often administered to our hair-covered
animals by the skin, yet care must be taken in applying some
medicines--as tobacco water, carbolic-acid solutions, strong creolin
solutions, mercurial ointment, etc.--over the entire body, as poisoning
and death follow in some instances from absorption through the skin. For
the same reasons care must also be exercised and poisonous medicines not
applied over very large raw or abraded surfaces. With domestic animals
medicines are only to be applied by the skin to allay local pain or cure
local disease.

BY THE TISSUE BENEATH THE SKIN (HYPODERMATIC METHOD).--Medicines are
frequently given by the hypodermic syringe under the skin. It is not
safe for any but medical or veterinary practitioners to use this form of
medication, since the medicines thus given are powerful poisons. There
are many precautions to be observed, and a knowledge of anatomy is
indispensable. One of the chief precautions has to do with the
sterilization of the syringe. If it is not sterile an abscess may be
produced.

BY THE RECTUM.--Medicines may be given by the rectum when they can not
be given by the mouth, or when they are not retained in the stomach;
when we want a local action on the last gut; when it is desired to
destroy the small worms infesting the large bowels or to stimulate the
peristaltic motion of the intestines and cause evacuation. Medicines are
in such cases given in the form of suppositories or as liquid injections
(enemas.) Foods may also be given in this way.

_Suppositories_ are conical bodies made up of oil of theobroma and opium
(or whatever medicine is indicated in special cases), and are introduced
into the rectum or vagina to allay irritation and pain of these parts.
They are not much used in treating horses.

_Enemas_, when given for absorption, should be sma