Do not drench an animal when you can administer the necessary medicine in any other way. Drench only when absolutely necessary. A horse, in contrast with all other domestic animals, cannot breathe through its mouth. Therefore, in treating horses, drenching is especially dangerous. While drenching any animal, strangulation, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc., are liable to be caused by some of the drenching liquid escaping from the mouth into the lungs. This is a frequent occurrence in which the drenching proves to be the immediate cause of the animal's death, as in case of strangulation, or the originating cause when drenched animals later succumb to pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. MEDICINE IN CAPSULES In many of the treatments prescribed in the preceding pages, the use of gelatine capsules has been advised in preference to giving the medicine in any other form. Capsules, made of gelatine, do not lie in the animal's stomach, as commonly supposed, but dissolve readily; the gelatine itself being beneficial in many cases, especially if the bowels or stomach be irritated. The animal receives the intended dose fully. It avoids any unpleasant taste. With capsule gun, or by hand, medicine in capsules is more easily and quickly given than to attempt to hold animal's head up, as is necessary when administering liquid drenches, the danger of which has been explained. PREVENTION OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES Newly purchased animals or poultry should be segregated for from ten days to two weeks to give opportunity for any infectious diseases with which they may be afflicted, or have been exposed to, to fully develop. This precaution will often save the buyer from loss. Avoid exhibiting in fairs, shows, etc., where the health of your animals might be jeopardized, especially through the presence of contagiously affected animals. If you cannot be sure proper precautions are to be taken, better forego your pride and possible prize ribbons. HEREDITARY TENDENCIES When breeding, it is of utmost importance to select a good female as well as male, for the least faulty conformation in either will in all probability be transferred to the offspring, viz.: an animal with a crooked hind leg is subject to bone spavin, curbs, bog spavin, thoroughpin, ring bone, etc., and is liable to transmit any of these diseases, especially if exposed to slight exertion. A tubercular cow will invariably give birth to a tubercular calf, or at any rate the calf will contract tuberculosis from the milk. EVOLUTION OF STOCK During the transformation which our country has undergone, and is undergoing, no one industry has experienced such marked changes as the production and raising of livestock.