A farmer had a cow. He took very good care of this cow and one day when it was ill, he was very worried. He telephoned the vet.

“What’s the problem?” The vet asked him when he arrived.

“My cow’s ill,” the farmer said. “I don’t know what’s the matter with her. She’s lying down and won’t eat.   She’s making a strange noise.”

The vet looked over the cow.   “She’s certainly ill,” he said, “and she needs to take some very strong medicine.”

He took a bottle out of his box, put two pills into his hand and said, “Give her these. The pills should make her better.”

“How should I give them to her?” the farmer asked.

The vet gave him a tube (管子)and said, “Put this tube in her mouth, then put the pills in the tube and blow.   That’ ll make it.”

The next day the vet came to the farm again. The farmer was sitting outside his house and looked more worried.

“How’s your cow?” the vet asked.

“No change,” the farmer said, “and I’m feeling very strange myself.”

“Oh?” the vet said, “Why?”

“I did what you said,” the farmer answered.   “I put the tube in the cow’s mouth and then put two pills down it.”

“And?” the vet asked.

“The cow blew first,” the farmer said.