174 Veterinary Medieine. 



swallowing of pieces of bone, and of indigestible bodies, the 

 consumption of poisons, the absence of open air exercise, the 

 compulsor}' suspension of defecation in house dogs, and the pres- 

 ence in the stomach of worms ( spiroptera, strongylusj, are among 

 the common causes of the affection. As in othei animals, ill 

 health, del)ility, lack of general tone, and chrcjinc diseases of 

 important organs (liver, kidney, heart, lungs) must be taken 

 into account. The plunging into cold water when heated and 

 the licking of septic water must also be named. 



Symptoms. Appetite is poor or irregular, the nose dry and 

 hot, the mouth foetid, the tongue reddened around the borders 

 and furred on its dorsum, the teeth coated with tartar, the animal 

 dull and prostrate, vomits frequently a glairy mucus mixed with 

 alimentary matters or yellow with bile, and there is constipation 

 alternating with diarrhoea. The epigastrium is tender to the 

 touch, the back arched, the faeces glazed with mucus or streaked 

 with blood, and offen.sive in odor. Emaciation advances rapidly 

 and death ma}- occur from marasnms. 



Treatment. Adopt the same general plan of treatment. Stop 

 all offensive and irritating food, give regular outdoor exercise, 

 free access to pure water, and every facility to attend to the calls 

 of nature. Give plain easily digestible food in small amount. In 

 the worst cases pulped or scraped raw meat, in the less severe nuish, 

 or well-prepared soups with the fat skimmed off, and bread added. 

 Check the irritant fermentations in the stomach by salol, bi.smuth, 

 salicylate of bismuth, or naphthol. In case of constipation give 

 8 to lo grs. calomel. Then assist digestion by pepsin (sgrs.) 

 and hydrochloric acid (lo drops) in water with each meal. If 

 the bitterness is not an objection i gr. nux vomica may also be 

 added. 



