194 GENERAL DISEASES. 



difficulty. Blaine says: "Dropsy of the belly may be distinguished from 

 fat by the particular tumor that the belly forms, which in dropsy hangs 

 down, while the backbone sticks up, and the hips appear prominent 

 through the skin ; the hair stares also, and the coat is peculiarly harsh. It 

 may be distinguished from being in pup by the teats, which always enlarge 

 as the belly enlarges in pregnancy; but more particularly it may be dis- 

 tinguished by the undulation of the water in the belly, whereas in preg- 

 nancy there is no undulation. The impregnated belly, however full, has 

 not that high tense feel nor shining appearance observed in dropsy. There 

 may be also inequalities distinguished in it, which are the puppies, and, 

 when the pregnancy is at all advanced, the young may be felt to move. 

 The most unequivocal mode however, of detecting the presence of water 

 is by the touch. If the right hand is laid on one side of the belly, and with 

 the left hand the other side is tapped, an undulating motion will be per- 

 ceived, exactly similar to what would be felt by placing one hand on a 

 bladder of water, and striking it with the other." 



Prognosis. — The diseased conditions on which dropsy is dependent 

 are generally incurable ; under treatment improvement for a time in many 

 cases occurs and the ascites disappears but soon returns, and death ulti- 

 mately results. 



Treatment. — The purpose of treatment is to remove the dropsy, and 

 improve the morbid conditions on which it depends. To accomplish the 

 first the diet should be milk only, and cathartics must be relied upon. 

 One-sixteenth of a grain of Clutterbuck's elaterium should be given every 

 two or three hours, until profuse liquid discharges from the bowels are 

 produced. Afterwards the doses are to be repeated according to circum- 

 stances. The strength of the animal must determine how far the cathartics 

 should be pushed. 



As the dropsy disappears and symptoms of suffocation are no longer 

 imminent, the tincture of the chloride of iron should be given in fifteen 

 drop doses, well diluted, three or four times a day. A more generous diet 

 can then be allowed, and other measures, calculated to improve the general 

 strength and add tone to the system, should be employed. 



Anaemia, or poverty of the blood, is a morbid condition occasionally 

 observed among dogs. The best illustration of the affection is afforded by 

 profuse hemorrhages. The causes are obvious in some cases; in others 

 they are not assignable. An excess of starch and insufficient fleshy food, 

 prolonged suckling of young, too frequent whelping, deranged digestion, 



