84 DISEASES 



the- point, doubtless from the undue excitement produced. When the 

 dog is attacked he is first observed to tremble on his legs, and on trying 

 to run on he staggers and falls down on his side, frequently uttering a 

 low moan. Struggling to his feet he attempts to move, only to repeat the 

 fall, when he lies stupefied and insensible. The legs and the whole mus- 

 cular system are violently convulsed, the clog froths at the mouth, the 

 head is violently moved, often knocked against the ground, the jaws are 

 champed together, and sometimes the tongue gets lacerated between the 

 teeth, and the froth from his mouth becomes tinged with blood; the 

 breathing during the fit is labored and irregular. The fit generally lasts 

 several minutes. When the convulsions have subsided, the dog raises 

 his head, opens his eyes with a look of.surpri.se, and very shortly runs 

 about as if nothing had happened. 



The treatment during an epileptic fit is to generally carry the dog to 

 a dry place where there is some soft material so that he cannot hurt 

 himself in his struggles. As soon after as possible give him a dose of 

 Anti-spasmodic Drops: Compound spirits of sulphuric ether (known as 

 Hoffman's anodyne), and tincture of opium (laudanum), equal parts. 

 (Keep well corked and cool.) Dose for 15 to 35 lb. dog would be a 

 teaspoonful in two tablespoonfuls of milk. Larger dogs nearly a dessert- 

 spoonful as a dose — and leave him quiet in a warm, comfortable kennel. 

 Endeavor to ascertain the cause of the fit. If from over-feeding, reduce 

 the diet and give gentle exercise, and, if need be, repeated doses of cool- 

 ing medicine; 3 gr. of bromide of potash for a 20 lb. to 40 lb. clog twice 

 a clay in water for a. week will be beneficial to dogs predisposed to epi- 

 lepsy. 



Suckling Fits are produced by exhaustion consequent on the bitch 

 having too many pups left on her. She lies or falls down breathing heavily, 

 becomes insensible, and is frequently much convulsed. Remove all the 

 pups but one or two, which must meanwhile be fed on the bottle, or by 

 spoon, condensed milk — a little at a time but often — and let the mother 

 have a generous diet, and if much reduced give Clayton's or Dent's Con- 

 dition Pills for a week or so. 



Fits from Distemper The following is from the American Field 



and is prescribed for by Dent, their veterinarian: 



"I have an English setter bitch, twenty months old, which has dis- 

 temper. I thought her about over it, when a few days ago she had a fit • 

 which lasted about 3 minutes; she got up and seemed scared, had a wild 

 look in her eyes and seemed unable to see well. She has those fits now 

 once or twice a day and is very weak, but eats well, though hardly able to 

 stand up. The fits she has. now are of shorter duration but she seems 

 much weaker just after one; she has a fit soon after she begins to eat 

 and is disturbed every morning; after she gets over it she will finish her 

 breakfast of soup and rice or milk. Will she necessarily die or is she 

 incurable? I have had a good deal of experience with distemper and 

 have lost eight four-months-old puppies this Fall, but I have never lost 

 any as old as this one. Ans— Give twenty grains of the bromide of soda 



