316 TREATMENT OF COMMON AILMENTS 



gamgee wool. An emetic is useful in the early 

 stages, such as 20 grains of sulphate of zinc. If 

 there is constipation, a dose of castor-oil is neces- 

 sary. Food light and nourishing ; stimulants in 

 great weakness. A mixture containing syrup of 

 squills and paregoric will relieve the cough. Mr. 

 Sewell recommends the following prescription : 

 Liq. morphia, .1 drachm ; Hoffmann's spirits, 



2 drachms ; paregoric, ij drachms ; ipecacuanha 

 wine, I drachm ; syrup of squills, i oz/; water 

 to 3 oz. Dose, one teaspoonful to 3. tablespoonful 

 every four or six hours. Guard the patient against 

 chills, or pneumonia may supervene. 



CHOREA. This is a common and distressing 

 sequel to distemper, and may attack any part of 

 the body. I am inclined to think that it is often 

 caused by putting the patient prematurely on too 

 solid food, as it frequently occurs in mild cases of 

 distemper when we think a cure is practically 

 effected. The characteristic constant twitching of 

 the muscles cannot well be mistaken. Severe cases 

 are practically hopeless, but milder attacks may yield 

 to a treatment of strychnine or arsenic. Easton's 

 Syrup is a convenient form in which to give the 

 former from 3 drops to \ drachm in a teaspoon- 

 ful of water thrice daily after, food. Some prefer 

 liquor arsenicalis, the dose of which would be from 



3 to 20 drops, according to the size of the animal. 

 Remember that you should always commence with 

 a very small dose of arsenic, increasing the quantity 

 gradually and decreasing in the same way. Never 

 administer on an empty stomach, and stop if there 

 is any nausea or eyes become red or tongue white. 



COLIC. The sufferer exhibits signs of consider- 



