TREATMENT OF COMMON AILMENTS 319 



naturally up to the last. The mildest cases are fre- 

 quently the worst. They will drag on for weeks, 

 the patients only seeming slightly ill, but at the same 

 time they make no distinct progress towards re- 

 covery. My experience has been that fits are likely 

 to appear at last, and then the end. At other times 

 it may be chorea. 



It cannot be too strongly emphasised that one 

 must be patient, and not endeavour to hasten con- 

 valescence. Many a dog has been lost by a prema- 

 ture return to solid dietary because his owner did 

 not consider him bad enough to continue on invalid 

 foods. You can never feel really safe under two 

 months, and sometimes it will be more than that. 

 The disease seems most prevalent in damp and 

 muggy weather, and undoubtedly the chances of re- 

 covery are then smaller. A dry, frosty atmosphere 

 is not so inimical, provided reasonable care is taken 

 to guard the patient against the cold. 



The first thing to do is to provide a warm room, 

 the temperature of which should never fall below 

 60, and it is better to have it still warmer. Then 

 put on a coat, not in a perfunctory manner, but one 

 that will really keep the dog warm and protect his 

 chest. First of all get a plentiful suf )ly of gamgee 

 wool, with which the chest, sides, and back as far 

 as the loins should be covered. Over this put a 

 flannel jacket fashioned in this way : Make two holes 

 about a foot from one end, through which the front 

 legs should be thrust. Then draw the material well 

 over the back and round the throat, and sew up. 

 The ordinary coat tied underneath is of little use, 

 as the most vulnerable organs are more or less 

 unprotected . 



