COMMONER AILMENTS OF THE DOG IN CHINA AND SOME SIMPLE REMEDIES 65 



the ear with lukewarm water, and if soap be used take care that it is as free from 

 soda as possible. Castile soap which is very bland is as good as any. 



Lower the system with an opening medicine: a teaspoonful of Epsom salts 

 being particularly valuable. A bread poultice packed into the ear, and judiciously 

 kept warm, will probably draw some, if not all, of the obstructing matter. In a day 

 or two wash out the ear and pack in a little boracic acid with salicilic cotton, and 

 put on a canker cap to prevent the ejection of the packing. A.fter two or three days 

 removing the packing and most likely seeds will be found attached to it. If the ear is 

 not quite clean and free, repeat the treatment. Other well-tried remedies are 

 eucalyptus ointment or iodoform plugged in with cotton wool. 



The advantages of injections of nitrate of silver, liquor plumbi, and burnt alum 

 are not so certain, though the zinc lotion, 12 grains sulphate of zinc to the ounce of 

 water is often found to do good. 

 The Chinese make use of a camphor preparation called Ping Picn (J^Jc /r) but it 



seems rather to alleviate the irritation than to remove the cause. 



Injections should have the chill taken off, even if only applied by a slightly warmed 



spoon. The dog will appreciate this attention. 



CHOREA OR vST. VITUS' DANCE. 



Fortunately this distressing complaint is but little known in this part of the world 

 although a case recently came to light where several puppies in one kennel were visited 

 with it. The Chorea most likely was but the sequela of distemper. However this is what 

 an authority, Mr. Hugh Dalziel, has to say on the subject "Chorea arises from some 

 derangement of the nervous system and generally exists as a sequence of distemper, 

 when it is known among kennel man as the "twitch." It may arise, however, from other 

 causes producing a disturbing effect on the nervous system, the irritation caused by 

 worms or long continued impaired digestion. By far the more common cause, however, is 

 distemper, the brain receiving some inquiry in that variety of the disease known as "Head 

 Distemper." The symptom indicating Chorea is a peculiar, involuntary twitching of the 

 muscles which often causes the animal to fall helplessly on his side 'all of a heap.' Few, 

 if any dogs seriously afflicted with Chorea ever recover. As to its treatment, the first thing 

 is to attend to the animal's general health and to endeavour to accomplish the correction 

 of the action of the bowels rather by a careful regulation of diet than by a resort to 

 physic. The remedies recommended are arsenic, sulphate of zinc, nitrate of silver, and mix 

 vomica and its preparations. The electric battery has proved of great benefit in many 

 cases and I advise a trial of it." 



Sulphate of zinc pills. — 18 grains sulphate of zinc. 



i8 „ extract of gentian. 

 12 ,, . Powder for compound rhubarb pill. 

 Make into 12 pills. — Dose for a dog 20 lb. weight, I pill twice a day. 

 Nitrate of silver pills. — 2 grains nitrate of silver in bread. 



Make into 24 pills. — Dose for a dog 20 lb. weight, I pill twice a day before feeding. 



