68 WITH BOAT AND GUN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



exercise. The food should be similar in character to that offered in the case of 

 diarrhoea. 



In very acute cases a hot linseed poultice applied to the stomach will be found 

 to be highly beneficial while a mustard plaster or a rag soaked in Elliman's embroca- 

 tion are good substitutes. 



As regards medicine the disease suggests something astringent and anodyne, and 



tlie mixture of 



I grain opium 



5 grains sulphate of copper 



may be given two or three times a day. An enema of starch with a little opium or 



brandy in it often affords early relief. 



DYSPEPSIA. 



Dogs suffer much more from indigestion than owners think. 

 Symptoms. — Listlessness, flatulency, hard, harsh coats, sometimes husk cough a vitiated 



appetite, the dog often despising wholesome food and giving a preference to filth and 



garbage. 

 Causes. — Want of proper exercise. Improper, irregular feeding. Who can wonder at dogs 



being victims of this complaint after witnessing the manner in which they are too 



often fed ? Rice, or rice and biscuits with an addition of kitchen refuse, the mixture 



moistened may be with a little tasteless gravy, are daily thrust before the animal in a 



too often greasy, dirty tin. Not meeting with the dog's fancy the food is probably 

 . left untouched all night, and what remains in the morning, after being staled by 



numberless insects, is possibly utilized in the next meal. All dogs, of course, are not 



treated like this, but no fancy picture is here drawn of the way only too many dogs 



are fed. 

 Suggested Remedies.— Try a moderate dose of starvation. Change the character of the 



food at once, and offer something appetizing in the smallest quantity at long intervals. 



Once in 10 days a whole meal of chopped raw lean meat will both be appreciated 



and do good. 



Exercise must not be forgotten, and the more enjoyable and lively it is made the 



better. 



FITS. 



Fits are of many kinds and arise from various causes but do not as a rule attack full 

 grown, well nourished dogs. Their victims are generally puppies and often as not their 

 occurrence is due to the presence of worms. The epileptic is the form more frequently met 

 with which, unfortunately, at first sight has often been taken for rabies. 

 Symptoms. — Unmistakable. The animal usually falls over on his side, and champs and 



froths furiously, the convulsive spasms attack the muscles and he remains a quivering 



helpless mass. 

 Causes. — Worms, teething, nervous irritation, exertion after feeding, especially when the 



dog is of full habit and out of condition, excitement, fear, suppressed evacuations. 



In-bred animals are very prone to the complaint. 



