594 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



of their own tongues, and the annual's 

 saliva is certainly an antiseptic, but he nuist 

 not have a chance of lickinj;- the dressings 

 from sore patches. In susp<'cU'd ijoisim- 

 ings by mercury there is the usual sort ot 

 vomit, with great pain and distress and 

 difficulty of breathing; depression, leading 

 to convulsions, death. 



Give drenches of white of egg and water, 

 or flour and water; then an emetic; after- 

 wards demulcents and stinudants for de- 

 pression or collapse. Send for a good vet. 



Opium. — An emetic; strong coffee as a 

 ■drench ; electric shock to spine. 



Stkvciixine. or Nux vuiiiCA, may be 



thrown down tn a thig in some form or 

 pick'ed up in some of the vermin killers. 

 'Hie vomiting to be kept up with emetics. 

 Antidotes are animal charcoal, olive oil, 

 branch' and ammonia; perfect rest and 

 quiet, artilicial respiration, hot poultices to 

 stomach, hot bottle to back. 



In all cases of poisoning where the vet. 

 ciuite despairs of life, it is probably best to 

 permit the dog to pass quickly away. Still 

 it is not well to give up hopes too soon. 



The greatest difficulty we have to contend 

 with in such cases, lies in the fact that it is 

 sometimes impossible to find out what the 

 dog has swallowed. 



CHAPTER HI. 



ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 



Abrasion or Chafe. — Caused in many ways, and 

 on any part of body. Usually by do.i;'s own teoth, 

 as in bitinp an itching^ part. By skin trouble or 

 accident. 



Treatment. — If accidental a Httle oxide of zinc 

 ointment. Wash dog after healed ; a very little 

 borax in the rinsing water. If by biting, damp 

 with solution of alum, zinc, or borax. If skin 

 disease, vide mange. Prevent biting and scratch- 

 ing. 



Abscess. — Forms on any jjortion of body, and 

 may be caused by blows, foreign bodies — as 

 thorns — and bruises. There are swelling, pain, 

 and heat, sometimes fever. 



Treatment. — Hot fomentations at first, then 

 poultice or wet lint kept damp by piece of oiled 

 silk. These will either disperse or bring to a 

 head. When matter forms, which can be ascer- 

 tained from the boggy feeling, free incision, 

 gently squeezing' out of matter. Keep wound open 

 by pledget of boric lint, that it may heal from 

 the bottom. Dress daily with sterilised lint, pad 

 of wool, and bandage. Constitutionally : Milk 

 <liet, a little gravy and meat, and g'reen vege- 

 tables. 



Albuminuria or Chronic Bright 's Disease. — 

 Only diagnosed by examination of urine. If a 

 little be boiled in test tube, and a drop or two of 

 strong nitric acid added, cloudiness or white sedi- 

 ment. General symptoms : Loss of condition, dry 

 nose, staring coat, frequent micturition ; some- 

 times a Httle paralysis of bladder. 



'Treatment. — Unsatisfactory. Care in diet : Milk, 

 barley water — easily prepared from the patent 

 barley of the shops, which is also one of the be^t 

 ■<jf demulcents. Mixed diet : Steeped biscuits, meat, 

 iish, Bovril, eggs, pudding. Medicine : Oxide or 



carbonate of iron pills, as for human beings, one- 

 quarter pill for Toys, half for Terriers, while for 

 large dogs two pills thrice a clay. 



Amaurosis (also called guita sercna from the 

 dilated pupil and glassy look). — A form of blind- 

 ness seen in the clog, and depending on a par- 

 tially paralysed state of the nerves. 



The eye is peculiarly clear and the pupil 

 dilated, perhaps immovably so. The gait of the 

 animal attracts attention ; he staggers somewhat, 

 and seems unable to avoid stumbling against ob- 

 jects in his way, while his expression seems 

 meaningless. 



Treatment. — Unsatisfactory. The strictest atten- 

 tion, however, must be paid to the general health 

 and the feeding'. If the disease seems induced 

 by the presence of worms, they must be got rid 

 of; if by foul mouth and decayed teeth, see to 

 these. If the gutta serena follows violence to the 

 liead, in which case it is more often limited to one 

 eye, put the animal on low diet, give a cooling 

 aperient, and keep him strictly quiet for a time. 



In amaurosis from weakness, tonics, such as the 

 tincture of iron, to begin with, followed in a week 

 by zinc, from half to four grains of the sulphate 

 in a pill, with extract of dandelion. This is an 

 excellent nervine tonic, but must be used for a 

 month at least. A small blister behind each ear 

 may also be tried. 



Anaemia (want of blood). — General weakness, 

 paleness of gums and tongue. Sometimes con- 

 stipation, and many complications. Loss of appe- 

 tite. 



Treatment. — (ienerous diet. Life in the fresh 

 air. Tincture of iron, three drops for Toy, twenty 

 for Mastiff size, thrice daily. Or nill containing 

 from one to five grains of reduced iron thrice daily. 



