ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 



597 



tcrnatural jiiobility, and grating- sounds for our 

 guides. If the fracture be an open one, tlie end of 

 the bone often protrudes. We mentioned the 

 mobility; this to the hands of the surgeon, remem- 

 ber, for the dog himself can rarely move the 

 limb. 



Trcattncnt. — We have, first and foremost, to 

 reduce the fracture — that is, to place the bones in 

 their natural position; and, secondly, we must so 

 bandage or splint the bone as to prevent its get- 

 ting out of place again, and thus enable it to 

 unite without disfigurement. 



Very little art suffices one to fulfil the first 

 intention, but correct and successful splinting is 

 more difficult to attain, owing to the restlessness 

 of the dog's nature and the objection he generally 

 evinces to all forms of bandaging. Happily, the 

 fractures that are most easily set and reunited are 

 just those that are commonest in the dog — namely, 

 those of the long bones of either fore or hind 

 legs. The splints used may be either wood or 

 tin, or better perhaps than either — because more 

 easily shaped and moulded — gutta pcrcha. This 

 latter is cut into slips, and placed in moderately 

 hot water to soften it. The fractured limb is mean- 

 while set and covered with a layer or two of lint, 

 to arm it against undue pressure. The slips of 

 softened gutta-percha are next placed in position 

 lengthwise, before and behind, and gently tied 

 with tape. If a layer of starched bandage is now 

 rolled round, all the splinting- will be complete. 

 I have been successful in treating fractures with 

 the starched bandage alone. Care must be taken, 

 however, not to apply either splints or bandages 

 too tightly, else stoppage of the circulation may 

 be the result, and consequent inflammation or gan- 

 grene itself. Some little care and " can " is neces- 

 sary in applying the starched bandage. After 

 setting the limb, pad it well with lint, then apply 

 two or three strips of strong brown paper dipped 

 in the starch; over this goes the roller, well 

 saturated with thick starch, over all the limb, 

 including the joints, upper and lower. Remem- 

 ber, it must go -very lightly over the actual seat 

 of injury, your object being to keep the parts 

 in apposition without doing anything that is likely 

 to e.xcite inflammation. Put over all a tem- 

 porary splint — say of tin — to be kept on until the 

 starch dries, which will take fully thirty hours. 

 If there be a wound, a trap can be cut in the 

 bandage for the purpose of dressing. 



Fracture of a rib or ribs is not an uncommon 

 occurrence, and is to be treated by binding a broad 

 flannel roller around the chest, but not too tightly, 

 as this would give the animal great pain, as well 

 as dvspno^a. Keep him confined and at rest, to 

 give the fractured parts a chance of uniting. 



Little constitutional treatment is required. Let 

 the diet be low at first, and give an occasional 

 dose of castor-oil. 



Bowels, Inflammation of. — Great pain and 

 tenderness, restlessness ; dog cannot bear the parts 

 touched. Heat and fever. Examination guides 

 to diagnosis. Vomiting, diarrhcca, or constipa- 



tion. ]\Iay be mistaken for poisoning. Generally 

 caused by worms, indigestible food, eating car- 

 rion, or the impaction of a bone. 



Treatment. — Castor oil, with a few drops of 

 laudanum, to begin with. Hot fomentations and 

 poultices. Keep quiet and cool. A little cold 

 «-ater to drink, or equal parts of milk and lime 

 water. After bowels are moved, a little laudanum 

 in solution of chloroform thrice daily. Sloppy 

 diet, corn flour made with ^'g'^, arrow-root, beef- 

 lea, or Bovril. The dog in convalescence to wear 

 a broad flannel liandage. 



Breeding, To Prevent. — To prevent a bitch from 

 breeding when slic has gone astray syringe out 

 the womb with a solution of alum and water, a 

 solution of Condy's fluid, or of quinine. This 

 should be done promptly. 



Bronchitis. — Might be called very severe cold, 

 or its extension downwards to lining membranes 

 of bronchi and lungs. Caused by cold, chill, or 

 long exposure while no food in stomach. 



Symptoms. — There is always more or less of 

 fever, with fits of shivering and thirst, accom- 

 panied with dulness, a tired appearance, and loss 

 of appetite. The breath is short, inspirations 

 painful, and there is a rattling of mucus in chest 

 or throat. 



The most prominent symptom, perhaps, is the 

 frequent cough. It is at first dry, ringing, and 

 evidently painful ; in a few days, however, or 

 sooner, it softens, and there is a discharge of 

 frothy mucus with it, and, in the latter stages, 

 of pus and ropy mucus. This is often swal- 

 lowed by the dog ; and when a good deal of it is 

 ejected it gives the animal great relief. Often 

 the cough is most distressing, and there may be 

 fits of shortness of breath. As additional symp- 

 toms we have a hot, dry mouth, and very prob- 

 ably constipation and high-coloured urine. Some- 

 times one of the bronchial tubes during the pro- 

 gress of the disease gets completely plugged by a 

 piece of lymph or phlegm. The portion of lung 

 thus cut off from all communication with the air 

 gets collapsed and finally condensed. 



Prognosis. — Generally favourable, unless in old 

 dogs, in which debility soon becomes marked. .^V 

 slight case can be cured in a few days, a more 

 severe may last for weeks. 



Treatment. — Keep the patient in a comfortable, 

 well-ventilated apartment, with free access in and 

 out if the weather be dry. Let the bowels be 

 freely acted upon to begin with, l)ut no weakening 

 discharge from the bowels must be kept up. After 

 the bowels have been moved we should commence 

 the exhibition of small doses of tartar emetic with 

 squills and opium thrice a day. If the cough is 

 very troublesome, give this mixture : Tincture of 

 squills, 5 drops to 30; paregoric, 10 drops to 60: 

 tartar emetic, one-sixteenth of a grain to i grain ; 

 syrup and water a sufficiency. Thrice daily. 



We may give a full dose of opium every night, 

 [n mild cases the treatment recommended for 

 :atarrh will succeed in bronchitis. Carbonate of 

 ammonia may be tried ; it often does good, the 



