6i6 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



the hair falls off, and on which may be noticed 

 a few pimples. Scabs form, the jiatches extend, 

 or come out on other parts of the body, head, 

 legs, belly, or sides. Skin becomes red in white- 

 haired dogs. Odour of this trouble very offen- 

 sive. More pain than itching seems to be the 

 symptomatic rule. Whole body may become 

 affected. 



Treatment. — Dress the affected parts twice a 

 week with the following : — 



Creosote, 2 drachms; linseed oil, 7 ounces; 

 solution of potash, i ounce. First mi.K the creo- 

 sote and oil, then add the solution and shake. 

 Better to shave the hair off around the patches. 

 Kennels must be kept clean with garden soap and 

 hot water, and all bedding burned after use. 

 From three months to si.x will be needed to cure 

 bad cases. 



Mange Proper is also caused by a parasite or 

 acarus, called the Sarcops canis. Unlike eczema, 

 this mange is spread from clog to dog by touch 

 or intercommunication, just as one person catches 

 the itch from another. 



TIte Symptoms. — At first these may escape 

 attention, but there are vesicles w'hich the dog 

 scratches and breaks, and thus the disease spreads. 

 The hair gets matted and falls off. Regions of 

 the- body most commonly affected, head, chest, 

 back, rump, and extremities. There may not be 

 much constitutional disturbance from the actual 

 injury to the skin, but from his suffering so much 

 from the irritation and the want of rest the 

 health suffers. 



Treatment. — Avoid the use of so-called dis- 

 infectants. Most of those sold as such are simply 

 deodorisers, and, applied to the skin, are useless. 

 Nor are they of much use in cleaning the kennels. 

 Nothing suits better for woodwork than, first, car- 

 bolic wash, and then a thorough scrubbing with 

 hot water and garden soap. 



Some ointment must be used to the skin, and as 

 I am writing for laymen only I feel chary in 

 recommending such strong ones as the green 

 iodide of mercury. If you do use it mix it with 

 twice its bulk of the compound sulphur ointment. 

 Do over only a part or two at a time. The dog 

 to be washed after three days. But the com- 

 pound sulphur ointment itself is a splendid 

 application, and it is not dangerous. 



(3) Skin Complaints from Vermin. — The treat- 

 ment is obvious — get rid of the cause. 



And now for my concluding advice in italics. 

 As their diagnosis is so difficult, whenever the 

 dog-owner is in doubt, make certain by treating 

 the dog not only by local applications but con- 

 stitutionally as well. In addition to good diet, 

 perfect cleanliness of coat, kennel, and all sur- 

 roundings, and the application of the ointment or 

 oil, let the dog have all the fresh air possible, 

 and exercise, but never over-exciting or too fatigu- 

 ing. Then a course of arsenic seldom fails to do 

 good. 



I do not believe in beginning the exhibition of 

 arsenic too soon. I prefer paying my first atten- 



tions to the digestive organs and state of the 

 bowels. The form of exhibition which I have 

 found suit as well as any is the tasteless Liquor 

 arsoiicalis. It is easily administered. It ought 

 to be given mixed with the food, as it ought to 

 enter the blood with the chyle from the diet. 

 It ought, day by day, to be gradually, not hur- 

 riedly, increased. Symptoms of loathing of food 

 and redness of conjunctiva call for the cessation 

 of its use for two or three days at least, when it 

 is to be recommended at the same size of dose 

 g'iven when left off. 



There are two things which assist the arsenic, 

 at least to go well with it; they are, iron in some 

 form and Virol. The latter will be needed when 

 there is much loss of flesh. A simple pill of sul- 

 phate of iron and extract of liquorice may be 

 used. Dose of Liquor arsenicalis, from i to 6 

 drops ter die to commence with, gradually in- 

 creased to 5 to 20 drops. 



Sluggish Liver. — Symptoms very obscure. 

 .•\ttcntion to general health. No dainties or 

 sugar. Fair proportion of meat. Allowance of 

 liver, boiled or raw, to keep bowels open. Ex- 

 tract of taraxacum in small doses. The douche 

 or bucket bath. 



Ticks. — - 1 have noticed these disagreeable blood- 

 suckers only on the heads and bodies of sporting 

 or Collie dogs, who had been boring for some 

 time through coverts and thickets. They soon 

 make themselves visible, as the body swells up 

 with the blood they suck until they resemble small 

 soft warts about as big as a pea. They belong to 

 the natural familv, Ixodiadir. 



Treatment. — If not very numerous they should 

 be cut off, and the part touched with a little turps. 

 The sulphuret of calcium will also kill them, 

 so will the more dangerous white precipitate, or 

 even a strong solution of carbolic acid, which 

 must be used sparingly, however. 



Tongue. — The tongue of a healthy dog should 

 be soft and of a pinky hue ; if white far back there 

 is some disorder of stomach or bowels, which must 

 be seen to. 



Tongue : Carbuncle, or unhealthy swelling 

 underneath. This used to be called blain; caused 

 by bad feeding and impure blood. The swelling 

 is under the tongue at one side, and there is an 

 increased flow of saliva of a foetid odour. The 

 swelling must be lanced by a vet., and the mouth 

 kept constantly clean with permanganate solu- 

 tion. 



Tongue, Inflammation of. — May arise from 

 bites. If so, wash out well with solution of per- 

 manganate of potash twice daily, and give a soft 

 diet, tripe, liver, etc., or porridge, or Spratts 

 Invalid Food. If much swelling, give an aperient. 

 An incision or two sometimes needed, but a vet. 

 must do this. The brutal and useless custom of 

 worming the tongue is now obsolete. 



Tongue, Ulceration of, and wounds that heal 

 badly, must be touched with caustic, and an 

 astringent boracic lotion used, about 15 grains to 

 I ounce of water. 



