WORMS.] 



THE DOG, AND ITS VAlilETIES; 



[the TELLOWa. 



tines dogs are very subject. They are of three 

 kinds : — Ascarides, or small thread-like worms, 

 not more than half an inch, in length. The 

 seat of these is principally in the rectum ; and 

 hence the common symptoms of their presence 

 is the doGf drajrgino: his fundament along the 

 ground. Puppies are frequently afflicted with 

 them. The teres, but of a white colour, and 

 having the form and appearance of an earth- 

 worm. The tcenia, or tape-worm, several 

 inches in length, and flat for nearly its whole 

 extent. 



Another description of worm, peculiar to very 

 young puppies, and generated in their intes- 

 tines in great quantities, is known to dog 

 breeders. It is described as being from two 

 to four inches in length, of a dirty-white 

 colour, round, and pointed at both extremities. 

 Sometimes this kind of vermes collect in balls 

 or masses, to the number of a dozen or more 

 in each mass. "When puppies have them they 

 usually fall away in flesh, until they actually 

 reach the extreme of emaciation ; when fits 

 supervene, and death soon carries them off. 

 The deaths are attributed to distemper; but 

 worms are the true cause, and these of the 

 description here described. 



Erom the circumstance of bounds some- 

 times vomiting worms similar to earth-worms, 

 it has been supposed that these have their seat 

 in the windpipe. If this be the case, it has 

 been recommended that they should have 

 thirty drops of spirits of turpentine, suspended 

 in a little castor-oil, every other day, for about 

 a week ; or they might be allowed to inhale 

 chlorine gas for about half-an-hour, but not to 

 have more gas in the kennel than a man can, 

 without much annoyance, bear himself. 



About a teaspoonful of ground glass mixed 

 in lard has also been recommended for fox- 

 hound puppies afflicted with this malady. 

 They take it without trouble when fasting; 

 and in about twelve hours, some Glauber's 

 salts, in milk, after being dissolved in hot 

 water, should be given to them. This they 

 will lap up readily. 



Mr. Eichardson found the following mode 

 of treatment efficacious, and, as he had great 

 experience in rearing puppies, his advice is 

 exceedingly valuable : — " Give, say on Monday, 

 A small pill formed of Venice turpentine and 

 flour, from the size of a very minute pea to 

 482 



that of a small marble, according to the size 

 and age of the pup. The former will suffice 

 for Blenheim or Iving Charles' pups, Italian 

 greyhounds, &c. ; the latter for bloodhounds, 

 Newfoundlands, mastiffs, &c. On Tuesday, 

 give a small dose of castor-oil ; a teaspoonful 

 to the smaller, a tablespoonful to the larger 

 breeds: in neither case, however, quite full. 

 On Wednesday, give notliing ; on Thursday, 

 give the turpentine as before ; on Friday, the 

 oil ; on Saturday, nothing ; and so on. 



" Keep your puppies' beds dry, clean, and 

 sweet. Do not feed them too often, or on food 

 of too nutritious a quality. Puppies should 

 not be fed oftener than three times a day. 

 The morning and evening meals may be given 

 at 9 A.M. and 7 p.m., and should consist 

 of vegetables — potatoes, oatmeal, &c. — well 

 boiled, and given with milk. At two, you 

 may give meat with the mess, but not too 

 abundantly. Between the meals give a drink 

 of buttermilk, or milk and water." 



The general symptoms of the presence of 

 all or any of these worms are : — Ecetid breath, 

 staring coat, voracity, or total loss of appetite ; 

 violent purging, or obstinate constipation, witli 

 great emaciation, sometimes fits. Venice tur- 

 pentine is a good remedy, and is effective in 

 slight cases. Aloes are useful for dislodging 

 worms from the rectum, as they pass down 

 the intestines, almost unchanged; but pow- 

 dered glass is the safest and most efficacious. 

 Give it in pills formed with butter and ginger, 

 and covered with soft paper. 



THE YELLOWS, 



This is the disease which Mr, Eichardson 

 treats under the head of Jaundice, and to 

 which young dogs are very subject. It is 

 often the precursor of distemper, and arises 

 from an alFectiou of the liver. Its symptoms 

 are a general dullness, a disinclination for 

 food, a yellowness in the whites of the eyes, as 

 also over the surface of the skin ; a dry and 

 parched mouth ; a general emaciation aud 

 debility, accompanied with vomiting greenish 

 matter ; loss of consciousness, often succeeded 

 by death. 



If taken in time it may be cured ; but it 

 makes its approaches so imperceptibly, tliat it 

 has frequently fastened in the animal several 

 weeks before it has been observed ; and, in 



