BATHING. 83 



cholic. An infusion of oak or elm bark may, therefore, be 

 more properly injected in this way in such cases. 



The astringents used to check diarrhoea, or looseness, are 

 various. Rice milk, suet and milk, or boiled starch, are 

 either of them proper as an astring-ent diet. Starch clysters 

 may also be used. Opium, by the mouth, is sometimes use- 

 ful, in doses of half a grain to a grain, or more. Prepared 

 chalk, with gum arabic, and ipecacuanha, united in proper 

 proportions, forms, however, the best astringent 1 know of. 

 — See Looseness. 



.<sr*sr*vr- 



JBathmg, 



Both the warm and the cold bathings of dogs are attend- 

 ed, in many cases, with the happiest effects. Warm bathing 

 seems peculiarly useful in many complaints, and it is some- 

 times of itself a sovereign remedy. In inflammations, par- 

 ticularly of the bowels, it is highly proper. In lumbago 

 and other rheumatisms, which are very common to dogs, it 

 is attended with the best effects. In obstinate costiveness, it 

 will often relax the bowels when every other remedy has failed. 

 When internal injuries have been received from accidents, 

 it relaxes and prevents inflammation. In pupping, sometimes 

 great difficulty is experienced ; in which cases the warm bath 

 frequently relaxes the parts, and the young become more 

 easily expelled. In convulsions and spasms it is also excel- 

 lent. In obstructed urine, from an inflamed state of the neck 

 of the bladder, it has proved a most efficacious remedy. 



When a warm hath is used for a dog, the heat should be 

 regulated according to the case. In inflammations it should 

 be considerable, and in rheumatisms also ; but it must be re- 

 membered that, from habit, many human persons can bear, 

 without inconvenience, a heat that would be most distressing 

 to a dog; consequently, when it is attempted to ascertain 

 the heat by the hand alone, this circumstance should be con- 

 sidered. 100 to 102 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer 



