DIARRHCEA. 413 



description, furtlier than to remark tliat the motions may be 

 merely loose, marking slight irritation, or there may be a good 

 deal of mucus (slime), which is an evidence of great irritation of 

 the membrane : or, again, there may be shreds or lumps of a 

 white substance resembling boiled white of egg, in which case the 

 inflammation has run very high. Lastly, blood may be poured 

 out, marking either ulceration of the bowel, when the blood is 

 bright in colour, or an oozing from the small intestines, when it 

 is of a pitchy consistence and chocolate colour ; or a similar oozing 

 from the large intestines, when the blood is similar to that drawn 

 from a vein. It may also be poured out from piles, which are 

 not uncommon in the dog, though they seldom bleed as they do 

 in the human being, the horizontal position of the dog accounting 

 for this immunity. The treatment for these several conditions 

 will vary considerably. If there is reason to believe that there is 

 irritation from improper food, a dose of oil (15) will clear all away 

 and nothing more is needed. In slight cases of mucous diarrhoea, 

 laudanum may be added to a small dose of oil (7), and if this 

 does not have the desired eflect, try (6), (8), or (9). Bleeding 

 from an ulcerated surface or from the small intestines seldom occurs 

 excej)t in distemper, and can rarely be restrained when severe. 

 Relief may be attempted by the bolus (18) or the pill (19), but 

 the shock to tlie system is generally too great to allow of perfect 

 health being restored. In case of bleeding from the large intes- 

 tines, the chalk mixture (G), together with the bolus (18), will 

 often avail. Rice-water should be given as the only drink, and 

 well-boiled rice flavoured with milk as the only solid food. 



