WORMS. 443 



half given at night, the remainder next morning, followed in an 

 hour by a dose of castor oil. 



GENERAX DROPSY (Anasarca). 



General Dropsy consists in serum infiltrated into the cellular 

 membrane, beneath the skin of the whole body, as shown by swell- 

 ing without redness, and " pitting " on the pressure of the finger 

 being removed. The immediate cause is to be looked for either in 

 general debility, by which the serum is not absorbed in due course, 

 or from defective action of the kidneys, by which the blood is 

 overcharged with it. More remotely, improper stimulants or gross 

 food wUl produce it, especially in foul and dirty kennels, and in 

 old and worn-out dogs when the liver is deficient in activity. 

 The treatment must vary with the cause, and it is therefore import- 

 ant that this should be ascertained at once. Thus, in case there 

 is merely general debility, tonics (62) or (63) will be the proper 

 remedies. If the kidneys are in fault, but merely torpid, the 

 diuretic bolus (40) or (41 ) may be relied on ; while, if they have 

 been inflamed, the treatment proper to that disease (see page 415) 

 must be resorted to. Sometimes, in a broken down constitution, 

 when the urine is mixed wath blood, small doses of cantharides 

 may be found beneficial, as advised by Mayhew ; but these cases 

 are so difiicult to distinguish, that it is only when veterinary aid 



