192 Diseases of the Digestive System. 



sign of worms. Puppies suffer frequently from changes 

 in the quaUty of the mother's milk, and it also appears 

 in pregnant bitches as a result of pressure on the neck of 

 the bladder. 



The Symptoms usually arise suddenly, the animal ex- 

 hibiting signs of discomfort by moaning. The sleep is 

 disturbed and he cries, rises, turns round, draws himself 

 together, again lies down, but soon rises and repeats the 

 various acts. Increase of pain is betokened by sharp and 

 frequent cries; he is more restless and assumes every 

 variety of position ; the back is arched upwards, and the 

 abdomen is distended when the colic is due to flatulence, 

 or small, hard, and contracted in obstinate constipation. 

 Fever is not present in true or simple colic. 



Treatment.— '^omo, practitioners resort to an emetic in 

 the first instance. Others prefer to put the animal at 

 once into a warm bath (90° to 104° F.), which frequently 

 reduces the spasm, and promotes free action of the 

 bowels, especially when conjoined with smart friction 

 over the surface. If the pain is severe, anti-spasmodic 

 draught No. 2 may be given at intervals of two or three 

 hours ; and mustard plasters may be applied to the sur- 

 face of the abdomen, or a stimulating liniment should be 

 rubbed in. When, however, some known irritant is 

 present, an oleaginous aperient should be given in the 

 first instance, as removal of the cause is specially 

 curative. 



Diarrhoea consists of a frequent passing of liquid 

 faeces, attended with pain, spasm, or colic, and more or 

 less straining. Acute cases have their origin in the 

 presence of some irritant, which induces a catarrhal state 

 of the mucous membrane, and inordinate secretion from 

 the numerous intestinal glands as well as the membrane 

 itself. Such irritants are food, intestinal worms, &c. 

 Diarrhoea is also the result of blood disorder, terminating 

 in wasting disease, or •* breaking up of the system." It 

 also depends upon an excessive secretion of bile, and 

 may be caused by repeated overdoses of purgative 

 medicines, inducing super-purgation. Chronic cases are 

 denoted by intractable indigestion, and great debility in 



