200 Diseases of the Digestive System. 



Ascites, or Drops of the Abdomen, is the frequent 

 result of peritonitis, but it may arise from conditions 

 totally apart from it, as anaemia following continued 

 asthma or skin diseases, derangement of the liver, &c. 

 Cold and damp are common causes in young dogs. 



Symptoms. — Unusual enlargement of the abdomen, 

 pale mucous membranes, general coldness and wasting 

 of the body, rough staring coat, and faUing of the hair, 

 nausea, frequent vomition, and indigestion generally, 

 husky cough, hurried respiration, subacute fever, intoler- 

 able thirst, dropsical states of the body generally, 

 oppressed breathing, sinking, and death. 



Treatment. — Tonics, with vegetable bitters and mild 

 diuretics are useful. Absorption of the fluid may be 

 promoted by regular, but small, doses of digitalis and 

 iodide of iron. Cod-liver oil is highly nutritive and suffi- 

 ciently laxative to promote free action of the bowels. 

 The whole of the fluid may be drawn away by what is 

 known as " tapping the belly," after which support must 

 be afforded by a bandage placed round the body, and 

 the operation may be required on future occasions 

 •to relieve the oppressed breathing from repeated accumu- 

 lation of the fluid. 



Hepatitis, or Inflammation of the Liver., is common 

 to overfed and pampered animals, especially house pets 

 taking little or no exercise. The disease in the acute 

 form is said to be more common in tropical countries, 

 and even the South of France, than in Great Britain, 

 where it more frequently assumes the congestive form. 



Syjfiptoms. — The early manifestations are a dry or 

 husky cough, accelerated pulse and respiration, rigors, or 

 more commonly shivering fits, and pain on the right side 

 which, is aggravated by pressure ; nausea and vomiting 

 are present. In later stages the mucous membranes and 

 the skin exhibit a tinge of yellow, which becomes more 

 intense with the progress of the malady. The bowels are 

 alternately relaxed or confined, and the evacuations are 

 pale, the urine is deficient, having an orange colour ; the 

 pain of the right side is increased, and enlargement over 

 the region of the liver is evident ; bile mingles with the 



