226 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



whatever beyond careful nursing is adopted the results are 

 just as favorable. 



While there may be some truth in this so far as typical 

 cases are concerned, it is not a safe doctrine to teach to 

 the young practitioner, nor a position with which medicine 

 should be content even if the assertion be true, which we 

 very much doubt. Directly opposite has been the prac- 

 tice in regard to local applications, some recommending 

 them warm and some cold. 



But as a matter of experience, it is found that it is un- 

 wise to apply either kind to dogs under ordinary circum- 

 stances. Heavy poultices are apt to shift, the dog is rest- 

 less, and in changing any sort of moist applications the 

 animal is apt to get chilled, so that this mode of treatment 

 may be considered quite unsuitable for dogs. The same 

 may be said of cold applications. 



The chest-jacket^ before referred to, we have found in- 

 valuable in all chest diseases. The object is to have a 

 close-fitting coat or jacket, which shall absorb the moist- 

 ure from the animal's skin and protect it from varia- 

 tions in the external temperature. The exact construc- 

 tion is of minor importance provided that it is of even 

 thickness, fits closely, and can be kept in place. Dogs 

 do not usually attempt to remove such a comfortable 

 body bandage. 



In winter it may be made of two layers of flannel or 

 horse blanket, with or without padding of cotton-wool 

 quilted in ; and it becomes still more effective if it fit 

 neatly and be sewed on the dog in such a way as to lie 

 close and feel comfortable, the object being to prevent 

 access of cold air. For summer use the whole may be 



