DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 255 



51 Ext. belladon gr. ij ; 



Ext nuc. Yom gr. v ; 



Ext. Barb, aloes 3 ss. 



M. Ft. pil. no. xxiv. 

 Sig. : One pill at niglit. 



Constipation may arise from a sluggish liver, in which 

 case '' gray powder '' (mercury and chalk), small doses of 

 calomel at night, followed by Epsom salts in the morning 

 and carefully watched, extract of dandelion, etc., are 

 worthy of trial. 



The author suggests as valuable remedies, in suitable 

 form, for use in many disorders of the digestive tract, 

 the officinal compound rhubarb pill and the compound 

 cathartic pill. The first consists of aloes and rhubarb 

 chiefly ; the latter, of colocynth, jalap, gamboge, and calo- 

 mel. The first may be given as a digestive pill ; the sec- 

 ond is excellent when the portal system is overloaded — i. e., 

 when the digestive organs are congested — when their cir- 

 culation is not free, as often happens in overfed, under- 

 exercised dogs 



These pills can be obtained coated with sugar or gela- 

 tin. One, except for the largest dogs, will suffice, given at 

 night on a very light supper, and followed by a good dose 

 of some sahne in the morning. For habitual constipation 

 the fluid extract of cascara sagrada has found favor. It 

 may be given with or without castor oil. It should be 

 given in capsules, as the taste is very unpleasant. However, 

 persistent medication is bad, and enemata of soap-suds 

 or the injection of a small quantity (teaspoonful) of glyc- 

 erin, with a little cold water added, by a small syringe, is 

 not much trouble. By all means accomplish the result by 



