154 



sbnietinu's by absolute suffocation ; in others xUe 

 cough fairly wears out the dog by its violence and 

 constancy. In some cases fits become very frequent ; 

 and in otiiers the termination is by dropsy, and tliis 

 not unfrcquently. 



ASTRINGENTS. 



Astringents are substances, that, by their bracing 

 quaUty, are used to check immoderate secretions or 

 fluxes. When used to restrain a fiux of blood, they 

 are termed styptics. Of tliis kind is alum, dra- 

 gon blood, &c. A very usef^il domestic styptic is 

 puff ball, or scraped hut or cobweb. Soiiietimes 

 there is in dogs a secretion of b>ood from the penis, or 

 liiglier up from the Madder or kidneys ; and in 

 bitches from the womb as well. In these cases a 

 small proportion of alum., with a large one of japan 

 earth, is a most excellent astringent. I have used 

 likewise sugar of lead with success ; but it requires a 

 very judicious hand to administer it. Used as an in- 

 jection into the womb, it occasions violent cholic ; 

 but given internally by the mouth, no such symptoms 

 lake place, if given with caution. 



The astringents used to check diarrhoea or purging 

 are various. Rice milk is very excellent. Starch is also 

 good, and in violent cases it may be given in clysters 

 as well as by the mouth. Opium, in doses of half a 

 grain to a grain, sometimes prove useful ; but opium 

 is very uncertain in its action on dogs : in this respect, 

 sometimes, so far from proving an astrhigent, it proves 

 a purgative. It may be remarked here, that opium 

 cannot be made a poison to dogs : no quantity will 

 poison them. A very large dose given, is soou 



