198 

 INFLAMED BOWELS. 



The intestines of do2;s are very irritable, and ex- 

 tremely subject to inflammation ; and the inflamma- 

 tions are of yarious kinds, according to tiie cause that 

 produces the affection. Distemper produces a species 

 of infiammation that shews itself by a constant purg- 

 ing. Dogs are very liable to rheumatism : but a 

 dog never has rheumatism that he does not have 

 more or less of inflammation of his bowels ; and this 

 is a peculiarity to the dog alone. In many cases the 

 bowels are the only seat of rheumatism, and which 

 produces a peculiar inflammation, easily distinguished 

 by one conversant with the diseases of dogs. See 

 Hheumatism. Poisons produce a most fatal in- 

 flammation on tlie bowels of dogs, the effects of 

 which are treated on imder the head Poisons. 

 Tinee kinds of inflammation are most connnou to 

 the intestines of dogs. One is that which is brought 

 on by rheujTiatism, which we have above alluded to ; 

 another kind, very common, is brouglst on by costive- 

 ness. Dogs will bear costiveness for many days be- 

 fore intiammation coines on ; but when it has come 

 on, it is with difficulty removed. It is known by the 

 gradual manner in which it attacks, and by its not 

 being accompanied with very active symptoms. The 

 dog appears dull, and dislikes to move ; he also hides 

 himself. Tlie costiveness is sometimes so complete, 

 t^iat nothing comes from him at all ; at others a few 

 drops of fcEces are strained out at every effort, and 

 whicli sometimes makes the observer suppose that 

 tlie dog is not bound but purged, and hence is induc- 

 ed to neglect the principal means of relief. When 

 iniiammatioii coiiics on fi'om siraiple costiveness, the 



