328 VETERINARY LECTURES 



congestion of the lungs, pneumonia, pleurisy, hydrothorax, and 

 asthma. When the animal is seen ailing, it should at once be put 

 into a warm, dry, well-ventilated room or kennel, with the bed well 

 raised from the floor, which should be covered with sawdust or 

 moss-litter. Should the weather be cold and raw, an oil-stove 

 (well guarded) put into the kennel will be found very serviceable, 

 keeping the room or kennel at a proper temperature. A mild dose 

 of opening medicine should first be administered, such as 2 to 8 

 drachms each of castor oil and syrup of buckthorn, according to the 

 size of the animal. When necessary, apply to each side of the chest, 

 behind the shoulders, some stimulative embrocation (par. 1066, No. I.), 

 over which apply a good layer of absorbent cotton-wool, and retain 

 it in its place with a bandage round the body ; or a piece of flannel 

 three or four ply thick, wrung out of hot water, may be rolled round 

 the body behind the shoulder, covered with a waterproof cover, and 

 secured with a bandage. The following medicine can also be ad- 

 ministered i.e., from 1 to 4 drachms of liquor ammonia acetatis, 



along with 20 to 60 drops of spirits of nitre, given every eight or ten 

 hours in 1 wineglassful of cold water or linseed tea. When a 

 cough is present and troublesome, the cough mixture for dogs 

 (par. 1064, No. III.) can be used twice daily, supplemented when 

 necessary by one of the aperient dog-pills noted in par. 320. 



530. After the active symptoms have abated, then tonics may 

 be serviceable. One teaspoonful each of Parrish's syrup and 

 glycerine given in water twice a day answers well, or 2 to 6 

 grains of sulphate of quinine in a wineglassful of port wine 

 may be administered. The food to be given must be of an easily 

 digestible nature, such as beef-tea, mutton or chicken broth, and 

 milk and bread. 



531. Asthma, or difficult breathing (pars. 519 and 529), is mostly 

 seen in aged, overfed, pampered dogs. It is generally due to im- 

 proper feeding, and is usually associated with liver complications. 

 For symptoms, treatment, and feeding, see par. 320. 



532. Distemper is a contagious, febrile disease of a specific 

 character, due to a septic organism, and although it may attack 



