DISEASES OF DOGS. 281 



dogs only have it. It however, generally attacks before the animal 

 arrives at eighteen months old. When it comes on very early, the 

 chances of recovery are very small. It is peculiarly fatal to grey 

 hounds, much more so than to any other kind of dog, generally 

 carr^'ing them off by excessive scouring. It is very contagious, but 

 it is by no means necessary that there should be contagion present 

 to produce it ; on the contrary, the constitutional liability to it is 

 such, that any cold taken may bring it on ; and hence it is very com- 

 mon to date its commencement from dogs being thrown into water, 

 or sliut out on a rainy day, &c. Tliere is no disease which pre. 

 sents such varieties as this, either in its mode of attack, or during 

 its continuance. In some cases it commences by purging, in others 

 by fits. Some have cough only, some waste, and others have 

 moisture from the eyes and nose, without any other active symptom. 

 Moist eyes, dullness, wasting with slight cough, and sickness, are 

 the common symptoms that betoken its approach. Then purging 

 comes on, and the moisture from the eyes and nose from mere mucus, 

 becomes pus or matter — there is also frequently sneezing, with a 

 weakness in the loins. When the disease in this latter case is not 

 speedily removed, universal palsy comes on — during the progress 

 of the complaint some dogs have fits. When one fit succeeds 

 another quickly, the recovery is extremely doubtful. Many dogs 

 are carried off rapidly by the fits or by purging ; other waste gradu- 

 ally from the running from the nose and eyes, and these cases are 

 always accompanied with great marks of putridity. 



253. The cure. In the early stages of the complaint give emetics ; 

 they are peculiarly useful. A large spoonful of common salt dis- 

 solved in three spoonfuls of warm water, has been recommended ; 

 the quantity of salt being increased according to the size of the dog, 

 and the difficulty of making him vomit. While a dog remains 

 strong, one every other day is not too much : the bowels should be 

 kept open, but active purging should be avoided. In case the com- 

 plaint should be accompanied with excessive looseness, it should be 

 immediately stopped by balls made of equal parts of opium, gum 

 arabic, prepared chalk, and conserve of roses with rice milk as food. 

 Two or three grains of James' powder may be advantageosuly given 

 at ni|jht, in cases where the bowels are not affected, and in the cases 

 where the matter from the nose and eyes betokens much putridity, 

 we have witnessed great benefits from balls made of what is termed 

 Friar's balsam, gum guaiacum, and chamomile flowers in powder. 

 Dogs in every stage of the disease should be particularly well fed. 

 A seton we have not found so useful as is generally supposed : 

 where the nose is much stopped rubbing tar on the upper part is 



