SIMPLE REMEDIES. 537 



Take, then, a case of simple fever. This is sometimes called ephemeral fever, because it is 

 supposed only to last for about a day.* Towards evening the dog will seem dull and dispirited, and 

 either refuse his food or eat lazily ; his nose may not be hot, nor his eye injected, but under the 

 thighs greater heat than usual will be felt ; and, if the dog's owner has been in the habit of feeling 

 his pulse in health, he will now find it is increased in frequency, and he will be sensible, too, 

 of a greater heat than usual on the top of the head. Now what has to be done in this case is 

 simplicity itself. First give a pill, compounded of from one-sixteenth of a grain of podophyllin 

 for a Toy, up to half a grain or more for a St. Bernard or a dog of that size, mixed with from 

 three to fifteen grains of extract of dandelion. This at once ; then before sleeping-time give 

 from a tea-spoonful up to six drachms of Mindererus spiritf in a little water, adding thereto from 

 five drops to a tea-spoonful of sweet spirits of nitre. In the morning give a simple dose of 

 castor-oil from one tea-spoonful to one ounce. Exercise (moderate) and a non-stimulating diet 

 will soon make matters straight. 



Note. In this treatise, wherever the words occur " dose from say two drachms to one ounce," 

 the small dose has reference to a Toy dog, the large to one St. Bernard or Mastiff" size. 



Headache. Dogs frequently suffer from headache. The symptoms are dulness, quietness, 

 slight injection of the eye, and heat on the top of the head. Bathe the head for a quarter of an 

 hour at the time with cold water. Give in the morning a dose of Epsom salts, with a little 

 spirits of nitre. Give sulphur, a small dose, half a drachm to half an ounce, every second night ; 

 reduce the diet; and let the dog have abundance of fresh air. 



In ordinary Fits all one has to do is to let the dog alone, and keep meddlesome people 

 away. A whiff" or two of chloroform or ether may at times cut short an attack. 



Simple catarrli succumbs readily to a dose of Mindererus spirit at night, or to a dose 

 of Dover's powder. Foment the forehead and nose frequently with hot water. Give Epsom salts 

 with a little spirits of nitre in the morning, adding thereto from one to six grains of quinine. 



Simple constipatioTi is relieved by the bucket bath every morning, or a quarter of an hour's 

 swim before breakfast. A piece of raw liver is a good aperient Opening the bowels is not 

 curing constipation. The cause must be sought for and removed. Plenty of exercise and a non- 

 binding diet will do much good. 



Bleeding from wounds. Stopped by pressure, padding, cold water, or ice ; if the blood is 

 merely oozing, tincture of iron is infallible. 



Pain. Pain is inseparable from animal life, but much can be done to relieve it. No one 

 except a professional man ought to handle such powerful narcotics as opium and its prepara- 

 tions, but there are other means which any one can apply. The warm bath (not hot) is an 

 excellent remedy for little dogs. Then we have hot fomentations. These are used thus : 

 Have two pieces of flannel, each large enough to well cover the part. The flannel must be 

 three or four ply. Wring each piece, time about, out of water as hot as the hand will bear 

 it, and apply to the seat of pain ; keep on for half an hour at a time. This is best suited for 

 short-haired dogs. For long-haired there is nothing better than the bag of hot sand, or ironing 

 with a flat iron, if there is no skin-tenderness. 



Chloral is never to be given to produce sleep, or allay internal pain, without the orders of 

 a skilled veterinary surgeon ; but in cases of rheumatism, or great pain from injury, such as 

 broken bones, &c., a little may be given. The dose is from five grains to twenty or thirty. 



The hydropathic belt often does much good. It is used thus : A bandage is to be wrung 



* In the dog its usual duration is from one to five days, 

 t The solution of the acetate of ammonia. 



68 



