CONST IP A riON. 559 



white mucus, showing the heat and semi-dry condition of the gut. The stool is sometimes so 

 dry as to fall to pieces like so much oatmeal. In worse cases there is straining without the 

 power to accomplish defecation, the stretched and attenuated rectum being quite unequal to the 

 task of expelling its contents. 



There is generally also a deficiency of bile in the motions, and, in addition to simple 

 costiveness, we have more or less loss of appetite, with a too pale tongue, dulness, and sleepi- 

 ness, with slight redness of the conjunctiva. Sometimes constipation alternates with diarrhoea, 

 the food being improperly commingled with the gastric and other juices, ferments, spoils, and 

 becomes, instead of healthy blood-producing chyme, an irritant purgative. 



Treatment. The treatment must of course have reference to the cause of the complaint, 

 but, in all cases of habitual constipation, we must depend more upon hygienic treatment than 

 upon the exhibition of medicines. Avoid purgatives as a rule, at least, for to a certain 

 extent mild doses of castor-oil, compound rhubarb pill, or olive-oil, will at first be neces- 

 sary. Sometimes an enema will be required, if the medicine will not act ; and there are cases 

 in which it may be found necessary to break down a hard mass of compacted faecal matter 

 with the stalk of a small spoon before this can be injected. 



Give the dog plenty of exercise and a swim daily (with a good run after the swim), or 

 instead of the swim a bucket bath. This forms a capital natural purgative, for by the sudden 

 immersion the blood is sent bounding inwards, and a renewed flow of the secretions is the happy 

 result. 



The use of the morning bucket bath, first thing after the animal has been turned out, is 

 much to be recommended, but care must be taken to dry well down after it. 



Regulate the diet. Give oatmeal, rather than flour or fine bread, as the staple of his diet, 

 but a goodly allowance of meat is to be given as well, with occasionally cabbage or boiled liver, 

 or even a portion of raw liver. Let the dog be as much as possible in the open air. There is 

 nothing so good as plenty of exercise in the fields for this troublesome complaint. You may 

 give a bolus before dinner, such as the following : 



R Pil. rhei co. ... ... gr. i. ad gr. v. 



Pulv. ipecac. ~) 



Quina, } - a " & * ad gr 1J - 



Ext. tarax. ... ... gr. iij. ad gr. x. 



M. 



Purified ox bile does an immense deal of good in old dogs with a tendency to constipation. 

 The dose is from one to five grains. If there is a deficiency of bile in the stools, as known by 

 their whitish colour, then give twice a day nitric acid dil., and juice of taraxacum, from three to 

 fifteen drops of the former to half a teaspoonful up to two teaspoonfuls of the juice, in a 

 little water. 



The mildest of purgatives are to be given no longer than they are actually required. As 

 soon as we can get the dog's bowels to act in a natural way but not before we may tone the 

 dog up by giving cod-liver oil and quinine, or the phosphate of iron or zinc, in a pill. 



9. Impaction, and 10. Obstruction. 



This accident may occur either in the stomach or some portion of the intestinal canal. It is 

 dangerous at the best, but if unskilfully treated is sure to end in death. 



Impaction of the stomach in a dog is the result of overfeeding on some indigestible substance 



