HEMORRHOIDS. 56l 



the other. At times a tumour may be detected on the site of the accident. The disease, 

 or accident, usually ends fatally in a few days. 



The treatment of these cases must be carried on much upon the same principle as that for 

 enteritis by leeching to the abdomen and hot fomentations, and either calomel and opium by 

 the mouth or the subcutaneous injection of morphia. 



Now, if the obstruction to the bowels is caused by hardened fasces, impacted bones, &c., the 

 symptoms will be altogether of a more chronic nature, and the obstinate constipation will be the 

 most prominent of these, and the constitutional disturbance will not be of so severe a nature, nor 

 will the vomiting be of a stercoraceous character, although it may finally become so ; and 

 although the belly may become tympanitic, it does not do so so speedily as in a case ot 

 intussusception. 



Treatment of chronic obstructions. The first object is to relieve the bowel as speedily as 

 may be, but no harsh measures are justifiable. The obstruction may be in the rectum : this 

 must be explored, and if it be found filled with hardened faeces, these must be broken up, when 

 a simple enema should be given, which may be followed by castor-oil. Keep the dog as quiet 

 as possible, and administer occasionally a little beef-tea and brandy ; but give no solid food, 

 unless eggs may so be termed. 



Enemas ought to be thrown well up into the bowel by means of a long tube. 



It should be remembered that purgatives should never be given rashly in any kind of 

 obstruction. 



Two interesting cases of intussusception which recently occurred may here be noticed. The 

 dogs were Setters, both belonging to the same gentleman ; both had been running together, both 

 fell ill about the same time, and both died within a short time of each other. The post-mortem 

 revealed the cause of death. Now we usually call intussusception an accident, and so it is. Are 

 we to look upon the cases of these two Setters, then, as a mere coincidence ? The only cause 

 that could be assigned was deducted from the fact that they were both seen drinking largely 

 from a pond of putrid water. The poison of this water may have caused relaxation of the coats 

 of the bowel a condition favourable to intussusception or may have produced cramp or spasm 

 of a ring or two of the muscular coat, and hence the invagination. 



II. Hemorrhoids. 



Haemorrhoids, better known as piles, constitute a disease to which dogs are only too subject. 

 They consist of small round painful tumours which form at the base of the rectum, sometimes 

 inside the sphincter ani and at other times outside, originating in an abnormal state of the veins 

 of the part, and consequent congestion and tumefaction of the subcutaneous areolar tissue. 



Causes. The rectum of the dog is not only predisposed by nature to piles, but the habits of 

 the animal and his feeding have a great deal to do with their production. Remember, the dog's 

 rectum is comparatively narrow, and is plentifully supplied with a network of blood-vessels, and 

 by far the greatest portion of the venous blood is returned to the heart through the liver. Now, 

 the liver of the dog is large, and, as we all know, is easily put out of order ; when it is so, and 

 the circulation in the portal system is sluggish, the veins of the rectum are apt to become con- 

 gested. If, in addition to this, the bowels are constipated, the areolar tissue gets stretched 

 and loose, irritation is set up, and piles result. 



The habits, too, of dogs are likely to produce piles. They are so prone to pick up all sorts 

 of filth bits of greasy ropes, wood, leather, bones, &c. which, being mostly indigestible, have to 

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