OF DOGS UNDER DISEASE. 93 



minister the remedy. Now and then, dogs prove very refractory, 

 and no small degree of force is necessary to get any medicine down. 

 In general cases, however, a slight degree of dexterity will accom- 

 plish the purpose, the particulars of which are detailed below'". 



Dogs under disease are very tender animals, and require very 

 great attention and care to insure their recovery : it is, however, 

 too common with many persons to neglect them under these cir- 

 cumstances ; and if they are placed in a cold room, or an out-house, 

 with stale or broken victuals and water placed before them, it is 

 frequently all the attention they experience : unless, perhaps, to 

 all this may be added, something of doubtful efficacy as a remedy, 



*° The best method of administering remedies. — Place the dog, if of moderate 

 size only, upright, on his hind legs, between the knees of a seated person, 

 with his back inwards (a very small dog may be taken altogether into the lap, 

 and a very large one the giver may bestride). Apply a napkin round his 

 shoulders, bringing it forwards over the fore legs, by which he is secured from 

 resisting. The mouth being now forced open by the pressure of the fore 

 finger and thumb upon the lips of the upper jaw, the medicine can be conve- 

 niently introduced with the other hand, and passed sufficiently far into the 

 throat to ensure its not being returned. The mouth should now be closed, 

 and it should be kept so, until the matter given has been seen to pass down. 

 When the animal is too strong to be managed by one person, another assist- 

 ant is requisite to hold open the mouth ; which, if the subject is very refrac- 

 tory, is best effected by a strong piece of tape applied behind the holders or 

 fangs of each jaw. The difference between giving liquid and solid medicines 

 is not considerable. A hall or holtis should be passed completely over the root 

 of the tongue, and dexterously pushed some way backwards and downwards. 

 When a liquid remedy is given, if the quantity is more than can be swallowed 

 at one effort, it should be removed from the mouth between each deglutition, or 

 the dog may be strangled. The head should also be completely secured, and 

 a little elevated, to prevent the hquid remedy from again running out. Balls 

 of a soft consistence, and those composed of nauseous ingredients, should be 

 wrapped in silver, or other thin paper, and greased, or they may occasion so 

 much disgust as to be returned. Medicines wholly without taste, as mercu- 

 rials, antimonials, &c. may be frequently given in the food ; but sometimes a 

 considerable inconvenience attends this, which is, that if the deception is dis- 

 covered by the dog, he will obstinately reftise his food for some time afterwards. 

 The purging salts may also be sometimes given in food, being mistaken by 

 the animal for the sapid effect produced by common salt. 



