94 GENERAL TREATMENT 



But when we consider how very tender many of these animals are 

 rendered by confinement and artificial habits, it will be clear that, 

 under sickness, they must require peculiar care and attention. 

 Warmth seems particularly congenial to the feelings of sick dogs, 

 and is often of more consequence to their recovery than is ima- 

 gined : many of their diseases degenerate into convulsions when 

 they themselves are exposed to cold. Cleanliness of every kind, 

 and a change of their litter or bed particularly, is very grateful to 

 them in many cases of putridity, as in distemper, &c. Complaints 

 purely inflammatory, it is evident, must be treated by abstinence ; 

 but, in all others, the weakness present must be combatted by nu- 

 tritious aliment. 



It is not sufiicient, as is often imagined, that food, particularly 

 of the common kind, be merely placed before a sick dog. In 

 many such cases, the appetite wholly fails : and, if even the animal 

 could eat, the stomach would not at this time digest hard meat, 

 or any of the common matters usually given to dogs. In these 

 instances, nourishment is best received from strong broths, gravy, 

 jelly, or gruel ; or, perhaps, best of all, from thick gruel and a 

 strong animal jelly, mixed ; for I have always remarked, that no 

 simple liquid will afford equal nutriment with one thickened with 

 flour or other meal. Sick dogs are also very fanciful, and often 

 require enticing to eat by the same arts we use towards children. 

 Fresh meat of any kind, but very lightly broiled, will sometimes 

 tempt them. At others, pork in particular is highly relished; 

 while, in some cases, raw meat alone will be takenii. But in al- 

 most all cases, if the slightest inclination for food remains, horse- 

 flesh, lightly dressed, will be found irresistible, so great is their 

 preference for this food. The extreme fickleness. of their appetite, 

 when sick, makes it necessary that every kind of edible should be 

 tried, as that which is voluntarily taken will always digest more 



" Sir Astley Cooper instituted a course of experiments to determine the 

 degree of solubility, by digestion, in various meats within the stomach of dogs ; 

 when the result was greatly in favour of the digestible properties of bacon and 

 pork. 



