310 CLYSTERING. 



A very quick inflammatory eflfect on the surface may also be 

 raised by common table mustard spread over any part. In in- 

 flammations of the stomach, and particularly of the bowels, an 

 excellent method of instating the skin may be practised by means 

 of a sheep's or any other hide newly stripped off, and immediately 

 applied and secured to the part. The skin of the patient should, 

 however, be first well stimulated with oil of turpentine. In strains 

 of the joints, and all muscular and ligamentous extensions, after 

 the acute symptoms of the inflammatory stage are gone ofl^, blis- 

 ters will be found very useful in promoting absorption of the 

 lymph deposited, or, in other words, of the remaining indurations, 

 and in the restoration of the parts generally. But when blis- 

 ters are used, the dog must be very carefully muzzled : not in 

 the usual way, however ; for by mere strapping, however close, 

 the dog will insinuate his tongue out of his mouth to lick the 

 part. Nothing but a fine net-wire muzzle will effectually prevent 

 danger ; and for very large dogs, I have made use of a perforated 

 tin one. 



CLYSTERING. 



Clysters are of much importance in many cases of sickness in 

 dogs. They become a most powerful stimulant to the bowels in 

 obstinate obstructions, and in many instances of this kind they 

 alone can be depended upon for the purpose : for, when the ob- 

 struction arises from an accumulation of hardened excrement, 

 situated far back in the caecum or rectum, cathartics by the mouth 

 are useless, and, indeed, increase the danger, by forcing more of 

 the contents of the bowels towards the obstructed part. In in- 

 flammations of the bowels, bladder, kidneys, or womb, clysters have 

 the additional advantage of acting as a fomentation. Cases 

 wherein they may be beneficially used as nuti'iment likewise occur 

 very frequently ; as when there exists so obstinate a sickness that 

 nothing will remain on the stomach ; or when food cannot be 

 passed by the mouth, as in locked jaw, in fractures, or in wounds 



