288 DISEASES OF DOGS. 



the worm comes away without breaking, and it rarely breaks un- 

 less cut into by the lancet, or wounded by the awl. 



263. Mange. This is a very frequent disease in dogs, and is an 

 affection of the skin, either caught by contagion, or generated by 

 the animal. The scabby mange breaks out in blotches along t'ho 

 back and neck and is common to Newfoundland dogs, terriers, 

 pointers, and spaniels, and is the most contagious. The cure 

 should be begun by removing the first exciting cause, if remova- 

 ble, such as filth or poverty ; or, as more general the contrary 

 (for both will equally produce it,) too full living. Then an ap- 

 plication should be made to the parts, consisting of sulphur and 

 sal ammoniac : tar lime water will also assist. When there is much 

 heat and itching, bleed and purge. Mercurials sometimes assist, 

 but they should be used with caution ; dogs do not bear them well. 

 Or, fresh butter, free from salt, quarter fa pound ; red precipitate, 

 one ounce ; Venice turpentine, one ounce : mix the whole well to- 

 gether, and put it into a pot for use, rub it on the parts affected 

 morning and evening, keep your dog tied up, and keep him warm 

 and dry for some days. 



264. Worms. Dogs suffer very much from worms, which as in 

 most animals, so in them are of several kinds: but the effects pro- 

 duced are nearly similar. In dogs having the worms the coat gen- 

 erally stares ; the appetite is ravenous though the animal frequently 

 does not thrive ; the breath smells, and the stools are singular, 

 sometimes loose and slimy, and at others hard and dry ; but the 

 most evil they produce is occasional fits, or sometimes a continued 

 state of convulsion, in which the animal lingers sometime and then 

 dies ; the fits they produce are sometimes of the violent kind ; at 

 others they exhibit a more stupid character, the dog being senseless 

 and going round continually. The cure consists while in this state, 

 in active purgatives joined with opium, and the warm bath ; any 

 rough substance given internally, acts as a vermifuge to prevent 

 the recurrence. 



