230 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



As in the case of man, unpleasant head symptoms may 

 be obviated by giving with this drug ten to twenty grains 

 of bromide of potassium, according to the dose of quinine, 

 the age, etc., of the dog ; but it is somewhat depressant. 



Asthma. Spasmodic asthma, so common in man, is of 

 rather rare occurrence in the dog. This form of the dis- 

 ease is the result of more or less local constriction of the 

 bronchial tubes, owing to spasm of the unstriped muscular 

 fibers found in their walls. 



The causes inducing it are various, as certain atmos- 

 pheric conditions, certain mechanical and chemical irri- 

 tants in the form of dust, gases, etc. It may also be 

 excited by parasites in the intestinal tract, and more fre- 

 quently by their presence in the bronchial tubes them- 

 selves. It is sometimes traceable to dietetic errors. 



The other form of asthma, sometimes spoken of as 

 " congestive," is due to a thickening of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the air-tubes from congestion, as in heart-disease, 

 from bronchitis, etc., and to the lessening of the caliber of 

 the tubes by the pressure of tumors, etc., when the symp- 

 toms may be described as asthmatic rather than as arising 

 from asthma as a disease. 



Asthma is not common in young dogs; but more or 

 less dyspnoea of an asthmatic character is not at all infre- 

 quent in old, fat, lazy dogs permitted to lie about the 

 house and feed to excess. 



Prognosis. As to complete cure, unfavorable; gen- 

 erally relief can be given. The disease of itself is rarely 

 if ever fatal. 



Symptoms. Loud, wheezy respiration, labored breath- 

 ing, characterized by prolonged expiratory efforts, dilated 



