140 DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



marked, and it will have little disposition to &* rge. 

 This, however, is rarely witnessed. Generally ^he nupil 

 is much enlarged, so much as to conceal the iris, and 

 alter the character of the organ. The eye is moreover 

 retracted, and the dog has a very peculiar expression of 

 mingled pain and stupidity. If the hand be placed upon 

 the head, it will be sensibly hot. No matter how thick 

 the coat may be, the heat will be apparent, and the 

 carotid arteries will sensibly throb. The coat feels dry 

 and is warm, although the animal may be trembling to 

 such a degree as prevents the pulse being counted. Yet 

 the dog seems lively ; it is active now, though perhaps a 

 little while ago it was dull ; every trivial circumstance 

 now attracts its notice. The appetite is generally rave- 

 nous. The dog which only the day before was disinclined 

 to feed, is suddenly disposed to eat more than it ever 

 was known to consume ; and it will gnaw and swallow 

 the hardest wood for want of better provender. The 

 amended appetite is mostly one of the symptoms, but it 

 is not invariably witnessed ; for occasionally increased 

 activity, and the strange appearance of the eye, are all 

 that indicate the approach of fits. It will not be long, 

 however, before something shall be added which is more 

 definite in its meaning. The dog which was running 

 about suddenly stands still, and begins to smack its lips 

 and champ its jaw. It keeps stationary while doing this, 

 and continues so until a quantity of froth and thick saliva 

 falls from the mouth, drops upon the ground, and then 

 the action ceases. The animal looks around with a vacant 



