266 DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



beef tea, thickened with rice, will constitute the most 

 proper diet during the existence of diarrhoea. 



A little gravy and rice with scraped meat may be gra- 

 dually introduced ; but the dog must be drenched with 

 the liquid rather than indulged with solids at too early a 

 period. All the other measures necessary have been 

 indicated when treating of previous abdominal diseases, 

 and such rules is are therein laid down must, according 

 to the circumstances, be applied. 



PERITONITIS. In the acute form this disease is rarely 

 witnessed, save as accompanying or following parturi- 

 tion. Its symptoms are, panting ; restlessness ; occasional 

 cries ; a desire for cold ; constant stretching forth at full 

 length upon the side ; dry mouth and nose ; thirst ; con- 

 stipation ; hard quick pulse ; catching breathing, and 

 contrary as it may be to all reasonable expectation 

 seldom any pain on pressure to the abdomen, toward 

 which, however, the animal constantly inclines the 

 head. 



The treatment consists in bleeding from the jugular, 

 from three to twelve ounces being taken ; but a pup, not 

 having all its permanent teeth, supposing such an animal 

 could be affected, should not lose more than from half- 

 an-ounce to two ounces. Stimulating applications to the 

 abdomen should be employed, an ammoniacal blister, 

 from its speedy action, being to be preferred. Ether, 

 laudanum, and water ought to be given, to allay the 

 pain, with calomel in small but repeated doses, com- 

 bined with one-fourth its weight of opium, in order to 

 iubdue the inflammation. A turpentine enema to unload 



