DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 267 



the rectum, and a full dose of castor oil to relieve the 

 bowels, should be administered early in the disease. 

 The warm bath, if the animal is after it well wrapped 

 up, may also be resorted to. A second bleeding may be 

 necessary, but it should always be by means of leeches, 

 and should only be practised upon conviction of its ne- 

 cessity, for no animal is less tolerant of blood-letting 

 than the dog. 



During peritonitis, the chief aim of all the measures 

 adopted is to reduce the inflammation ; but while this is 

 kept in view, it must not be forgotten that of equal, or 

 perhaps of even more, importance, is it to subdue the pain 

 and lessen the constitutional irritation which adds to the 

 energy of the disorder, thus rendering nature the less 

 capable of sustaining it. With this object I have often 

 carried ether, laudanum, and water, so far as to narco- 

 tise the animal; and I have kept the dog under the 

 action of these medicines for twelve hours, and then 

 have not entirely relinquished them. The consequence 

 has not always been success, but I have not seen any 

 reason to imagine that the life has not been lengthened 

 by the practice ; and sometimes when the narcotism has 

 ceased, the disease has exhibited so marked an improve- 

 ment, that I have dated the recovery from that period. 



STRANGULATION. This consists in the intestines being 

 twisted or tied together, and it is caused by sudden emo- 

 tion or violent exertion. From it the dog is almost ex- 

 empt, though to it some other animals are much exposed. 

 The symptoms are sudden pain, resembling acute ente- 

 ritis, accompanied with sickness and constipation, and 



