DOGS I THEIR MANAGEMENT, 273 



third attack comes, with which the poor beast is gene- 

 rally destroyed as incurable. 



These dogs, when brought to us, usually appear easy 

 and well to do in the world. The coats are sleek ; their 

 eyes are placid ; and the extremities alone want motion, 

 which rather seems to surprise the animal than to occa- 

 sion it any immediate suffering. They have no other 

 obvious disease ; but the malignity of their ailments seems 

 fixed or concentrated on the affection which is present. 

 The first attack is soon conquered. A few cathartic 

 pills, followed by castor-oil, prepared as recommended in 

 this work (page 116), will soon unload the bowels, 

 and clear out the digestive canal. They must be con- 

 tinued until, and after, the paralysis has departed. At 

 the same time, some stimulating embrocation must be 

 employed to the back, belly, and hind-legs, which must 

 be well rubbed with it four times daily, or the oftener the 

 better. Soap liniment, as used by Veterinarians, ren- 

 dered more stimulating by an additional quantity of 

 liquor ammonise, will answer very well; more good being 

 done by the friction than by the agent employed. The 

 chief benefit sought by the rubbing, is to restore the cir- 

 culation, and so bring back feeling with motion, for both 

 are lost ; a pin run into the legs produces no effort to 

 retract the limb, nor any sign of pain. 



Th? cure is certain, and so is the second attack, if 



the feeding be persisted in ; unless nature seeks and finds 



relief in skin disease, canker, piles, or one of the many 



consequences induced by over-feeding. The second 



12* 



