DOGS ! THEIR MANAGEMENT. 287 



gents, moreover, heat and irritate the part ; and the sen- 

 sations induced make the dog draw its anus along the 

 ground, thereby adding greatly to the evil it is the inten- 

 tion of the application to remove. Therefore prudence 

 will approve what humanity suggests ; and those who in 

 kindly feeling can discover no motive, will in the colder 

 reason find every inducement for the adoption of the 

 gentler measure. 



Protrusion of the rectum is also sometimes a conse- 

 quence of gross feeding, starting up piles in the first in- 

 stance, and then, from more intense digestive derange- 

 ment, causing purgation, accompanied with violent 

 straining. The tone of the intestine is destroyed. It 

 becomes lax, and its muscular power is lost. The gut is 

 at first only a little exposed during the act, and when 

 that is over, it is retracted ; but after some time, the limit 

 of which is uncertain, it remains constantly protruded. 

 It is not so violently inflamed as might be expected, but 

 it soon gets dry and harsh ; cracks appear upon its sur- 

 face ; and the pressure of the muscle which closes the 

 anus preventing the free circulation of the blood, renders 

 it black from congestion. 



If taken early, the treatment recommended for piles 

 will generally effect a cure ; but if nothing be done in 

 the first instance, the disease when established is apt to 

 prove intractable. The intestine should be sopped with 

 cold water until every particle of dirt is removed. It 

 should then be dried with a soft cloth, and afterwards 

 returned. There is never much difficulty in replacing 



