322 DOGS I THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



The spirits, or appetite, having returned, and sufficient 

 time having been allowed to make certain of the fact, 

 the dose may once more be increased ; and thus by de- 

 grees be augmented, until it is worked up to from fifty to 

 a hundred drops three times a day, beyond which it 

 ought not to be pushed. Even while this is being done, 

 it is well to give tonic and strengthening pills ; but pur- 

 gatives are to be used with extreme caution. 



Too frequently our assistance is not sought until the 

 disease has assumed its worst aspect. There is then an 

 open cancer, and we are asked to cure it. There is in 

 medicine no known means of performing so desirable an 

 object ; physic can, in such a case, only be palliative 

 whatever hope then remains must rest upon the employ- 

 ment of the knife. The surgeon, however, must well 

 examine the part before he consents to operate. En- 

 treaties will not unfrequently be urgent ; and where the 

 life of an animal only is involved in the result, it is hard 

 to say " no" to supplications which may be accompanied 

 with tears. The professional man, however, must con- 

 sult his judgment, and by its dictates resolutely abide ; 

 for those who are most eager in their requests are always 

 most sanguine in their hopes. The issue, if unsuccessful, 

 will not do otherwise than expose the surgeon to re- 

 proaches, perhaps more bitter than the supplications to 

 which he yielded were imploring. Even should the 

 proprietor be silent, the reputation of the operator will 

 be injured ; for, when the knife is resorted to, mankind 

 will not tolerate failure. Therefore it is prudent, and 



