202 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



PERITONITIS. 



Chronic inflammation of the peritoneal membrane is a frequent disease 

 among dogs. The animal loses his appetite and spirits : he sometimes eats a 

 little and sometimes not ; he becomes thin, his belly is tucked up, and 

 when we closely examine him we find it contracted and hard, and those 

 longitudinal columns of which I have already spoken are peculiarly dense 

 and almost unyielding. He now and then utters a half-suppressed whine, 

 and he occasionally seeks to hide himself. In the greater number of cases 

 he after a while recovers ; but he too often pines away and dies. On examina- 

 tion after death the case is plain enough. There is inflammation of the 

 peritoneal membrane, more indicated by undue congestion of the bowels 

 than by the general blush of the membrane. The inflammation has now 

 spread to the muscular coat, and the whole of the intestine is corrugated 

 and thickened. 



There is another peritoneal affection, aggravated by combination with 

 a rheumatic tendency, to which the dog is more disposed than any other 

 domesticated animal. It has its most frequent origin in cold, or being 

 too much fed on stimulating and acrid food, and probably from other 

 causes which have not yet been sufficiently developed. 



Here also no drastic purgative is to be admitted ; it would be adding 

 fuel to fire : not a grain of calomel should be used if the life of the animal 

 is valued. The castor oil mixture will afford the most certain relief, a 

 drop or two of the oil of peppermint being added to it. 



COLIC. 



The dog is also subject to fits of colic, principally to be traced to 

 improper food, or a sudden change of food, or exposure to cold. This is 

 particularly the case with puppies. There is no redness of the eye, no heat 

 of the mouth, no quickened respiration ; but the animal labours under fits 

 of pain. He is not quiet for a minute. He gets into one corner and 

 another, curling himself closely up, but he does not lie there more than a 

 minute or two ; another fit of pain comes on ; he utters his peculiar yelp, 

 and seeks some new place in which he may possibly find rest. 



It is with considerable diffidence that I offer an opinion on this subject 

 contrary to that of Mr. Elaine. He states that the treatment of this 

 species of colic is seldom successful, and that which has seemed the most 

 efficacious has been mercurial purgatives : namely, calomel one grain, aloes 

 a scruple, and opium a quarter of a grain, until the bowels are opened. I 

 have seldom found much difficulty in relieving the patient suffering under 

 this affection ; and I gave no aloes nor calomel, but the oleaginous mixture 

 to which I have so often referred. I should not so much object to the 

 aloes, for they constitute an excellent purgative for the dog ; nor to a 

 dog that I was preparing for work, or that was suffering from worms, 

 should I object to two or three grains of calomel intimately mixed with 

 the aloes: from the combined effect of the two some good might 

 be obtained. 



CALCULUS IN THE INTESTINES. 



Many persons have a very foolish custom of throwing stones, that their 

 dogs may dive or run after them, and bring them to their owner's feet : 



