64 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



CATARACT OF THE EYE. This is an opacity of the eyeball, a whitish, 

 opaque spot, which gradually enlarges and has generally ended in blindness. It is 

 supposed to be incurable by our best authorities, generally occurring in aged dogs 

 these are evidences of failing health and probable breaking up of the system. It 

 frequently follows ophthalmia, but might be the result of inflammation or a 

 wound, or blow. My Eye Lotion No. 2 (See OPHTHALMIA), will do some good even 

 in such cases. With old dogs I would recommend to also put dog on treatment of 

 Clayton's, Sergeant's or Dent'is Condition Pills for a few weeks to buna up a run- 

 down and worn out constitution. 



FITS. Dalziel so fully and ably handles this subject that I give his article 

 entire, as it covers the whole ground. I have been governed by his ideas in treat- 

 ing many cases and the success I had leads me to endorse his treatment: 



"Fits are of common occurrence, especially in puppies fortuately those that 

 are of a dangerous and fatal character are the most rare; they often cause needless 

 alarm, but the dog suffering from a fit of whatever kind is not an object to be 

 frightened at, but to be commiserated and helped, and this requires freedom from 

 a fear for which there is no just reason. Fits are of many kinds, and may be class- 

 ified as apoplectic fits, distemper fits, epileptic fits, fits from teething, fits from 

 worms, and suckling fits, and other causes of excitement are known to produce 

 them, even high notes of music, to which some dogs show a strong objection and 

 are decidedly harmful. 



APOPLECTIC FITS are caused by pressure on the brain from distended blood- 

 vessels or effusions of blood. The subjects of attack are generally those dogs that 

 are kept in idleness and over-fed, and the attack may be the result of the animal 

 over-loading the stomach with food difficult of digestion. The symptoms are loud, 

 labored breathing; the dog lies motionless on its side in a- state of insensibility 

 there is no frothing at the mouth or champing of the jaws, but the eyes are fixed 

 and often bloodshot. Such cases are usually fatal, and death is frequently instan- 

 taneous. Prompt blr - ing is the most likely means of saving the patient; and then, 

 soon as sufficiently n overed, a strong purge should be given, or clysters admin- 

 istered. Should these means prove successful, it will be necessary to use extreme 

 care to prevent a recurrence of the fit. The dog's diet must be carefully regulated, 

 sufficient healthful exercise allowed, or compelled, if need be, and occasional doses 

 of cooling medicine given. Clayton's or Dent's Blood Cooling Pills will be just the 

 thing to give. Apoplexy in the dog is not often seen in practice. 



DISTEMPER FITS are caused by congestion or inflammation of the brain, and 

 often prove fatal. 



EPILEPTC FITS are not dangerous, but of very common occurrence, especially 

 during the heated term, and generally happen when the dog is at exercise some- 

 times in the case of pointers they are seized when on the point, doubtless from 

 the undue excitement produced. When the dog is attacked he is first observed 

 to tremble on his legs, and on trying to run on he staggers and falls down on his 

 side, frequently uttering a low moan. Struggling to his feet he attempts to move/ 

 only to repeat the fall, when he lies stupefied and insensible. The legs and the 

 whole muscular system are violently convulsed, the dog froths at the mouth, the 

 head is violently moved, often knocked against the ground, the jaws are champed 

 together, and sometimes the tongue gets lacerated between the teeth, and the froth 

 from his mouth becomes tinged with blood; the breathing during the fit is labored 

 and irregular. The fit generally lasts several minutes. When the convulsions 



