DISEASES. 95 



and a little laudanum later. It will be seen from the forecoming that the treat- 

 ment for all mineral poisons is very similar all round. ;. 



"Now, as to vegetable poisons, or, to be more precise, organic poisons (min- 

 erals being inorganic). The chief of these, as far as they affect dogs and their 

 owners, are Aconite, Belladonna, Digitalis ("Fox-glove'), Opium, Strychnine 

 and their various compounds or derivatives. First, then, Aconite, which is often 

 given as a medicine, and of which it is easy to give an overdose. Give an 

 emetic, and then proceed with stimulants brandy, etc. Keep warm, and try 

 artificial respiration if need be. For Belladonna similar treatment. Good hot 

 drinks of stimulants. Foxglove (Digitalis) often prescribed for heart affec- 

 tions in dogs, as well as in men for this, after an emetic, give warm tea, fol- 

 lowed by stimulants. Opium, the active principle of which is morphia, needs a 

 good emetic, followed by a draught of brandy and water; every effort must be 

 made to subdue drowsiness by brisk exercise until the effect has worn off. Lastly, 

 Strychnine deadliest of poisons a component of all vermin killers easily rec- 

 ognized by its effect on the muscles. Give an emetic, followed by doses of Potas- 

 sium Bromide every twenty minutes, and later a dose of Castor Oil. Strychnine 

 is, as we have stated earlier, the most active principle of Nux Vomica.' 



PARASITES, EXTERNAL. The number and variety of parasites that make 

 one part or another of the dog their habitat is very great. These are divided 

 into external and internal; in the former two distinct mites, producing two very 

 distinct forms of the mange, have already been referred to, and the internal 

 parasites are treated under WORMS. 



There is no dog owner of much experience who is not aware that great care 

 and cleanliness are needed to prevent the introduction of these unwelcome visit- 

 ors, or who has not had to pay smartly for their extermination, if his kennels 

 have been neglected. The parasites to which I particularly wish to direct atten- 

 tion are three in number the louse, the flea and the tick which now follow in 

 Iprder named as to treating. 



DOG LOUSE. These resemble that of a man, only larger in size, and can not 

 live on a human being. It causes great irritation, the dog scratching and worry- 

 ing himself constantly. They live on all, or any part of the body, but most 

 abundant about the head and face, the eyes, roots of ears and along the top of 

 the back. By closely examining the dog's skin, red streaks and dots of blood 

 will be seen where the louse has been feeding. 



One species Is described in Prof. Neumann's "Parasites," translated by Prof. 

 Fleming: 



"The head is short and almost as wide as long; it is salient in the thorax 

 to which it is exactly applied; the third and fourth articles of the antennae are 

 alike. The abdomen is very developed in the female, and is a long oval in shape; 

 it has nine rounded segments, which are often salient at the sides; stigmates 

 distinct and marginal; the first seven segments have two rows of short bristles. 

 The general tint is yellowish-white, the head and thorax being a little darker. 

 The female is 2mm. long, and the male 1 15mm." This louse is oftener found 

 about the throat and back ol the ears, but extends to all parts of the body. 



The other louse of the dog is Trichodectes latus, of which this is Neumann's 

 description: "The head is sub-quadrangular and much wider than it is long, 

 being truncated in front; the antennae are hairy and different in the two sexes, 

 the first article in the male being much thicker, and occupying a moiety of the 

 length of the organ. The abdomen is broad, and more rounded in the female, 



