AILMENTS AND THEIR TREATMENT 331 



The exhibition of purgatives can only have a temporary effect in reliev- 

 ing the symptoms, and is certain to be followed by reaction, and 

 consequently by further debility. Want of exercise and bath common 

 cause. 



Youatt was never more correct in his life than when he said : " Many 

 dogs have a dry constipated habit, often greatly increased by the 

 bones on which they are fed. This favours the disposition to mange, 

 etc. It produces indigestion, encourages worms, blackens the teeth , 

 and causes fetid breath." 



Symptoms The stools are hard, usually in large round balls, and 

 defecation is accomplished with great difficulty, the animal often 

 having to try several times before he succeeds in effecting the act, and 

 this only after the most acute suffering. The faeces are generally 

 covered with white mucus, showing the heat and semi-dry condition of 

 the gut. The stool is sometimes so dry as to fall to pieces like so 

 much oatmeal. 



There is generally also a deficiency of bile in the motions, and, 

 in addition to simple costiveness, we have more or less loss of appetite, 

 with a too pale tongue, dullness, and sleepiness, with slight redness 

 of the conjunctiva. Sometimes constipation alternates with diarrhoea, 

 the food being improperly commingled with the gastric and other 

 juices, ferments, spoils, and becomes, instead of healthy blood-produc- 

 ing chyme, an irritant purgative. 



Treatment Hygienic treatment more than medicinal. Mild doses 

 of castor oil, compound rhubarb pill, or olive oil, may at first be neces- 

 sary. Sometimes an enema will be required if the medicine will not act. 



Plenty of exercise and a swim daily (with a good run after the swim), 

 or instead of the swim a bucket bath water thrown over the dog. 



Give oatmeal, rather than flour or fine bread, as the staple of his 

 diet, but a goodly allowance of meat is to be given as well, with cabbage 

 or boiled liver, or even a portion of raw liver. Fresh air and exercise 

 in the fields. You may give a bolus before dinner, such as the follow- 

 ing : Compound rhubarb pill, 1 to 5 grains ; quinine, $ to 2 grains ; 

 extract of taraxacum, 2 to 10 grains. Mix. 



FITS. 



Whatever be the cause, they are very alarming. In puppies they are 

 called CONVULSIONS, and resemble epileptic fits. Keep the dog very 

 quiet, but use little force, simply enough to keep him from hurting 

 himself. Keep out of the sun, or in a darkened room. When he can 

 swallow give from 2 to 20 grains (according to size) of bromide of 

 potassium in a little camphor water thrice daily for a few days. Only 

 milk food. Keep quiet. 



SKIN DISEASES. 



In the whole range of dog ailments included in the term canine 

 pathology there are none more bothersome to treat successfully nor 

 more) difficult to diagnose than those of the skin. There are none either 

 that afford the quack or patent-nostrum monger a larger field for the 

 practice of his fiendish gifts. If I were to be asked the questions, 

 " Why do dogs suffer so much from skin complaints ? " and " Why 



