AILMENTS AND THEIR TREATMENT 335 



Their usual habitat, however, is the small intestines, where they 

 occasion great distress to their host. The appetite is always depraved 

 and voracious. At times there is colic, with sickness and perhaps 

 vomiting, and the bowels are alternately constipated or loose. The 

 coat is harsh and staring, there usually is short, dry cough from reflex 

 irritation of the bronchial mucous membrane, a bad-smelling breath 

 and emaciation or at least considerable poverty of flesh. 



The disease is most common in puppies and in young dogs. The 

 appearance of the ascaris in the dog's stools is, of course, the diagnostic 

 symptom. 



Treatment I have cured many cases with santonin and areca-nut 

 powder (betel-nut), dose 10 grains to 2 drachms ; or turpentine, dose 

 from 10 drops to 1$ drachms, beaten up with yolk of egg. 



But areca-nut does better for tape-worm, so we cannot do better 

 than trust to pure santonin. The dose is from 1 grain for a Toy up to 

 6 grains for a Mastiff. Mix it with a little butter, and stick it well back 

 in the roof of the dog's mouth. He must have fasted previously for 

 twelve hours, and had a dose of castor oil the day before. In four 

 or five hours after he has swallowed the santonin, let him have a 

 dose of either olive oil or decoction of aloes. Dose, 2 drachms to 2 

 ounces or more. Repeat the treatment in five days. Spratts' cure 

 may be safely depended on for worms.* 



The perfect cleanliness of the kennel is of paramount importance. 



The animal's general health requires looking after, and he may be 

 brought once more into good condition by proper food and a course 

 of vegetable tonics. If wanted in show condition we have Plasmon to 

 fall back upon, and Burroughs and Wellcome's extract of malt. 



There is a round-worm which at times infests the dog's bladder, and 

 may cause occlusion of the urethra ; a whip-worm inhabiting the 

 caecum ; another may occupy a position in the mucous membrane of 

 the stomach ; some infest the blood, and others the eye. 



(2) Tape-worms There are several kinds, but the treatment is the 

 same in all cases. The commonest in the country is the Cucumerine. 



This is a tape-worm of about fifteen inches in average length, 

 although I have taken them from Newfoundland pups fully thirty 

 inches long. It is a semi-tansparent entozoon ; each segment is long 

 compared to its breadth, and narrowed at both ends. _ Each joint 

 has, when detached, an independent sexual existence. 



The dog often becomes infested with this parasite from eating sheeps' 

 brains, and dogs thus afflicted and allowed to roam at pleasure over 

 fields and hills where sheep are fed sow the seeds of gid in our flocks 

 to any extent. We know too well the great use of Collie dogs to the 

 shepherd or grazier to advise that dogs should not be employed as 

 assistants, but surely it would be to their owners' advantage to see 

 that they were kept in a state of health and cleanliness. 



Treatment We ought to endeavour to prevent as well as to cure. 

 We should never allow our dogs to eat the entrails of hares or rabbits. 

 Never allow them to be fed on raw sheep's intestines, nor the brains 

 of sheep. Never permit them to lounge around butchers' shops, nor 



* Many dog owners swear by the preparation called Ruby, which can be 

 recommended as a cure for worms. ED. 



