40 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



THE TREATMENT consists in acting in accordance with the cause that is to 

 say, in treating the case so as to relieve the dropsy, and not upon any fixed prin- 

 ciples ; thus, supposing the kidneys are inflamed, blood must be taken, and calomel 

 and digitalis given in grain doses of each, without any violent diuretics, which will 

 only aggravate the disease. If the dropsy is merely a symptom of a breaking down 

 of the system, this must be propped by bark and steel, with perhaps ammonia in 

 addition. When the urine is mixed with blood, in a broken down constitution, the 

 following mixture may be given, on the authority of Mr. May hew, and I have my 

 doubts of its success : Tincture of cantharides, 3 drops ; water, two ounces. To be 

 given twice a day. 



If the dropsy is from the kidneys refusing to act, 6 or 8 grains of nitre may be 

 given two or three times a day, in the diuretic mixture, No. 2, but the great prin- 

 ciple is to make out the cause and act accordingly. 



WORMS. 



The PRESENCE of WORMS in the intestinal canal is one of the greatest 

 annoyances to the proprietors of dogs of all classes. In the greyhound they are a 

 constant source of mischief, and in the other varieties of sporting dogs they are 

 equally common. In the puppy they are particularly injurious, cutting off his 

 supplies of food, and also irritating his nervous system, to a degree which can 

 scarcely be credited without actual experience. Whenever a puppy is seen to look 

 rough and unhealthy in his coat (mere roughness is 110 indication), and when he is 

 also thinner than he ought to be, with a ravenous appetite, and the constant passing 

 of small quantities of faeces, the first part of which is solid, while the latter part 

 is loose and frothy ; when he also is more dull than natural, with a hot dry nose, 

 and offensive breath, it may generally be concluded that he has some kind of 

 intestinal worm, and the only thing is to find out which species is present, and then 

 to exhibit the appropriate remedy, For this purpose the areca nut is a very useful 

 medicine, given in proportion to the age and size, from a whole nut powdered, which 

 is the dose for a full grown dog of 401b. or 501b., down to a quarter of a nut for a 

 little dog of lOlb. weight. This should be given, and followed in a few hours by a 

 mild dose of castor oil, when some of the worms present will most likely make 

 their appearance, and according to their nature must the remedy be. 



The VARIETIES of WORMS are as follows : 



1. The COMMON MAW- WORM. This is a short white worm, about an inch long, 

 with a pointed head, and a flat broad tail, the intervening part being nearly oval. 

 These worms exist chiefly in the large intestines, where they are often in great 

 numbers, and they are generally supposed not to interfere much with the health of 

 the dog ; but as it appears, according to Dr. Cobbold, that they are joints of the 

 tape worm, it may, I suppose, be considered that this idea is not correct. 



2. The LONG BOUND-WORM (Ascarls lumbricoides). A pink or red worm, 

 resembling the garden worm in appearance, but somewhat less in size, and not so 

 red in colour. They chiefly inhabit the small intestines, and are very injurious to 



