I 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 339 



the hand. The tail is kept closely against the body; The attitude 

 is peculiar to the disease, the back being arched, and the legs drawn 

 together. The bowels are costive, and the urine scanty and highly- 

 colored. There is likewise thirst, attended with loss of appetite. 

 Sometimes there is a slight vomiting after food. The disease soon 

 runs on, and, if not relieved, is fatal in a few days. To treat it, 

 take a large quantity of blood ; give calomel and opium in grain 

 doses of each, every three or four hours. Place the dog in a warm 

 bath for half an hour, and, after drying him, rub in the embroca- 

 tion (43), avoiding pressure, and applying it rapidly, but lightly. 

 After twelve hours, the bowels may be moved by means of the 

 castor oil (15) ; or, if necessary, by the strong mixture (16), repeat- 

 ing the calomel pills until the tenderness ceases. Great skill is re- 

 quired in adapting the remedies to the disease, and a veterinary 

 surgeon should be called in, whenever the dog is worth the 

 expense. 



Colic is a frequent complaint among dogs, the signs being in- 

 tense pain, aggravated at intervals to such a degree as to cause the 

 patient to howl most loudly. The back at the same time is arched 

 as far as possible, and the legs are drawn together. If this shows 

 itself suddenly after a full meal, the colic may at once be surmised 

 to exist, but the howl at first is not very loud, the dog starting up 

 with a sharp moan, and then lying down again, to repeat the start 

 and moan in a few minutes with increased intensity. The nose is 

 of a natural appearance, and there is little or no fever, the evidence 

 of pain being all that directs the attention to the bowels. The 

 treatment should be by means of laudanum (1 drachm) and ether 

 (30 drops) in a little water every two or three hours ; or, in very 

 bad cases, croton oil (1 drop) may be given in a pill with three 

 grains of solid opium every four hours until the pain ceases. The 

 embrocation (45) may also be rubbed into the bowels, either at 

 once, or after a very hot bath. The clyster (17) may also be tried 

 with advantage, and sometimes a very large quantity of warm 

 water thrown into the bowels while the dog is in the warm bath, 

 will afford instant relief. Colic sometimes ends in intussusception, 

 or a drawing of one portion of the bowel into the other; but of 



