6l2 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



and if no remedy is administered, convulsive fits, 

 and death itself, will shortly ensue. When dogs are 

 suspected of having taken such poison, the following 

 effectual remedy should be instantly applied : — Put 

 as much common salt into the dog's mouth as can 

 be got down, hold the head upwards, and force open 

 the mouth, and by fixing a stick across, prevent the 

 mouth from shutting, whilst the throat is filled with 

 salt ; a sufficient quantity, both to prove an emetic 

 and a laxative, will soon dissolve with the saliva, 

 and be swallowed. Warm broth should frequently 

 be given, to prevent faintness, which might, without 

 nourishment, prove fatal. Two tablespoonfuls of 

 castor oil would accelerate its action downwards. 

 When the effects of the salt, etc., have ceased, give 

 the dog fifteen drops of laudanum. 



BLINDNESS. 



During the time that dogs are afflicted with the 

 distemper, they are sometimes subject to diseases of 

 the eyes ; the most frequent of which is an abscess 

 in the transparent cornea, which, on its first appear- 

 ance, is of a blue tinge ; in some instances there is 

 a darkness of the part affected, in the middle of which 

 a speck is visible, which gradually assumes the form 

 of an abscess. This suppurates, leaving an ulcer, 

 which not unfrequently extends over the entire pupil, 

 often entirely preventing the animal from distinguish- 

 ing objects, and having such an appearance, that 

 no hope of recovery can be entertained. But, how- 

 ever intense the affection may be, whenever the 

 distemper ceases, the ulcer dries up, and the animal 

 gradually acquires its wonted vision. Let the 



