dogs: their management. 251 



twenty minutes. If, from the enema, nothing follows, 

 the finger should then certainly be introduced, and per- 

 haps a compact mass may he felt firmly grasped by the 

 intestine. Slowly, and with great caution, this must be 

 broken up, and brought away hit by bit. The handle of 

 a spoon has been recommended for this purpose, but I 

 entreat my readers not to use it. Where pain is present, 

 and life or death hang on the issue, there is no right to 

 be any delicacy. An instrument of any kind introduced 

 into such a part, and employed while the body is writhing 

 about in agony, cannot be free from danger, and scarcely 

 can be so used as to be eflfective. The finger is the 

 quickest, the most safe, and the most effectual instrument ; 

 for we have it under our command, can guide it at our 

 will, and with it take cognisance of all the circumstances 

 presented. Even that must be employed gently, and 

 this will be best done by the avoidance of haste. The 

 surgeon is bound to be skilful, but he ought never to be 

 in a hurry. Let all the time that can be occupied o.n 

 such a matter be freely taken, and during the process, let 

 the cries of the animal be attended to ; any change of 

 note will contain a warning which must not be disre- 

 garded. Without attending to that, the intestine might 

 be ruptured, and death would then be certain. 



When the obstruction has been overcome, let a few 

 ethereal enemas be administered to allay any local irrita- 

 bility ; and a dose of the purgative pills — followed, six 

 hours afterwards, should they not have operated, by one 

 of castor-oil mixture, blended with half a scruple of chlo- 



