14 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



abatement of certain symptoms, are all matters requiring 

 the supervision of the nurse. . 



In short, the health of the patient is in the majority of 

 cases quite as much in the hands of the nurse as of the pro- 

 fessional attendant/ and the fault so often, in all classes of 

 practice, attached to the medical treatment would generally 

 be more correctly placed to the lack of attention on the 

 part of those on whom the general care of the patient 

 devolves. It is always, therefore, advisable to let the latter 

 know the full extent of his or her responsibility ; and that 

 though the charge is, as they may express it, " but a dog" it 

 is endued with imagination, instincts, and thought, has a 

 language of its own, is sensible of neglect, harshness, yea, 

 even cross looks on the part of those ministering to it, and 

 to a degree rarely exhibited in other of the lower animals. 



The two then — the practitioner and nurse — acting in 

 combination, and working to the same end, if they do not 

 reap the desired reward of their labours, have at least the 

 satisfaction of knowing they did their best for the patient 

 imder their care. 



