Diseases of the Bowels. 73 



■will generally effect a cure. Many people mistakenly rush 

 to cordials and astringents at the onset, and thereby check, 

 •or attempt to do so, the very process nature is exercising to 

 rid herself of the offending matter. 



If there is reason to suspect worms as the cause, one 

 of the remedies for their expulsion should be adopted- 

 (See " Worms.") If from acrid bile, which vomiting and 

 the character of the vomit will denote, a mild aloetic purge, 

 succeeded, if not relieved, by the hyd. cum cretse in 3 to 5 

 grain doses will be of the greatest service. Warm rice- 

 water injections, in which, if there is much pain, a few drops 

 ■of laudanum are mingled, will afford considerable relief. 

 Where the complaint results from pre-existing intestinal 

 disease, and the above remedies fail to check it, i grain of 

 opium and 5 of sulphate of copper may be given twice or 

 three times a day, and starch enemas should be had re- 

 course to, Chlorodyne, 5 to 10 drops in a teaspoonful or 

 two of brandy-and-water is also very efficacious. 



Where the complaint occurs in unweaned puppies, it is 

 usually due, as already named, to acidity, and is best treated 

 through the mother, with carbonate of soda or lime-water. 



The animal during the attack should be kept warm. 



Diet. — This should consist of bland, mucilaginous food, 

 as mutton broth, thickened with isinglass, or rice or barley- 

 water, slightly chilled. 



Cleanliness of the external parts should be strictly 

 observed, and the bedding kept dry. 



DYSENTERY, 



Or inflammation of the intestinal mucous membrane, chiefly 

 of the large -bowels, succeeded by ulceration and haemor- 

 rhage, is a much more serious complaint than the former. 

 Dysentery differs from diarrhoea in that the discharge is 

 unaccompanied by any faecal matter, except, from time to 

 time, small dark indurated lumps. 



