74 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



Causes. — Protracted and severe diarrhoea, putrid and un- 

 wholesome food, vitiated bile, intense heat, and foul smells. 



Symptoms. — Dysentery may be ushered in with rigors, 

 general febrile excitement, and offensive evacuation ; or be 

 preceded by flatulency, constipation, colicky pains, nausea, 

 and vomiting. The anal discharge varies in appearance ; 

 sometimes it resembles pure mucus, at others blood mixed 

 with mucus, while, not unfrequently, pure blood is voided. 

 As the disease proceeds, and ulceration is developed, pus 

 becomes mingled with the discharge, as well as membranous 

 shred-like particles (the latter an ominous sign). Con- 

 siderable prostration is attendant throughout ; the pulsels 

 weak and quick, the respiration increased, the eyes sunken, 

 mucous membranes injected, the nose dry and hot, mouth 

 slimy and breath offensive; with these there is loss of 

 appetite, considerable thirst, and disinclination during the 

 latter stages to move, the evacuations being involuntary 

 and most disgusting. 



Treatment. — The medicinal treatment, of dysentery 

 should be essentially anodyne and astringent. The sul- 

 phate of copper and opium stand pre-eminent, and may 

 be given in the proportions named in the foregoing disease, 

 three or if necessary four times per day. I am no advocate 

 for blood-letting in this excessively reducing malady. As 

 a local application I prefer a hot linseed-meal poultice to 

 the abdomen. When the discharge is excessive, and 

 mingled with blood, a tablespoonful of starch, with lo drops 

 of laudanum, may be injected, or 20 drops of tinct. ferri in 

 a tablespoonful of iced water, and repeated if necessary. , 



Diet. — The same rules regarding the diet in diarrhoea 

 will apply in dysentery, and warmth, cleanliness, and dry- 

 ness are equally essential. 



INTUS-SUSCEPTION. 

 This intestinal condition is commonly met with in the dog. 

 When one portion oi the tube " telescopes " or becomes in- 



