General Diseases. 337 



generally termed full habit of body (plethoric). Fits 

 frequently occur from this condition, and are more par- 

 ticularly induced by the injudicious adoption of rapid 

 or violent exercise a,fter long confinement. 



Symptoms — A general full, bloated appearance of the 

 body, mucous membranes injected, redness and heat of 

 the skin. The pulse is usually full and bounding ; bowels 

 to frecjuently constipated ; drowsiness and indisposition 

 exertion. 



Treatment. — Depletion' by medicinal agents, as occa- 

 sional aperients. Reduction in the quantity of food and 

 its feeding qualities. Regular exercise. 



OBESITY. 



Dogs, and some breeds more so than others, under 

 certain circumstances, become inordinately fat, in othei 

 words, obese. The immense accumulation of adipose 

 tissue undoubtedly constitutes disease. At all events, 

 such a condition is abnormal. Fat takes the place of 

 muscle ; hence what is termed fatty degeneration is a 

 disease of serious import when occurring in vital organs. 

 Some parts of the body are more prone to depositions of 

 fat than others — such as around the kidneys, within the 

 mesentery, and the heart, the latter being frequently a 

 cause of sudden death. 



Close confinement, and injudicious and excessive feeding, 

 are among the causes of obesity. Some animals, as I have 

 observed, are more predisposed to fatten than others, and 

 among this class may be mentioned spaniels, pugs, and a 

 few of the long-haired toy dogs. The first-named appear 

 to increase in obesity with their years ; no matter how plain 

 the food, fat is accumulated, and with it they become lazy, 

 useless (so far as accompanying the sportsman is concerned,) 

 and unsightly. 



Treatment. — This consists in avoiding, as much as pos- 



