PNEUMONIA. 47 
tices of flaxseed meal or mustard, tincture of iodine, or stimulating liniments, they 
would all be worse than useless. 
He is wise who, in the absence of a thoroughly competent veterinary skilled 
in canine diseases, calls in his family physician. Professional assistance denied, 
the caretaker must rely on good nursing to pull the patient through, foregoing 
entirely the use of drugs. 
The need to emphasize this fact is imperative; for there is every reason for 
the belief that a far greater number of victims of pneumonia are killed by medi- 
cine than by the disease. To reduce the fever by means of aconite, antifebrin, 
phenacetin, acetanilid, or similar agents is generally held the very first essential, 
and with such the patients are usually dosed, not only during the first days but in 
many cases throughout the attack. Yet these so-called antipyretics, while they 
would likely lessen the fever, are hazardous; for, as a rule, they have an unfavor- 
able action on the heart. 
In pneumonia that vital organ is the danger-point, and the liability of its fail- 
ing is always great in severe cases. Aconite, it is true, when rightly used, is 
practically harmless; and in fact, combined with veratrum viride, it will likely 
lessen the danger of heart failure; but still it is not an agent which one unskilled 
in the use of medicine should trifle with, especially in this disease; and the same 
may be said of digitalis and all other powerful drugs. 
To assist nature by the means of nourishment, good nursing, and stimulants, 
if necessary, should be the purpose always; and the fact should be in sight that 
if the patient’s strength can be kept up until the crisis is reached, and no acci- 
dents happen, the chances are about all in favor of recovery. 
To well nourish, therefore, from the first should be the rule. As for the 
foods to be given, buttermilk is by far the best in this disease; and while the 
patient will drink voluntarily, it should be freely allowed him. But if he turns 
from it, he may have meat broths and raw meat in suitable quantities. 
As long as he will take nourishment enough the caretaker can be content. 
But sooner or later forced feeding will be imperative ; and then sound judgment, 
patience, and faithfulness must be exhibited. 
From the first it is well to add to the buttermilk one or two raw eggs, lightly 
beaten. The appetite being wholly lost, the foods must be concentrated; be- 
cause of the difficult breathing the unfortunate cannot swallow easily, and it will 
scarcely be possible to make him take any considerable quantities. 
One raw egg in half a cupful of buttermilk every two hours should well sus- 
tain the strength of a large dog. Instead of broths, meat juice is preferable, and 
for such a dog two or three tablespoonfuls at like intervals would be as sup- 
portive. 
Failure of the vital powers is always rapid in this disease ; and if a caretaker 
is at all negligent his charge will probably slip from him. He must administer 
food or stimulants at regular intervals, and every two hours in desperate cases,, 
