CHRONIC INDIGESTION. 93 
most potent of these is deficient exercise; and when combined with the habit 
of giving too much food, even if the same be wholesome, digestion must soon 
be disturbed, and eventually weakened beyond repair. For instance, dogs con- 
stantly afield often with impunity gorge themselves after hard days’ runs, but 
were others kept in kennels to do likewise their stomachs would soon rebel. 
While digestion is going on vigorously the energies of the system are, for the 
time being, largely diverted to the organs concerned in the operation, conse- 
quently the subject should rest; and if a dog, the period should not be less than 
four or five hours, provided the meal is a full one and largely made up of meat. 
The natural inference from this is that habitual hard work after eating is in time 
sure to cause permanent gastric derangement. 
That tendencies to digestive weaknesses are transmitted from parent to off- 
spring is a fact beyond dispute, and clearly suggests the importance of instituting 
every precaution to prevent their being acquired by breeding animals. Nor 
must these animals in any other way be enfeebled nor their blood disordered ; for 
like conditions will generally appear in their young, and in consequence the 
digestion of the latter never be vigorous. 
In mankind, in a large proportion of cases, dyspepsia originates and is per- 
petuated in mental causes. Fortunately for the dog he is far less sensible of 
them, and yet very evidently he does not escape them altogether, for his diges- 
tion is only at its best when he is happy and contented; and it is well to add that 
he can never be perfectly so when chained or otherwise injudiciously restrained. 
Finally, this affection is frequently one of the penalties of old age, the entire 
digestive system sharing in the general decline in physical powers ; but even in 
this class of cases it can be long delayed by wise management, or its coming 
may be hastened by influences that lower the vitality, as bad hygienic surround- 
ings, doubtful methods of feeding, indolent habits, etc. 
Glancing at the symptoms of chronic indigestion, the appetite first presents 
itself. It is very evidently abnormal, and may be either increased, diminished, or 
perverted ; and these changes may alternate in the same individuals. As a rule, 
however, increase and perversion are much the most common. Where the former 
is the case, many of the subjects keep well up in weight, and indeed they are gen- 
erally obese, but in such cases the indigestion is usually of low type. On the 
other hand, when it is severe, while in occasional instances the weight may still 
be excessive, nutrition commonly suffers, and there is generally considerable fall- 
ing off, which may extend even to emaciation. As for perversion of the appetite, 
that is manifested by strong cravings for certain refuse substances which would 
scarcely be touched by dogs were they well fed and their stomachs in good 
condition. 
An aversion to all nourishment is noted now and then, but it usually lasts 
only for a day or two after the digestive trouble has been aggravated by some 
unusual and especially trying indulgence. The appetite returning, it may soon 
