120 KENNEL DISEASES. 
In dysentery the discharges contain blood and there is severe straining, 
whereas in enteritis blood is but rarely seen in them. 
Colic is a functional trouble in which the pain is intense ; it is not, however, 
attended by fever or other inflammatory signs, and sufferers from it are oftener 
troubled with constipation than with diarrhoea. 
In poisoning by irritants, as arsenic and other chemicals, the vomiting is much 
more severe and persistent than in enteritis. While there is usually diarrhea 
in such cases, it is seldom an early symptom, and, as a rule, does not appear 
until a day or two after the evidence of serious gastric trouble is manifested. 
As for peritonitis, that is a grave affection from the first. It comes on very 
rapidly, and at the onset the abdomen is more or less distended; whereas 
enteritis is comparatively slow in developing, and generally its victims are ailing 
two or three days before it is fairly on. Again, in peritonitis vomiting is not a 
common symptom, especially during the first days. Still again, constipation is 
the rule in peritonitis, and diarrhoea the rule in enteritis. Finally, while in occa- 
sional cases of the latter the victims are manifestly very ill, it is only after the 
disease has been running several days; on the other hand, in peritonitis the out- 
look is grave from the first. 
The treatment of this affection is much like that of diarrhoea of severe form, 
—a cathartic first, and then opiates. The use of the former has been con- 
demned in toto by some authors. Of course were the bowel perfectly empty, 
and that fact plainly evident, it assuredly would not be necessary to give oil or 
other like-acting drug; but considering the quite invariable uncertainty, at least 
in the earliest stages, it is safer to assume that there are irritating substances in 
the intestine, consisting of only partially digested foods, perhaps, or fecal accu- 
mulations, which, if allowed to remain, must excite and keep up the inflammation, 
also give rise to violent peristalsis or intestinal motion, thus preventing rest, 
which is so important to inflamed parts. Indeed, the all-important requirement 
in dealing with inflamed and possibly ulcerated surfaces here or elsewhere is to: 
secure rest and protection from irritating substances. 
Therefore, unless the attack has existed for several days, and during that 
time there has been profuse diarrhcea, the first measure of treatment to be applied 
is a good dose of oil. If, however, the discharges have been many and copious, 
it may be advisable to withhold the oil for a time and depend upon the opiate: 
treatment. 
Castor-oil might be used, but olive-oil or salad-oil acts decidedly better. 
The dose of this should be a generous one; and for a dog of medium size: 
or of the largest breeds, a large breakfast cupful would be none too much. 
About half that dose should be given to dogs about the size of fox-terriers; 
while one-fourth would be right for toys. 
If the first dose of olive-oil fails to act, it should be repeated in the course: 
of eight or ten hours. 
