128 KENNEL DISEASES. 
that this tube be from one and one-half to two feet long where the patients are 
of large size, and it may be about the diameter of that on an ordinary “bulb 
syringe.” Its introduction when slow and accomplished by constantly turning 
— boring it in as it were — should be easy and painless; and it should be per- 
sisted in until it tends to double on itself, thereby showing that it can go no 
farther. As for the quantity of oil to be used, the basin holding it should con- 
tain fully one pint; and the oil should be injected until it runs out around the 
tubing. Such injections also should be repeated from time to time if they seem 
to lessen the straining. 
This so-called rectal tube might, by the way, be wisely employed invariably 
where injections are given in cases of suspected stoppage, whether the fluid 
used is sweet-oil, glycerin diluted with ten or twelve parts of water, soapsuds, or 
of other character; and there are chances that if the injection can be made 
deeply enough the intestine will relax and the obstruction yield. 
In all like cases also it were advisable to methodically knead the patient’s 
abdomen, and thoroughly manipulate it from below upward. 
Considering the diet, raw eggs, meat juices, extracts or jellies are indicated, 
and should be given as the conditions will allow. 
Summarizing: The essentials in treatment are rest for the victims — to be 
secured by opiates — and support; the aim being to keep up the strength, with 
the hope that the obstruction will eventually yield. 
As no more favorable opportunity is likely to be presented, it is well to con- 
sider here the treatment which should be applied where it is known that sub- 
stances capable of causing obstruction are swallowed. But before doing so, a 
description of a case reported some years since will be instructive. 
It was of a dog that had swallowed a silver dollar. ‘ Emetics of every de- 
scription were administered in the hope of recovering the coin in that way, but 
it failed to make its appearance after the most strenuous efforts to dislodge it.” 
Some five months after the accident, the victim, in the meantime having been 
fairly well, suddenly took on a bad turn, failed rapidly, and soon death seemed 
imminent. His chain having been removed that the end might be easier, the 
poor fellow staggered to a grass-plot in front of his kennel, lay down, and began 
toeat. After a time his caretaker, thinking himself mistaken, and that life would 
linger another day, sought to chain him again. He showed very evident reluc- 
tance at leaving the grass, therefore a “large double handful” was gathered and 
deposited at the door of his kennel. Some hours later it was found that he had 
eaten it all, and his condition had apparently been made worse. Early the fol- 
lowing morning, however, it was discovered that a very happy change had 
occurred during the night; and this was accounted for by a bunch of grass, all 
covered with slime, in the centre of which lay the offending coin, now badly 
discolored. 
Such accidents as this are not likely to be discovered early enough to 
