DISTEMPER. 367 
the bowels, and this method of treatment should not be resorted to unless abso- 
lutely necessary. It is safe to assume it to be necessary only after constipa- 
tion has existed for about three days, and suppositories and injections have 
failed to overcome it. 
One of the mildest laxatives should always be chosen, and even then the 
dose should be small, lest diarrhea result. 
Olive- or salad-oil meets the conditions admirably, and the dose should be 
as already advised after calomel has been taken. 
An easy method of administration is floating the oil in an equal quantity 
of warm milk. Or the oil and milk may be well shaken together; in which 
event they must be given immediately, for they separate at once. 
If the bowels have not moved in the course of four or five hours, a second 
dose should be given. After again waiting about the same length of time for 
the oil to act, if it has failed to do so it will be advisable to encourage a move- 
ment of the bowels by means of an injection of from one-half to one cupful 
of the same kind of oil, which will now very generally prove effectual. 
When the bowels have been opened as advised, the danger of troublesome 
diarrhoea is greatly lessened. If an attack comes on, whether or not active 
measures to stop it should be at once employed will depend upon the charac- 
ter of the discharges. If they have the appearance of tar or pitch and are 
highly offensive, they are ‘‘ better out than in,” and diarrhcea medicine 
can be withheld for an hour, or perhaps two hours, that the bowel may 
empty, the discharges also become of lighter color, and their peculiar odor 
largely disappear. But while such matters should be expelled, for they are 
certainly poisonous, there is some danger in waiting for their expulsion, since 
the diarrhoea may get beyond control; and this is great when the discharges 
are very watery. 
If the strength of the patient has been fairly well kept up, the following 
may be the diarrhea medicine: 
Tincture of opium, two drachms; subnitrate of bismuth, one-half an 
ounce; syrup of rhubarb, one ounce; chalk mixture, three ounces. 
To be well shaken. Dose for largest breeds is one tablespoonful; three 
teaspoonfuls for breeds of medium size, two teaspoonfuls for fox terriers and 
the like; one teaspoonful for toys. It should be given every two hours in 
ordinary cases. 
A lack of tone in the intestine is characteristic of distemper, and in some 
instances even powerful astringents fail to have the desired effect on the 
diarrhea. Then the discharges continue frequent, notwithstanding the mix- 
ture just recommended is administered at short intervals; and in such cases it 
will be advisable to employ salicin at the same time, in the following doses: 
To largest breeds, ten grains; medium size, eight grains; fox terriers and 
the like, five grains; toys, two grains. 
