354 REMEDIES SUITED TO THE DOG. 
APERIENTS. 
Aperients, opening medicines, or purges, by which several names 
this class of medicines is known, are constantly required by the 
dog, though it is a great mistake to give them when they are 
not absolutely demanded by the nécessity of the case. All act 
by quickening the ordinary muscular action of the bowels, but 
some also stimulate the lining membrane to pour out’ large 
quantities of watery fluid, and others either directly or indirectly 
‘compel the liver to increase its secretion of bile. Hence they are 
often classed into corresponding divisions, as laxatives, drastic 
‘purgatives, &c. The chief of these drugs used in the dog-kennel 
are aloes, colocynth, rhubarb, jalap, ipecacuanha, senna, calomel, 
and blue pill, all of which act more or less on the liver; while 
Epsom salts, castor oil, and croton oil open the bowels without 
any such effect. Syrup of buckthorn i is commonly given, but has 
little effect ; and, indeed, the syrup of red poppies is generally 
substituted for it by the druggist, who seldom keeps the genuine 
article, from the belief that it is inert. 
A mild bolus : 
11.—Barbadoes aloes, 10 to 15 grains. 
Powdered jalap, 5, to 8 grains. 
Ginger, 2 or 3 grains. 
Soap, To grains. 
“Mix into one bolus for a large dog, or divide into. two or three for 
small ones, and give as required. 
Strong bolus : 
12.—Calomel, 3 to 5 grains, 
Jalap, 10 to 20 grains. 
Mix with syrup, and give as a bolus.’ 
A good common aperient when the liver is sluggish : 
13.—Podophyllin, 4 grain. 
Compound extract of colocynth, 12 to 18 grains. 
Powdered rhubarb, 3 to 5 grains, 
Oil of cloves, 2 drops. 
Mix, and give .as a bolus to a large strong dog, or divide into. two or 
"three for smaller dogs. 
Very strong purgative when there is an obstruction : 
14.—Croton oil, 1 to 2 drops. 
Purified opium,.1 to 2 grains. 
Linseed meal, 10 grains. 
Mix the meal with boiling “water into a thick’ paste, then. add ‘the oil 
and spices, and give as a bolus, : 
