398 INFLAMMATIONS. 
from the large intestines, the chalk mixture (6), together with the 
bolus (18), will often avail. Rice-water should be given as the only 
drink, and well-boiled rice flavoured with milk as the only solid food. 
Chronic inflammation with constipation is very apt to occur in 
dogs which-are not exercised, and are fed with biscuit or meal 
without vegetables. The consequence is, that the bowels after a 
time become inflamed, and diarrhcea is set up; but, this soon ceas- 
ing, the mucous membrane is impaired in tone, and there is a 
want of the proper secretion, so that the faces become hard and 
the muscular coat refuses to act as it should do. In such a case 
the belly becomes distended, and there is excessive pain, with more 
or less spasm. In some instances the faces have become so im- 
pacted that no means could be used which would overcome the’ 
mechanical difficulty, and the dogs have died “undelivered.” It 
is easy to distinguish these collections, because they may be readily 
felt through the flank, and nothing but a case of pregnancy can 
be mistaken for them. The treatment of habitual constipation 
should be by giving regular exercise and green vegetables with the 
food. Coarse oatmeal will almost always act gently on the bowels 
of the dog, and a costive animal may be fed upon porridge with 
great advantage, mixing wheat flour with it or Indian meal, so as 
to correct any over-activity. Itis better to avoid opening medicine 
as a rule, though there is no objection to an occasional dose of a 
mild drug like castor oil. (See Aperients, page 354.) If the faces 
are impacted, throw up warm water or gruel repeatedly, till they 
are softened, and at the same time give the aperient (12), (15), or 
(16). If there are piles, which may be seen as dark nut-like tumours 
round the anus, give as much brimstone as will lie on a shilling to 
a dog of average size every morning mixed up in his food, 
INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER, 
The former of these affections, which may be known by a 
great scantiness of urine and evident pain in the loins, is not very 
common in the dog, but it does occasionally occur. The only 
treatment likely to be of service is the administration of carbonate 
of soda (5 grains), with 30 drops of sweet spirit of nitre, in a little 
water twice a day. 
