INDIGESTION. 421 
joint, being worse than the others, inflames and forms matter within 
it, when nothing is to be done but to consign the poor animal to 
the halter or the river. 
INDIGESTION (Dyspepsia). 
Among the most common consequences of improper feeding and 
neglect of exercise is indigestion, attended by its usual concomitant, 
constipation. (See pp. 394, 395.) It shows itself in flatulence, loss 
of appetite, alternations of constipation and diarrhea, low spirits, 
and want of muscular vigour; although often the animal is fat 
enough, or, indeed, sometimes loaded with fat (adipose matter). 
Such a state of things never occurs to a dog properly reared and 
afterwards well managed, being confined’ to those which are either 
fed on improper food or allowed too much of it, or which are not 
allowed exercise enough; or, as is too frequently the case, which 
are submitted to all three of these causes. The treatment is simple 
enough, it being only necessary, except in very old-standing cases, 
to adopt the proper rules for feeding, exercise, é&c., which are 
laid down at page 360 e seq., and nature asserts her supremacy, 
rapidly getting the victory over disease. In no animal are the 
ups and downs so rapid as in the dog, which gets fat and lean in a 
week; and certainly there are few which will bear with impunity 
the liberties which are taken with him. If moderate starvation 
(sometimes, at first, entire, in order to make the pampered dog 
take food which is fit for him) does not soon restore the stomach, 
care must be taken that the liver is acting properly, the faces 
being watched to see if they are of a proper colour; and if not, 
small doses of calomel or blue bill will be required—(1), (2), or 
(13). If, on the contrary, the liver acts properly, yet the stomach 
is out of order, recourse may be had to the stomachic bolus (59), 
or the draught (60), which will very seldom fail, if aided by 
proper management. It should, however, never be forgotten that 
medicine is of no use unless, at the same time, the diet is attended 
to and sufficient exercise given. In cases of indigestion it is par- 
ticularly necessary to change the food every third or fourth day, 
for the stomach is often so fitful that what will agree with it once 
or twice will afterwards be almost eure to disagree. 
