DIETETIC TREATMENT 167 
tempting him with a variety of dishes, preparing one’s self 
to be satisfied at first with the small amounts voluntarily 
taken, for food which is voluntarily eaten is worth a 
good deal more than that which is forced down. 
Of course, refusal to feed cannot be countenanced 
indefinitely, as a dog will very soon lose strength and 
condition if not nourished; therefore, having allowed 
two or three days to pass during which only the slightest 
morsels of food have been consumed, and the alimentary 
tract having had a perfect rest, we must then proceed to 
administer artificially such aliment as appears indicated. 
Sick Diet_—Probably in the first instance pure milk 
will suffice or a new-laid egg may be beaten up in it; to 
this a little port wine may be added for cases which 
seem to require an alcoholic stimulant. Beef-tea, soups, 
broth with the yolk of an egg in it, extract of meat, small 
quantities of minced raw meat, are all very good diets 
for sick animals such as those suffering with distemper, 
and for the sake of variety they may be given alternately. 
There are some proprietary meat extracts which, owing 
to an excessive content of sodium salts, may sometimes 
increase the irritability of the intestinal mucous mem- 
brane, and ateentuate any already-existing diarrhoea, 
These should be avoided if their consumption is noticed 
to be followed by ill-effects. 
Whey is very good in cases of weak digestion, gastritis, 
etc., and is made by heating a pint of milk to about the 
temperature of the body, and adding a teaspoonful of 
essence of rennet. Break up the curd and strain off the 
whey through muslin. 
Raw meat juice can be prepared by finely mincing 
some steak and placing in a jar containing cold water in 
the proportion of one part of water to four of meat. Let 
it soak for half an hour, then press out the juice through: 
muslin. 
