188 Diseases of the Digestive System. 
after a dose of chloric ether in cold water. Its existence 
in sporting and other dogs which require heavy food is a 
serious drawback, the use of light and highly digestible 
food only being tolerated. 
Inappetance, or absence of desire for food, is often a 
sign of being overfed and the beginning of serious 
states, and may arise from decayed teeth, sore tongue, 
mouth, or gums, choking, or muscular inability from 
paralysis of the jaws. The ¢veatment must be based on 
the discovery and removal of the cause. 
Indigestion is a disease of common occurrence in 
canine animals. The wandering mongrel alternately 
suffers from absolute want and over-repletion with 
unsuitable and highly indigestible food, and the highly 
favoured pets are the victims of a depraved appetite 
brought about by want of exercise, over-repletion, and 
often most unsuitable aJiment. Allied causes are disease 
of the mouth or irregularities of the teeth, a torpid liver, 
worms or foreign substances in the stomach. 
Symptoms.—A depraved appetite associated with 
frequent vomition, the ejected material passing down the 
nostrils. The bowels are constipated and distended by 
air, the result of fermentation, giving rise to colicky pains, 
dulness, and often excessive peevishness or unusual anger. 
The patient is often sensitive to cold, and seeks absolute 
quiet and warmth; the coat is rough, harsh and staring, 
and the temperature of the body irregular and unequal. 
In old-standing cases the sufferer lays on much fat, the 
hair falls off, and the state becomes ome of general 
debility or anzemia. 
Treatment.—Change of food and regular meals, sub- 
stituting more digestible or less stimulating varieties as 
may be needed. Fresh air, regular exercise on foot. 
Purgatives are required for constipation and colic, assisted 
by occasional enemas ; carbonate of soda or potash in 
water to relieve acidity and irritability of the stomach, 
and vermifuges to expel worms when they are known to 
be present. 
Emesis or Vomition in the dog depending upon 
special nervous endowment, under ordinary conditions is 
