196 Diseases of the Digestive System. 
water will be useful, if assisted by breaking up of the 
feeces by the finger inserted within the rectum. Crude 
opium (one to three grains), chlorodyne, Indian hemp, 
&c., given in one or two teaspoonfuls of barley water, 
may be given to counteract pain and spasm, and may be 
repeated hourly as needed. Enemas containing one of 
these remedies are also of great value. A warm bath 
often proves highly beneficial if due care in drying, &c., 
is observed. In recovery the greatest care in feeding, 
&c., must be observed, or the animal when approaching 
convalescence will suddenly change, droop, and die from 
a recurrence of the malady. Poisoning must be met by 
appropriate remedies or antidotes. (See Poisons.) 
Beef-tea, broth, milk, or cod-liver oil should be given 
with the medicines by the mouth, and by the rectum 
with astringents. Violent pain must be met by opium 
(one to three grains) hourly, or at longer intervals as 
needful to subdue the pain. Some practitioners add 
sulphate of copper with manifest benefit. A hot linseed 
poultice, or the spongio-piline (see Poultices) applied to 
the abdomen is often highly beneficial, and suppositories, 
or injections of an astringent nature should be employed 
in conjunction ; iced water is sometimes added. Clean- 
liness, with fresh air, are all important in the means of 
cure, 
Prolapsus Ani, or Dropping of the Bowel, appears in 
the form of an unsightly tumour beneath the tail, which 
often suffers considerable enlargement with the discharge 
of feeces, while some pain and difficulty attend the act. 
The usual causes are debility, the result of age, neglected 
constipation of a general character, as well as impaction 
of the rectum itself. It is also common in over-fed and 
idle dogs. It may be partial, consisting of the mucous 
membrane only, or the entire rectum may be everted, in 
which case swelling ensues with more or less strangula- 
tion, inducing changes which greatly militate against a 
speedy and successful return as well as retention of the 
organ. 
Treatment consists of returning the bowels within the 
abdomen by means of careful side-pressure and manipu- 
