EABIES IN DOGS 93 



hydrophobia. Thousands of dogs have been destroyed 

 because of this silly fear, which is not only without foun- 

 dation, but opposed to all reason and common sense. 

 Owners of valuable animals have been importuned to have 

 a dog destroyed that has inflicted a bite on some one in 

 play ; or, in other cases, when it was doing its duty in pre- 

 venting the incoming of intruders and protecting property 

 committed to its charge. To destroy a dog under such 

 circumstances is the height of folly, since not only is a life 

 wantonly taken, but the person bitten may spend years 

 and years in great anxiety, because the state of the animal 

 at the moment of inflicting the bite is not assured. Steel 

 writes : ' It is certain that no dog free from rabies, however 

 angry he be, can give another animal or man rabies by a 

 bite.' 



Frequently a dog has rabies in an advanced state before 

 even his owner suspects it. A dog is not unfrequently 

 found foaming at the mouth, and lighting at the corners 

 with his paws, to clean away the saliva, and is hurried 

 off to the veterinary surgeon under the impression that 

 there is a bone in his mouth ; and the owner is astonished, 

 often positively incredulous, when told that the animal is 

 mad. 



Rheumatism 



There are two kinds of this disease — the acute and the 

 chronic. In the former there is always great fever and 

 constipation, the water scanty and high coloured, the nose 

 hot and dry, the back is arched, and every attempt to move 

 gives rise to pitiful cries. The most frequent forms are 

 lumbago and chest founder. In the former the hind legs 

 drag and the loins are tender. In the latter the chest and 

 fore part is aflfected. 



Constipation must be first attacked by giving a full 

 dose of castor oil, and enemas if necessary ; then relieve the 

 poor beast by warm fomentations, great care being taken 

 to dry him well and keep him warm. When there is 

 much fever, a mixture should be given every four or five 



