General Diseases. 331 
always enlarge as the belly enlarges in pregnancy; but 
more particularly it may be distinguished by the undula- 
tion of the water in the belly, whereas in pregnancy there 
is no undulation. The impregnated belly, however full, 
has not that tight tense feel nor shining appearance ob- 
served in dropsy. There may be also inequalities distin- 
guished in it, which are the puppies, and, when pregnancy 
is at all advanced, the young may be felt to move. The 
most unequivocal mode, however, of detecting the presence 
of water is by the touch. Ifthe right hand is laid on one 
side of the belly, and with the left hand the other side is 
tapped, an undulating motion will be perceived, exactly 
similar to what would be felt by placing one hand on a 
bladder of water, and striking it with the other.” 
Youatt observes: “The dog is peculiarly subject to 
ascites or adropsy of the belly, and the quantity of fluid con- 
tained in the abdomen is sometimes almost incredible. It 
is usually accompanied or characterised by a weak, unequal, 
small, and frequent pulse—-paleness of the lips, tongue and 
gums—flaccidity of the muscles, hurried breathing on the 
least exertion, feebleness of the joints, swellings of the 
lower limbs, effusion of fluid into the integuments, or among. 
the muscles, before there is any considerable effusion into. 
the thorax or the abdomen, and an unhealthy appearance. 
of the cutaneous surface. The urine seldom coagulates, 
This form of dropsy is.usually seated on the abdomen or 
cellular tissue.” 
In addition to this principal and what may be termed! 
abdominal symptom, there is loss of happiness and spirits,. 
dryness of the nose, thirst, constipation, scanty urine, quick. 
feeble pulse, and increased respiration, the latter chiefly 
thoracic. As the accumulation increases, the breathing 
becomes more difficult. The poor animal, to avoid suffo 
cation by pressure of the fluid on the breathing space, 
either assumes a continual standing position, sits on its 
haunches, or lies on its side. The enemy, however, con- 
22 
