General Diseases. 337 
generally termed full habit of body (plethoric). Fits 
frequently occur from this condition, and are more par- 
ticularly induced by the injudicious adoption of rapid 
or violent exercise after long confinement. 
Symptoms.—A general full, bloated appearance of the 
body, mucous membranes injected, redness and heat of 
the skin. The pulse is usually full and bounding ; bowels 
to frequently constipated ; drowsiness and indisposition 
exertion. 
Treatment—Depletion by medicinal agents, as occa- 
sional aperients. Reduction in the quantity of food and 
its feeding qualities. Regular exercise. 
OBESITY. 
Dogs, and some breeds more so than others, under 
certain circumstances, become inordinately fat, in othe 
words, obese. The immense accumulation of adipose 
tissue undoubtedly constitutes disease. At all events, 
such a condition is abnormal. Fat takes the place of 
muscle ; hence what is termed fatty degeneration is a 
disease of serious import when occurring in vital organs. 
Some parts of the body are more prone to depositions of 
fat than others—such as around the kidneys, within the 
mesentery, and the heart, the latter being frequently a 
cause of sudden death. 
Close confinement, and injudicious and excessive feeding, 
are among the causes of obesity. Some animals, as I have 
observed, are more predisposed to fatten than others, and 
among this class may be mentioned spaniels, pugs, and a 
few of the long-haired toy dogs. The first-named appear 
to increase in obesity with their years ; no matter how plain 
the food, fat is accumulated, and with it they become lazy, 
useless (so far as accompanying the sportsman is concerned,) 
and unsightly. 
Treatment.—This consists in avoiding, as much as pos- 
