Bronchial Asthma in the Dog. 365 



the administration of antispasmodics either by inhalation or as 

 an injection to avoid the additional suffering of swallowing. 

 Ether or chloroform may be inhaled from a sponge, but the em- 

 ployment of these should be guarded especially in advanced cases 

 when, besides the prevailing weakness, there is reason to suspect 

 structural changes in the heart. The same agents in doses of 

 one, two or three teaspoonfuls, or laudanum in double that 

 quantity may be thrown up as an enema, and may be combined 

 with a couple of ounces of castor oil when costiveness exists. 

 The fumes from burning stramonium or from burning brown 

 paper which has been previously soaked in a strong solution of 

 nitrate of potass, will in many cases suddenly cut short the 

 paroxysm. If on the other hand there is reason to believe that 

 the stomach is overloaded, the attacks will often be suddenly cut 

 short by giving an emetic. For this purpose a grain of tartar 

 emetic may be skaken upon the tongue, or a dessert spoonful of 

 wine of ipecacuan, or of antimony, poured over the throat. 2d. 

 In the intervals between the paroxysms. Attention must 

 be given to counteract any inflammatory action in the chest by 

 which the disease may be maintained. Our chief object, however, 

 must be to divest the animal of its superfluous fat and bring the 

 digestive organs into a healthy condition. Unfortunately the 

 propensity to fatten in some dogs seems to be a morbid condition. 

 The food appears to be stored up as fat at the expense of muscu- 

 lar and other tissues even when the animal is kept on the borders 

 of starvation. All flesh must be withheld and coarse vegetable 

 fare alone allowed. A well boiled pudding (porridge) made with 

 oatmeal or Indian corn meal, water and a little salt, with a small 

 quantity of skimmed milk or buttermilk, is an excellent diet in 

 such cases. The amount must be small, though the hitherto 

 pampered favorite will rarely seek to fully replenish his stomach 

 until he has forgotten his former extravagant habits. 



A good deal of open air exercise must be given, not violent, 

 but gentle and long continued, and this though the patient may 

 appear physically unfit for it. Exercise should be given three 

 hours or more after a full meal. Purgatives (one ounce castor 

 oil) should be administered twice a week. A clean bed, not too 

 soft nor luxurious, should be allowed in a dry, airy place. The 

 skin should be well brushed daily and occasionally washed thor- 



