594 
of their own tongues, and the animal's 
saliva is certainly an antiseptic, but he must 
not have a chance of licking the dressings 
from sore patches. In suspected poison- 
ings by mercury there is the usual sort of 
vomit, with great pain and distress and 
difficulty of breathing; depression, leading 
to convulsions, death. 
Give drenches of white of egg and water, 
or flour and water; then an emetic; after- 
wards demulcents and stimulants for de- 
pression or collapse. Send for a good vet. 
Opvium.—An emetic; strong coffee as a 
drench; electric shock to spine. 
STRYCHNINE, or Nux vomica, may be 
THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 
thrown down to a dog in some form or 
picked up in some of the vermin killers. 
The vomiting to be kept up with emetics. 
Antidotes are animal charcoal, olive oil, 
brandy and ammonia; perfect rest and 
quiet, artificial respiration, hot poultices to 
stomach, hot bottle to back. 
In all cases of poisoning where the vet. 
quite despairs of life, it is probably best to 
permit the dog to pass quickly away. Still 
it is not well to give up hopes too soon. 
The greatest difficulty we have to contend 
with in such cases, lies in the fact that it is 
sometimes impossible to find out what the 
dog has swallowed. 
CHAPTER III. 
ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 
Abrasion or Chafe.—Caused in many ways, and 
on any part of body. Usually by dog’s own teeth, 
as in biting an itching part. By skin trouble or 
accident. 
Treatment.—lf accidental a little oxide of zinc 
ointment. Wash dog after healed; a very little 
borax in the rinsing water. If by biting, damp 
with solution of alum, zinc, or borax. If skin 
disease, vide mange. Prevent biting and scratch- 
ing. 
Abscess.—Forms on any portion of body, and 
may be caused by blows, foreign bodies—as 
thorns—and bruises. There are swelling, pain, 
and heat, sometimes fever. 
Treatment.—Hot fomentations at first, then 
poultice or wet lint kept damp by piece of oiled 
silk. These will either disperse or bring to a 
head. When matter forms, which can be ascer- 
tained from the boggy feeling, free incision, 
gently squeezing out of matter. Keep wound open 
by pledget of boric lint, that it may heal from 
the bottom. Dress daily with sterilised lint, pad 
of wool, and bandage. Constitutionally: Milk 
diet, a little gravy and meat, and green vege- 
tables. 
Albuminuria or Chronic Bright’s Disease,— 
Only diagnosed by examination of urine. If a 
little be boiled in test tube, and a drop or two of 
strong nitric acid added, cloudiness or white sedi- 
ment. General symptoms: Loss of condition, dry 
nose, staring coat, frequent micturition; some- 
times a little paralysis of bladder. 
Treatment.—Unsatisfactory. Care in diet: Milk, 
barley water—easily prepared from the patent 
barley of the shops, which is also one of the best 
of demulcents. Mixed diet: Steeped biscuits, meat, 
fish, Bovril, eggs, pudding. Medicine: Oxide or 
carbonate of iron pills, as for human beings, one- 
quarter pill for Toys, half for Terriers, while for 
large dogs two pills thrice a day. 
Amaurosis (also called gutta serena from the 
dilated pupil and glassy look).—A form of blind- 
ness seen in the dog, and depending on a par- 
tially paralysed state of the nerves. 
The eye is peculiarly clear and the pupil 
dilated, perhaps immovably so. The gait of the 
animal attracts attention; he staggers somewhat, 
and seems unable to avoid stumbling against ob- 
jects in his way, while his expression seems 
meaningless. 
Treatment.—Unsatisfactory. The strictest atten- 
tion, however, must be paid to the general health 
and the feeding. If the disease seems induced 
by the presence of worms, they must be got rid 
of; if by foul mouth and decayed teeth, see to 
these. If the gutta serena follows violence to the 
head, in which case it is more often limited to one 
eye, put the animal on low diet, give a cooling 
aperient, and keep him strictly quiet for a time. 
In amaurosis from weakness, tonics, such as the 
tincture of iron, to begin with, followed in a week 
by zinc, from half to four grains of the sulphate 
in a pill, with extract of dandelion. This is an 
excellent nervine tonic, but must be used for a 
month at least. A small blister behind each ear 
may also be tried. 
Anemia (want of blood).—General weakness, 
paleness of gums and tongue. Sometimes con- 
stipation, and many complications. Loss of appe- 
tite. 
Treatment.—Generous diet. Life in the fresh 
air. Tincture of iron, three drops for Toy, twenty 
for Mastiff size, thrice daily. Or pill containing 
from one to five grains of reduced iron thrice daily. 
