ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 
trust all to him. It is inflammation of the lungs, 
and may be an extension of bronchitis. 
Symptoms.—The disease is ushered in by ‘rest- 
lessness, thirst, and some degree of rigor, which 
often escapes observation. It is seldom, therefore, 
until ‘the animal is really ill that any notice is 
taken of him. There is evidence of pain now, and 
the breathing is quickened and laborious. “The 
extended head,” Youatt graphically tells us, “the 
protruded tongue, the anxious, blood-shot eye, 
the painful heaving of the hot breath, the obstin- 
acy with which the animal sits up hour after 
hour until his feet slip from under him and the 
eye closes and the head droops through extreme 
fatigue, yet in a moment being aroused again by 
the feeling of instant suffocation, are symptoms 
that cannot be mistaken.” ; 
Add to these symptoms a disagreeable short 
cough, dry at first, but soon accompanied by the 
hacking up of pellets of rusty-coloured mucus. 
Extensive lung inflammation may go on to death 
without any cough at all. Unlike the breathing 
of pleurisy, where inspiration is short, painful, 
and interrupted, that in pneumonia has expira- 
tion, longer, if anything, than inspiration. We 
generally have, in addition, constipation of the 
bowels, high-coloured urine, and. perspiration on 
the internal parts of the thighs. 
Pneumonia may often be complicated with 
pleurisy, or with bronchitis, or inflammation of 
the pericardium, the liver, or even the peritoneum 
itself, which latter is more rare. Again, fits are 
not infrequent in pneumonia, especially if it is 
occasioned by distemper. These fits are adynamic 
in their character, and depend upon the anemic 
condition of the blood, and should therefore never 
be treated by setons and such rough remedies. 
Treatment.—In general principles the same as 
that for pleurisy, but remember, please, that good 
nursing is half the battle. 
Poisons.—Vide Chapter II. of this section. 
Prolapsus Ani, or a coming down or falling 
out of the end of the rectum, is occasionally 
met with in dogs of a weakly disposition, and, if 
not understood or improperly treated, it may end 
in gangrene, sloughing, and death. At first the 
prolapsus only occurs during defecation, but 
latterly the rectum protrudes at any time, and is 
generally more or less inflamed and excoriated. 
Treatment.—Careful regulation of the bowels 
with the simplest laxatives, or by means of food, 
fresh air, and gentle exercise. It is advisable to 
employ cold water enemas containing 3 or 4 drops 
of the tincture of iron to an ounce. Not more 
than from ¥% ounce to 3 ounces should be injected, 
as it is meant to be retained. Do this three times 
a day; or the sulphate of iron may do as well,’ 
2 or 3 gtains to an ounce of water. 
The protruded portion of the gut is to be care- 
fully returned before the injection is used. 
Prurigo.— Included in SKIN DISEASES, which 
see. 
Ptyalism or Salivation—An excessive secre- 
tion of the salivary glands. May be the result of 
613 
the abuse of mercury, or it may arise from de- 
cayed teeth or foul mouth, or simply from some 
local irritation of the glands themselves, or from 
want of care in using mercurial ointments. 
Treatment.—lf from the abuse of mercury, re- 
move the cause and give a gentle aperient, and 
food of a light nutritious kind. The mouth, too, 
had better be plentifully rinsed out with cold 
water. If arising from decayed teeth, the treat- 
ment recommended for foul mouth will be in- 
dicated. If there be no apparent cause for the 
salivation, in all probability the animal is not 
thriving, and probably is losing flesh. Give a 
bitter tonic or dinner pill, see that the dog is 
well housed and properly fed, and rub in every 
morning and evening, with some degree of fric- 
tion, under the jaws a stimulating liniment, such 
as strong hartshorn and oil. 
Rabies.—In a treatise like this, which is not 
meant for either students or veterinary surgeons, 
but to be used as a ready reference for the general 
public, an article on a subject such as this could 
serve no useful purpose. Medical authorities 
themselves dispute as to its diagnosis—which is 
certainly most difficult—some going as far as say- 
ing that no such disease is ever seen in Britain. 
During the scare in London some years ago 
and the enactment of the Muzzling Order thou- 
sands of healthy dogs were hounded to death in 
the streets or cruelly murdered by mad police- 
men. There were no proved cases of rabies, and 
none of real hydrophobia. When the scare was 
at its worst in England, just across the border 
there was no muzzling, no panic, and of course 
no mad dogs. I went to Edinburgh and several 
other cities of Scotland at this time, and found 
the dogs running about, free, happy, healthy, and 
contented. 
Rectal Abscess.—Often forms around or near 
the anus, filled with pus of a peculiarly fetid 
odour. In these cases not only must the treatment 
be directed to the improvement of the general 
health, but as soon as fluctuation can be detected 
the abscess is to be freely opened in the dependent 
position; then, after the matter has been evacu- 
ated, it may be treated as a simple ulcer. Clean- 
liness, and washing frequently with water to 
which a few drops of strong solution (50 per cent.) 
of carbolic acid has been added. If the ulcer 
becomes indolent, it is to be brushed every morn- 
ing with a 1o-grains-to-the-ounce solution of 
nitrate of silver. 
Rectum and its Ailments.—I have already men- 
tioned piles. Much the same treatment will do 
for all irritations at the end of the gut or anus. 
Great cleanliness is needed, and the parts should 
be kept soft by cooling ointments, or boracic, or 
Zam-Buk. 
Rheumatism, Acute. 
Causes.—It is generally found in dogs that have 
been neglected, not only as to the comforts of their 
kennels, but as to their food. Also in dogs that 
are over-pampered. If a dog has one attack of 
rheumatism, either acute or chronic, that usually 
