104 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



BILIARY CALCULI. 



These are not unfrequently met with in canine practice, 

 and, as already stated, are one of the causes operating in the 

 production of jaundice. 



Symptoms. — ^The presence of biliary calculi is, as a rule, 

 unattended with pain so long as their substance is small, and 

 they can pass through the ducts without distending their 

 walls ; when, however, they become fixed, the pain is usually 

 severe, and its seat denoted by the animal looking round 

 towards the region of the liver, moaning ahd lying on the 

 opposite side. Excessive vomiting and' torpidity of the 

 bowels, with flatulency and hiccup, attend this biliary impac- 

 tion. When complete blocking of the duct takes place, the 

 bile is retained, and consequently re-absorbed, — hence jaun- 

 dice. The faeces are nearly white, the urine of a deep orange 

 color. The pain is of a colicky nature ; there is no inflamma- 

 tory fever, increased respiration, or disturbed pulse, and the 

 passage of calculi once effected, a restoration to usual health 

 follows. 



Treatment. — This chiefly consists in relieving the pain 

 during the passage of the calculi. Opium or aconite are the 

 agents best adapted for this purpose, i to 2 grains of the 

 former, or i to 3 minims of the latter, every three hours. 

 With regard to the administration of solvent agents for biliary 

 calculi, nitro-muriatic acid, sulphuric aether, and carbonate of 

 soda are each advocated and may be tried, but there is no 

 direct proof that in passing through the system they exert any 

 solvent influence on the concretions. Small doses of calomel 

 are more to be relied on, with attention to the bowels and 

 regulation of the diet. If the animal is emaciated, has fared 

 badly, and been continually confined, a new rule should be 

 established, a plain but liberal diet allowed, with vegetable 

 tonics, daily exercise, and strict attention to cleanliness. 



