fO DISEABXS OT DOaS. 



pupping it sometimes happens that one of the teats gets dammed 

 up, ajid this gives rise to local inflamnmtion, ending in abscess. 

 When an abscess is forming, there is unusual heat of the parts, and 

 at first a hard lump, which, as the matter forms, becomes softer, 

 and fluctuates under pressure. If the matter should form very 

 slowly, it will be advisable to hasten the process by hot fomenta- 

 tions, which, if used at all, should be used continuously for a 

 considerable lime, afterwards covering the parts to prevent reac- 

 tion from the cold air. A poultice is useful if it can be kept to the 

 part, and the cleanest and best will be a piece of spongio-pilin — 

 which can be had from any chemist — saturated with warm water, 

 and applied the waterproof side outwards. The abscess is ripe for 

 opening when the underpart is soft and moves readily under pressure 

 of the finger. To open it take the lancet between finger and 

 thumb, and, plunging it well into the centre, make a clean cut 

 downwai-ds, so as to ensure good drainage; press the matter out, 

 bathe with warm water, and keep clean. Apply a canvas-faced muzzle 

 to prevent the aniinal licking it. In cases where the abscess is deeply 

 seated, the veterinary surgeon should alone use the knife. The diet 

 throughout should be light and nutritious. In many cases, medicine 

 may be dispensed with, except a mild purgative when the matter is 

 forming, in which case a dose of the following is recommended : 



Mid Purge. — Take syrup of buckthorn, 3 parts ; syrup of white 

 poppies, 1 part; castor oU, 2 parts. Dose — a tablespoonful for a 

 dog about 201b. weight. The bottle must be well shaken before tha 

 dose is measured. 



As a rule, dogs when convalescent recover quickly, but if after an 

 abscess the animal is much reduced and the appetite impaired, one 

 of the following pills, given twice a day, will have a beneficial effect : 

 Tonic Fills. — Take quinine, 12gr.; sulphate of iron, 18gr. ; extract 

 of gentian, 24gr. ; powdered ginger, 18gr. ; make into twelve pills. 

 These will be found most useful in debility after distemper find 

 other lowering diseases, as well as in all cases of emaciation and 

 want of blood, as shown by the paleness of the gums, etc. To save 

 repetition, they will in future be referred to as the Tonic Pills. 



An abscess may form internally from a blow or wound, or in 

 lung disease. In the latter case the matter would be discharged by 

 the nose, and also coughed up; while in the case of the uterus 

 the discharge would be through the vagina. Other iatemal organs 

 may be the seat of abscesses, but none of these cases can be treated 

 by the amateur, and should be entrusted to the veterinary surgeon. 



ACCIDENTS.— These will be found fully dealt with under 

 Bites, Bbokbk Boses, Bbuises, Burks xsa Scalds, Chokiso, 



