28 DISEASES or DOOS. 



beneficial : Epsom salts, Idr. ; bicarbonate of potash, lOgr. ; sweet 

 spirit of nitre, 10 drops ; water, foz. ; mix. 



BONE, INFLAMMATION OF •TUE.-See Ostitis. 



BONES, BROKEN.— It can be ascertained if a bone of the 

 leg is broken by taking bold of the limb above the supposed fracture 

 and moving the lower portion against it, when a grating or crackling 

 of the broken ends against each other will be felt or heard. The treat- 

 ment consists in adjusting the fractured parts to their natural form, 

 and applying splints to keep the parts set Splints may be made of 

 strips of gutta percha, softened in warm water, and moulded to fit 

 the limb ; or pieces of thin wood may be cut the required size, and 

 well padded with wadding. A good and light bandage for fractures 

 is made by soaking a bandage, made of muslin, in gum tragacahth. 

 The splints can be kept in place by binding evenly with light calico 

 bandages, which previous to application have been smeared with 

 Venice turpentine and Burgundy pitch, in equal parts, whilst hot. 

 If much swelling occur, it wUl be necessary to slacken the bandages, 

 and in most cases it will be requisite to muzzle the dog to prevent him 

 tearing off the splints. Perfect rest will be required, and the general 

 health should be attended to. The time it will take for the bones to 

 unite is uncertain. An excellent and very convenient description of 

 splints for fractures is made by Mr. Linton, chemist, Princes Street, 

 Edinburgh. In use it has to be first softened in warm water, when 

 it can be pressed around the fractured part, and made to take its 

 exact form; it soon hardens, and is kept on until the bones are 

 again joined and consolidation of the tissues is complete. The 

 amateur should only attempt to deal with simple fractures. Com- 

 minuted fractures, where the bone is broken into several pieces ; 

 and compound fractures, wherein the soft parts are torn and the 

 ends of the broken bones exposed, should be left to the veterinary 

 surgeon. 



BOWELS, INFLAMMATION OF (Enteritis; Perito- 

 nitis). — The severity and very dangerous character of this disease 

 in the dog are such that perhaps the very best advice that can be given 

 to the amateur who finds his valued dog attacked by it, is to send 

 for a qualified veterinary surgeon without delay. The owner may, 

 however, be possessed of sufficient self-confidence as to wish to try 

 his own skill in treating the disease ; or the dog may not be con- 

 sidered of sufficient value to incur the expense of employing a 

 professional man, although there may be every desire to save the 

 animal's life. If I can help in any snch commendable endeavour 



