OBSTRUCTION OF THE BOWELS. 31 



attendant on other diseases, constipation is always troablesome and 

 often becomes dangerous. The fseces aocumulate and get pressed 

 into hardened lumps, the belly is distended and hard, and colic 

 pains occur, driving the dog almost frantic and causing him to run 

 about blindly, stumbling over different obstacles that happen to 

 be in bis way, and to give utterance every now and then to sharp 

 howls of pain. And here I would warn the owner against resorting 

 to the common practice in constipation of giving strong purgatives, 

 such as Epsom salts, jalap, calomel, aloes, etc., the tendency of 

 which is to render the evil worse by forcing the faeces into a 

 still smaller compass, whereby they become more impacted and 

 hardened than before. When the dog is in great pain, the proper 

 course is to administer a dose of the Anii-spasmodia Drops. Clysters 

 of tliin oatmeal gruel, or soap and water lukewarm, and containing 

 about loz. of castor oil in each J pint, must be used continuously 

 till the desired object has been attained. This end will be greatly 

 facilitated by first introducing the finger, oOed, or a small bone 

 spoon, into the rectum, and removing as many of the hard faeces as 

 can be reached. It is necessary that everything should be done 

 with the greatest gentleness ; for rough handling is likely to alarm 

 the patient and cause him to do himself irreparable injuiy. When 

 the lower bowels have been emptied, follow up the treatment by 

 giving the dog a strong dose of castor oil and some warm broth or 

 grueL The use of purgatives must not be resorted to to prevent 

 a recurrence of the disease. The system of management must be 

 altered, the dog must have daily exercise, the food must be varied, 

 and embrace a portion of boiled, chopped up green vegetables at 

 least every second or third day. For a week or so after the attack 

 rather sloppy food should be given, such as well boiled porridge and 

 milk or broth. 



Foreign Bodies in the Intestines. — This is another cause 

 of obstruction in the bowels to which dogs are peculiarly liable. 

 Pieces of bone are swallowed of such size and substance that 

 they pass through the digestive organs very slightly diminished, 

 and getting into the smaller intestines, cannot pass farther, so 

 that faeces aocimiulate and harden until, if not relieved, inflam- 

 mation is set up. Sometimes stones are swallowed and cause 

 obstruction, and this will at once demonstrate the danger of 

 throwing stones for dogs to retrieve, for, in their eagerness, they 

 are apt to swallow them, especially if small Wool or rabbit 

 fur swallowed is likely to ball together with other matter and 

 block the passage, and a case once came under my observation 

 pf % bull bitch suffering from obstruction of the intes^tines fron 



