DEW CLAWS— DIARRHCBA. 47 



DEW C^AWS, once regarded in fanciera' oirclea as the ia- 

 heritance of a few favoured breeds, are now generally \'o ted as uaelesa 

 appendages whose removal is desirahle. They should be taken off 

 when the pups are with the dam, and this can be easily done with 

 a pair of strong scissors. If left till the dog is older, they are liable 

 to bleed profusely, and the pain, of course, is greater. In such a 

 case, the wound produced by the excision should be at once well 

 saturated with Friar's balsam. If it ia thought well to remove the 

 nail only, that can be done by pulling it out with a pair of nippers. 



DIABIaT£S is characterised by an abnormal flow of urine, caused 

 by derangement of some of the assimilative organs ; when long 

 established it produces great emaciation and weakness. The treat- 

 ment consists in giving first a few doses of a mild pm-gative, such as 

 the PodopJiyllin Pills. To allay the thirst which is always present 

 in diabetes give twice a day 5 to 30 drops of phosphoric acid, 

 largely diluted with water, and to strengthen the system 2gr. to 

 5gr. of sulphate of iron twice a day in water. If the excessive flow 

 of urine continues after this treatment, resort must be had to opium, 

 iodine, alum, oak-bark, or its preparations. The following bolus 

 may prove useful in such cases : 



Astringent Bolus for Diabetes. — Take gallic acid, Idr. ; powdered 

 alum, Idr. ; powdered opium, 12gr. ; gum sufficient to form a 

 mass ; divide into twenty-four piUs. Dose for a 201b. dog, one 

 twice a day. Where the animal is weak and the appetite impaired, 

 Igr. of quinine may be added to each piU. 



SIABKECSA. — This disease is of very frequent occurrence, 

 and more particularly in young puppies and in old and overfed 

 dogs. It generally exists as a result of indigestion brought on by 

 improper feeding. The practice of leaving stale food from one meaJ 

 to another is a common cause of diarrhoea, which may be classed as 

 acwte and chronic. In the acute form there is much looseness of the 

 bowels, frequently accompanied or preceded by copious vomiting of 

 acrid, ofiensive matter ; while the evacuations are loose, wateiy, 

 and offensive. If not checked, it soon produces excessive weakness, 

 and, especially in puppies, is the cause of great mortality. In the 

 chronic state the disease is slower in its progress and longer in its 

 duration. It may be set up by a diseased liver and excess of bile ; 

 or it may be the result of inflammation of the bowels. A by no 

 means uncommon cause is the abuse of calomel and other mercurials, 

 these being "specifics" with many persons for all dog diseases. 

 Diarrhoea often finishes up the work of distemper, and this is so in 

 most cases where, as too frequently happens, mercurials have been 



