DOCKIHG — DYSKNTBRT. 81 



by biting off the tail. Nothing could be more erroneous or more 

 disgusting. If docking is performed at aU, it should be by meams 

 of a pair of sharp scissors, and within a week or a little mora of the 

 birth of the pups. 



DROFST. — This is an unnatural accumulation of water la 

 different parts of the body, as in water on the brain, dropsy of the 

 chest, dropsy of the skin, and dropsy of the belly ; and it is the last- 

 named to which the dog is most liable. Dropsy is generally, if not 

 always, the result of some other debilitating disease, and especially 

 of inflammatory disorders ; but it may also be brought on by un- 

 suitable diet, or by the abuse of drastic purgatives. With the develop- 

 ment of shows a new danger has sprung up, as dogs are too often 

 kept on their benches to the suppression of the discharge of the 

 excretions, which is a recognised cause of inducing dropsy. Dropsy 

 of the belly need not in the bitch be mistaken for pregnancy, for in 

 the latter the teats enlarge with the belly, which is altogether 

 firmer, and does not droop until just before whelping, whUe the 

 puppies can be felt through the abdominal walla. In dropsy 

 the belly is more pendulous and baggy, the back is arched, and the 

 water moves readily under pressure ; the dropsical animal, too, is 

 generally poor in flesh and harsh in coat. The medicines principally 

 employed ia dropsy are iodine, iron, and other mineral tonics, with 

 digitalis and diuretics ; 5 to 15 drops of benzoate of ammonium, 

 or 1 to 3 drops of oil of jumper, with 5 to 20 drops of tincture of nux 

 vomica, in water, three times a day, are also useful in treating the 

 disease which, however, is always best left to a veterinary surgeon. 



DTSENTEBiT is a serious disease. It is due to inflammation 

 of the mucous membrane of the bowel, and is accompanied by 

 ulceration and hsemorrhage (bleeding). The most fruitful causes are 

 obstinate diarrhoea, the action of irritant poisons, the inhalation of foul 

 air, and in hot climates the result of excessive heat and eating putrid 

 meat. The primaiy symptoms are, hot nose and dry mouth, loss of 

 appetite, usually more or less pain, as shown by restlessness and 

 crying out on pressure being applied. At this stage, constipation and 

 sickness are often present. Afterwards the bowels operate and the 

 evacuations are most disagreeable, and tinged with blood ; or blood 

 may be passed alone. If ulceration has taken place, pus (matter) may 

 also be voided, the animal rapidly sinks, and the faeces and other 

 discharge oome away involuntarily. 



The first object in treating these cases should be to aUay the 

 pain when present. This can be accomplished by administering 10 

 to 60 drops of tincture of opium. To check the diarrhoea give 



