70 DiMCASsa OT Doaa. 



tiloeration ; or it may arise from a wound inflicted on tlie part. The 

 gymptoms of internaJ fistula axe : the dog drags lilmself along the 

 ground — though that is also done when worms exist in the intes- 

 tines — and the voided matter is very offensive, and often covered or 

 marked with blood and matter. The treatment should be left to 

 the veterinary surgeon, who will lay the sinus open and apply 

 remedies to set up healthy action and close it up. 



FXTS. — These are of common occurrence, especially in puppies. 

 Fortunately those that are of a dangerous and fatal character are 

 the rarest. They often cause needless alarm ; but the dog suffering 

 from a fit of whatever land is not an object to be frightened at, he is 

 rather to be commiserated with and helped, and this requires freedom 

 from the common feai that a dog in a fit is mad, for which there is 

 no just reason. Fits are of many kinds — apoplectic, distemper, 

 epileptic, teething, suckling, and those due to worms. Other causes 

 of excitement are known to produce fits. 



Apoplectic Fits are caused by pressure on the brain from dis- 

 tended blood-vessels or effusion of blood. The subjects of attack are 

 generally those dogs that are kept in idleness and over-fed, and the 

 attack may be the immediate result of the animal over-loading the 

 stomach with food difficult of digestion. The symptoms are loud, 

 laboured breathing ; the dog lies motionless on its side in a state of 

 insensibility — there is no frothing at the mouth or champing of the 

 jaws, but the eyes are fixed and often bloodshot. Such cases are 

 usually fatal, and death is frequently tastantaneous. Prompt bleed- 

 ing is the most likely means of saving the patient; and then, as 

 soon as sufficiently recovered, a strong purge should be given, or 

 clysters administered. Should these means prove successful, it will 

 be necessary to use extreme care to prevent a recurrence of the fit. 

 The dog's diet must be carefully regulated, sufficient healthful 

 exercise allowed, or compelled, if need be, and occasional doses of 

 oooling medicine given. Apoplexy in the dog is not often seen 

 in practice. 



Distemper Fits are caused by congestion or inflammation of the 

 brain, and often prove fataJ. 



Epileptic Fits are of very common occurrence, and generally 

 happen when the dog is at exercise — sometimes in the case of pointers 

 they are seized when on the point, doubtless from the undue excite- 

 ment produced. When the dog is attacked, he is first observed to 

 tremble on his legs, and on trying to run on he staggers and falls 

 down on his side, frequently uttering a low moan. Struggling to 



