riTS— rLATULlSKCT. 71 



his feet he attempts to move, only to repeat the fall, when he Ilea 

 stupefied and insensible. The legs and the whole muscular system 

 are violently convulsed, the dog froths at the mouth, the head is 

 violently moved, often knocked against the ground, the jaws are 

 champed together, and sometimes the tongue gets lacerated between 

 the teeth, and the froth from hia mouth becomes tinged with blood ; 

 the breathing during the fit is laboured and kregular. The fit 

 generally lasts several minutes. When the convulsions have sub- 

 sided, the dog raises his head, opens his eyes with a look of surprise, 

 and very shortly runs about as if nothing had happened. 



The treatment during an epileptic fit is to gently carry the dog to 

 a dry place where there is some soft material so that he cannot 

 hurt himself in his struggles. As soon after as possible give him a 

 dose of the Anti-spasmodic Drops, and leave him quiet in a warm, 

 comfortable kenneL Endeavour to ascertain the cause of the fit. 

 If from over-feeding, reduce the diet and give gentle exercise, and, if 

 need be, repeated doses of cooling medicine. 3gr. of bromide of 

 potash for a 201b. dog twice a day in water for a week wiU prove 

 beneficial to dogs predisposed to epilepsy. 



Suckling Fits are produced by exhaustion consequent on the 

 bitch having too many pups left on her. She lies or falls down, 

 breathing heavily, becomes insensible, and is frequently much con- 

 vulsed. Remove all the pups but one or two, let the mother have 

 a generous diet, and if much reduced give the Concentrated Tonic 

 Mixture for a few weeks, or the Tonic Pills. 



TeetMng Fits often occur during the cutting of the first teeth, 

 but more frequently when the permanent ones are being irrupted. 

 Lancing the gums is sometimes resorted to, but as a rule a little 

 opening medicine is all that is needed. Convulsions are frequently 

 present in these fits, as also in those due to worms. 



Fits due to Worms. — When these parasites are the producing 

 cause, that fact may often be ascertained by examining the faeces 

 voided during or just after the fit, as some of them wiU probably 

 be seen. Or the presence of worms may be determined 1^ the 

 symptoms given under that head. 



PLATTJLEITCT is not very common in adult dogs, but ofteuer 

 met with in pappies. It is unmistakable evidence of indigestion. 

 For immediate relief the treatment should consist in giving to a 

 201b. dog half a teaspoonful of carbonate of magnesia in a little 

 milk ; or give a dose of castor oU, and foUow with 5gr. to 15gr. of 

 carbonate of bismuth three times a day dry upon the tongu«. For 

 permanent cure, correct the indigestion. See Indiobstion. 



