132 DISEASES OF DOQS. 



ia after all, I think, the best and safest. Neither potassBe fusse, nitric 

 acid, nor nitrate of silver can be safely used, because it is quite 

 evident that the dog's tongue would sweep the injured lip, with the 

 consequence that the caustic would be transferred in part to the 

 tongue, wliioh would peel in consequence. If used, the jaws must 

 be BO tightly bound that the teeth are held together, so that the 

 tongue cannot be protruded. 



When the warts grow in clusters, as they often do, the difficulty 

 of dealing with them ia greatly increased. The application of bi- 

 carbonate of soda slightly damped has in some cases proved effectual. 



WASTING.— -See Debility. 



WATEBY EYES.— iS^ee Weakness in Eyes. 



WEAKNESS IN EYES.— Tears, or watery discharge from 

 the eyes, are natnraJ to some breeds of dogs, such as Blenheim and 

 King Charles Spaniels, and in that case should not be interfered 

 with further than to bathe with an infusion of green tea or the as- 

 tringent lotion for weak eyes ; but the weakness may arise from 

 slight inflammation, in which case give light diet, a purge if the dog 

 is gross and fat, and use the following : 



Lotions for Weak Eyes. — Sulphate of zinc, 12gr. ; laudanum, Joz. ; 

 water, 6oz. Bathe &eely. Equally as effectual is a wash made 

 with boracic acid, Iscr. ; distilled water, Goz. 



WOUB, FALLING OT.—See Fbolapsus Vagina. 



WOBMING THE TONGUE.— There is a very old standing 

 idea still existing in some isolated nooks and muddled brains, that 

 a dog has a worm under the tongue, and that the removal of it, called 

 "worming," does great good, among other things preventing the 

 dog biting, should he ever become mad. The operation consists 

 in cutting the bridle of the tongue and pnlling out a small ligament, 

 which, by contraction, curls like a worm. It is scarcely necessary to 

 say that the operation is as cruel as it is uncalled for, and should be 

 sent to the Umbo of obsolete stupidities. 



WOB3SS. — UntU the present century the existence of worms 

 was even by men of science attributed to spontaneous generation 

 brought about by the influence of heat and fermentation in decay- 

 ing organic matter. Gradually the researches of helminthologists 

 proved that these creatures sprang from a germ, each having its 

 individual mode of reproduction and distinct life-history ; and our 



