20 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



berant granulations, etc.) We treat, in short, in order to aid the or- 

 ganism to an orderly reaction and, inasmuch as, in the vast number 

 of cases, the inflammation is of microbic origin, most often our 

 endeavor is to assist by removing the cause of irritation. 



The treatment of inflammation comprises both local and consti- 

 tutional measures. The cause must first be sought and displaced or 

 rendered inert. Irritants must be removed and microbic activity re- 

 duced. The agents employed locally are cold, heat and moisture, 

 astringents, irritants and counter-irritants, and blood-letting. 



Cold in the form of an ice-pack, a stream of water from a hose, 

 or a refrigerant lotion (potassium nitrate 5 parts, ammonium chlor- 

 ide 5 parts, water 16 parts) is valuable in the early stages as a pre- 

 ventive, to contract the arterioles and diminish the local blood-sup- 

 ply, but its action must be maintained without intermission, other- 

 wise it does more harm than good by inducing a reaction after each 

 application. Heat and moisture, in the form of hot water applica- 

 tions with a sponge, or poultices, are indicated to relieve tension and 

 cause dilation of the vessels with increased flow of blood, when the 

 inflammatory process is fully established and suppuration imminent. 

 Heat and moisture tend to confine the suppurative process and bring 

 it to the surface. Astringents are of service to constrict blood- 

 vessels and are employed more often to combat inflammations of 

 mucous membranes as the mucosa of the mouth and penis and the 

 conjunctiva. For this purpose one of the most useful preparations 

 is the supra-renal liquid which exerts an almost immediate effect. 

 Other remedies commonly employed are aqueous solutions of zinc 

 sulphate (2:1000 — 6:1000), crystalized alum (i :ioo — 1:400), tannic 

 acid (1:100 — 1:200). Irritants and counter-irritants are useful in 

 some of the chronic forms, but only the milder kinds should be used, 

 such as tincture of iodine and non-blistering liniments. Blood- 

 letting is seldom practiced, but light scarification is an effective 

 means to relieve tension in conditions of extreme congestion. 



Constitutional treatment is exceedingly helpful in many cases. 

 It must always be instituted with regard to the physical condition of 

 the animal. In the asthenic type of inflammation saline purgatives 

 should be administered, and their action supplemented with diuretics. 

 Both these remedies relieve distended vessels and determine a flow 

 of blood to the excretory channels. The diet should also be restricted. 

 In the asthenic type, tonics and stimulating diet are indicated. ^ 



