FOREST -AND STREAM. 



32;: 



CANINE PATHOLOGY AND THLl 

 PEUT1CS.-NO. 2. 



BY AEC1TEU. 



ALL medicines act on the system either directly or 

 indirectly. Of the first class, or those Which act di- 

 rectly, we have examples in the ergot of rye on the uterine 

 muscular fibre ;* iu belladonna, which dilates the pupil, and 

 in eausties applied to ulcerations, etc. The second class 

 comprises by far the larger portion of medicinal substances: 

 one example may sullice i For convenience I will specify the 

 human subject suffering from neuralgia, depending upon 

 acidit3' of stomach and digestive apparatus, in which carbon- 

 ated alkalies, like bi-carbonate of soda and carbonate of am- 

 monia, are given to correct the acidity. The cause being re- 

 moved the effect ceases, and the alkali thus indirectly cures 

 the neuralgic affection. 



Liebig proposes to divide all medicinal substances into 

 three great orders: The first (which includes metallic pri- 

 sons) consists of substances which enter into chemical combi- 

 nation with certain parts or constituents of the body, while 

 the vital force is insullicient to destroy the compounds thus 

 formed. The second division, consisting of the essential oils, 

 •camphor, antiseptics,! etc., possessing the property of im- 

 peding or retarding those kinds of transformation which. 

 when they take place out of the body, are usually designated 

 by the names of fermentation and putrefaction. The third 

 •division is composed of bodies, the elements of which take a 

 ■direct share in the changes taken place in the animal's body. 

 When introduced into the system they augment the energy of 

 the vital activity of one or more organs. All of them pro- 

 duce a marked effect in a comparatively small dose, and 

 many are poisonous when administered in larger quautity. 

 None of the substances in this class can he said to take a de- 

 cided share in the nutritive process, or to he employed in the 

 "organism in the production of blood, partly because their 

 'composition is different from that of the blood, and partly 

 .because the proportion in which they must be given to exert 

 their influence is as nothiug compared with the mass of the ■ 

 blood. 



A therapeutic arrangement of medicines, on the ground- [ 

 work thu3 proposed by the greatest chemist of the age, would 

 have mauy advantages over those now in use. 



The circumstances which modify the action of medicines 

 are very numerous. This modification or alteration depends, 

 in some instances, on a peculiarity on the part of the animal j 

 again, on the character, form or period of the disease in which 

 the medicine is administered, on the combination of tnedi- 

 ■cines employed, on the proper regulation of the dose, etc. 

 These, and other points connected with the efficient operation 

 ■of medicines, merit the attention of every practical man. 



Many animals are peculiarly susceptible to the action of 

 'certain medicines. No reason can he assigned for this ex- 

 treme susceptibility, but of the fact of its existence in indi- 

 vidual cases there can be no reasonable doubt. I have known 

 'two grains of calomel to produce poisonous symptoms of a 

 •dangerous character in a dog three years of age. Another 

 died with all the symptoms of mercurial poisoning from the 

 external application of three drachms of mercurial ointment, 

 which he could by no means have reached with his mouth. 

 A postmortem examination of the animal corroborated the 

 suspicion. 



The female sex are more susceptible, as a rule, to the ac- 

 tion of medicines than males, and when in a pregnant state 

 -wall not hear many remedies that are ordinarily harmless. 

 Great care is necessary in administering irritant purgatives, 

 particularly castor ojl,± during this period. Acids, turpentine, 

 and other remedies, to be hereafter considered, must not he 

 given during lactation, being extremely pernicious to the 

 nursing young. 



in old age and puppyhood the same doses are not as well 

 borne as in the ages between ; and much nicety is sometimes 

 necessary in regulating the dose. Habits and mode of life 

 likewise exercise a powerful influence. Dogs who have 

 barely a sufficiency of food, and that of mixed character, will 

 not bear the same treatment as the pampered, over-fed lap- 

 •dog. Neither will the same remedy apply to the animal Unit 

 has plenty of exercise, and the poor brute that is chained to 

 his kennel day and night. All these points must be taken 

 into consideration. 



A judicious combination of drugs is often more effectual iu 

 its operation than a single medicine, however well selected. 

 This is particularly the case with diuretics and anthelmintics, 

 and it is an object of considerable importance that the pre- 

 scriber should make himself well acquainted with thuse sev- 

 ■eral combinations, which either increase or diminish the ac- 

 tion .of certain remedies. Most of these combinations will be 

 mentioned farther on ; in this place, therefore, a few exam- 

 ples will suffice to show the influence which this circumstance 

 exercises. Fox-glove, or digitalis, frequently fails to act us a 

 diuretic until combined with the sesqui-carbouate of am- 

 monia or with squills. Jalap, colocynth, scammony, etc., 

 are rendered more efficiently purgative by the addition of cal- 

 omel. On the other hand, the violent purgative action of 

 castor oil is rendered milder by the addition of a couple of 

 drops of fluid extract of ipecac: less .griping by fluid extract 

 of hyoscyamus, while it is modified by ths aromatic oils. In 

 some spasmodic affections the operation of a cathartic is pro- 

 moted by a combination with opium ; and, lastly, this drug 

 renders almost inert the action of iodide of potassium. In 

 forming a combination of medicines, great care should be 

 taken to avoid combining drugs whose action is directly op- 



posed to eatu other Sforeovar, do not attempt to fulfil inn 

 many indications at one time, or il isnol improbable that the 

 remedies may antagonize each other, and render your treat- 

 ment perfectly inert* 



As a general rule it is inadvisable to prescribe in the same 

 formula ingredients which arc chemically incompatible, unless 

 Uic resulting compound be the one which tfopreBctiber wishes 

 to administer. Thus, if the citrate of potash is to be given, it 

 may effectually be done bygivrag in one draughl eitricacid 

 sad the bi-curbonaie of potash in solution. These mutually 

 decompose each other; carbonic acid is evolved and the 

 citrate of potash is obtained. It does not. necessarily follow 



that, be 

 resulting era 

 often Uappej 

 either of lb*' 

 to call client 

 the changes 

 pound resul 

 point, the ni 

 erties it 



• the men 

 ipoundi 



:idered i 



(ft: 



thai it is 



ingredients used to its formation. 

 airy to pur aid in order to tliorotu 

 vh'ieb take place, and to ascertain 

 ng from the mixture is. Having 

 n thing is to find out with what 

 ■udowed. Many unohcuiieal CO 

 .For instance, "y 



tally incompatible, the. 

 'ii the contrary, it. may 



at in its operation than 



lulion. Here we have 



thoroughly understand 



hat the coiu- 



certained this 



iin:lli 



" May hew denies that ergot lias any effect upon trie canine utei us. 

 Farther on I shall show why ana how he is an error. 



+ Antiseptic— A term applied to any substance which has the power 



of preventing animal maiter lr.uu naming Inn. a state of putrefaction, 



' '- i '.•':' .1 ■ Mi 1 • i;< i hiji '. :>'jj i l 1 1 ■• ■ -, . I ■. I .' u l.l]j, 



t Castor oil is nu irritant purgative tu doga, particularly pregnant 

 Ditches. 



highly useful and valuable. For instance, "yellow wash," 

 compound resulting from a. mixture of corrosive sublimate 

 aud lime, water, or black wash, that of calomel and lime 

 water. But of all unchemical combinations, perhaps the 

 most signally useful is that of opium and sugar of lead | acetate 

 of lead). These agents react, chemically On. Oaeh. other, tlie 

 acetic acid of the lead combining with the morphine principle 

 of the opium, producing acetate of morphia, and the meconic 

 acid of the opium in turn combines with the lead to form 

 meconate of lead, yet experience proves the combination to be 

 one of the highest value in hemorrhages and other diseases. 

 As I cannot teach chemistry in this connection, I advise all 

 who are ignorant of that science to consult some one to whom 

 it is familiar before attempting combinations of which no 

 knowledge is possessed. As for as lies in my power, I shall 

 giv* the incompatible of each remedy when it is under con- 

 sideration. 



J presume some of my readers will say: "What do we 

 care about chemistry'/ We want something to cure o.ir ani- 

 mals!" Very true: but it is best to work uiiderstaudingly 

 and intelligently; if not, you are as likely to kill as to cure. 

 If the gentleman that lost his dog by the use of cantharides 

 had possessed a work giving the native of the drug, its mode 

 of action, etc., he would i never have administered the drug 

 for such a purpose as lie did. Kemember that by guess 

 Work you are as likely to do wrong as right; and in these 

 days of valuable and imported arurnate, few can afford the 

 costly experiment of guessing. Moreover, the old motto of 

 "What is worth doing is worth doing well," is well to be re- 

 membered. 



Almost every article in the materia -medial operates differ- 

 ently when given in a small and in a large dose. Tartar 

 emetic, for example, in (loses of from 1-1-fth to l-30th of 

 a grain, acts as a diaphoretic and expectorant ; in doses of 

 frOJB 1-lOth to l-8th of a grain, as a nnusenut ; and if carried 

 to the extent of a half or three-fourths of a grain, it proves 

 powerfully emetic. A few drops of turpentine acts as an irri- 

 tant to the kidneys and gemto-urinary organs, while in doses 

 of half or three-quarters of an ounce, especially if combined 

 with olive oil, it operates freely upon the bowels without 

 producing any renal or vesical irritation. These are but a few 

 examples out of many which might be quoted, but it may be 

 observed generally that most ot the medicinal substances, 

 Whose operation is mild and beneficial in small doses, may be 

 converted into powerful poisons by being administered in 

 large quantities. 



There is a source of error in regulating the doses of fluid 

 medicines, to which, tmforti mutely, but little attention is paid. 

 I allude to the differences between the minim aud drop. 

 Thev are too often considered as identical, both being re- 

 garded as the 1-C0th part of a drachm, whereas the truth of 

 the matter is that the different medicines vary throughout the 

 scale from SO to lull to the fluid drachm, varying somewhat 

 according to the size of the opening from which each may be 

 poured. "The minim, therefore, as affording a certain stand- 

 ard of measurement, should always be employed iu preference 

 to the drop. This is easily done by purchasing an English 

 minim or drachm graduate. 1 say English graduate, because 

 these are more reliable than similar glassware of American 

 manufacture, the former being graduated bv measure, anil 

 the latter (usually) by the eye of the workman. One of Dr. 

 Squibb's (of llrooklynj drop tubes will answer every purpose. 



N. B. While thus generalizing, the dose of any medicine 

 that may be mentioned must be taken as applying to a large 

 animal like the setter or pointer, for these are the animals 1 

 liave in mind, aud iu whose behalf, mainly, these articles are 



undertaken. 



About Dogs m Gexkii.u. and the So-called Siberian 

 Blooduocno.— While we undoubtedly have here at. home as 

 good judges of setters and pointers as can be found abroad, it. 

 must be admitted that a majority of our people are lamentably 

 ignorant of every other variety of the canine race. Our ideas 

 are anything but clear and distinct as regards spaniels, cockers 

 and springers, aud very few of us can distinguish with cer- 

 tainly a mongrel from a thoroughbred in cither class, and so 

 with terriers and the numerous sub varieties of that useful 

 breed of vermin killers. How few of us. for instance, can dis- 

 tinguish a Daudie Dinmont from a Bedlinglon, a Yorkshire 

 from a Skye, or a fox terrier from his near relative the Eng- 

 lish terrier. Most of us, iii fact, are indebted to the British 

 writers rather than to actual experience for what little knowl- 

 edge we do possess of all the breeds, save pointers and setters, 

 hence we fall easy victims to the misrepresentations of unscru- 

 pulous dog dealers. 



One of the most successful impositions upon the credulity 

 of American fanciers was that practiced by the late eccentric 

 Dr. Francis Butler, whose canine emporium was at Peck 

 Slip. He related the circumstances himself with great, glee as 

 a pleasant illustration of human gullibility. 



In the course of his business he became possessed of an 

 enormous mongrel cm - , a perfect canine giant, with more or 

 less of the Uhn dog in his blood. This nondescript, of no 

 particular color or characteristic save size, ho forwith dubbed 

 a Siberian bloodhound, aud exhibited him as such, though he 

 did not resemble a hound in any one respect, aud was as much 

 the opposite of the majestic bloodhound as he well could be, 

 in color, shape, form, scenting power and all other qualities. 



Butler's mongrel was taken to England and exhibited to the 

 Queen, who, " Clod bless her," is a great lover of dogs, not as 

 a bloodhound, but simply as a monster dog. The great dog 

 seller was too shrewd to attempt to deceive John Bull. The 

 dog was brought back to this country aud became the founder 

 of that, race of huge pricked eared curs far more formidable in 

 appearance than they are in fact, which excite the awe of the 

 ignorant when visiting our breweries. 



To become as learned as our English cousins are in dogology 

 we want here in this country an aeclimatizationsociety like that 

 of the Bois de Boulogne, near Paris. At this institution they 

 take great, care to breed every known variety of dog in the ut- 

 most purity. The surplus stock finds prompt and ready sale, 

 and this canine branch of the society is not only self support- 

 ing, but pays a handsome yearly I ribute to the common treasury. 

 We have not the slightest doubt that a kennel on this plan, 

 where every known variety of dog could be purchased, and 

 located within easy reach of New York, would prove a most 

 profitable cnterprize. 



—The imported Irish setter bitch Floss, belonging to 0. 

 /. Miley, of Lancaster, Pa., whelped, on the 1st "jime, six 

 puppies, three dogs and three gyps. They are by imported 

 stud dog Buck. 



"Tue Onlt HLrsTBATED.'"— The ugliest dog in North 

 America is owned by a Chicagoan named Whitman. It is an 

 Irish water spaniel, and its portrait is given in one of the ab- 

 surd sporting journals. In the background is an immense 

 tree which has broken through a monstrous fence, and is 

 about to fall upon the unconscious brute, Avhile two Ohicago- 

 ans arc firing upon him from a boat. — Courier Journal. 



NAMB Waived.— We have received the following letter: 

 Editor Fokest and Stbbam: 



The Westminster Kennel Olub yields the name of Dutch- 

 ess to Mr. W. A. Coster, and will claim for their pup the 

 name of Beauty of Westminster. W. S. Webb, M. D., 

 Sec, and T reas. W. K. 0. 



—A dog on shipboard is thought a good omen. He can be 

 used for a mast-iff necessary. — Buffalo Express. 



— Mr. Jerome Marble, of Worcester, Mass., lost his valua- 

 ble young Gordon setter Shot, June 13th, by' dog distemper. 

 Shot was on exhibition at the late dog show iu New York. 



— M. Von Culm's ('Dele.warc-Cily, Del.) Fire Fly, by Cham- 

 pion Unfits, out of Friend, whelped, JunelG, eight^dogs and 

 seven Ditches, sired by Elcho. 



— James L. Marvin, of Newark, N. J., claims the mime 

 of Bess for imported black and tan Gordon setter bitch, second 

 prize winner at New York dog show, by Earl of Glasgow's 

 Jock out of Flora by Mr. Tennant's Di. 



Temnessee FruLD Trials. — The Nashville Sural Sun says: 

 "TheFor.EST and Stream does not seem to understand 

 what we intend to have here next fall. It appears to think that 

 Ave are simply to have a dog sh&U) and uot a dog trial. Ten- 

 nessee inaugurated the field trials five years ago, and we in- 

 tend to keep them up. " 



Now as it was through the influence of Col. John M. Taylor, 

 then Kennel Editor of this paper, that the Tennessee trials 

 •e initiated, we think that we do know what our Nashville 

 friends are to have on the 30th of November next. We are 

 ileased to leara the prospects for a successful trial arc most 

 neouraging. The number of dogs will probably he double 

 that of last year. The purses in champion stakes for both set- 

 ters and pointers, $500, to be divided— $340 to first, §150 to 

 second and $100 to third. In puppy stakes the purses are for 

 S300; $150 to first, $100 to second, and $50 to third. Every 

 provision has been made to insure a supply, of birds, aud all 

 arrangements are iu the hands of competent commutes. 



. — ^»,^ 



Notice to Bportsslen.— Having received so many eouimnnications 

 asking us for information tu regard to our six-section bamboo trout, 

 ilaelc bass, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on the 

 subject, wliieli we shall take pleasure In forwarding lo any addreas. 

 We keen on hand all grades, the prices of which range f rom $15 t,a $150. 

 We put our stamp only on I lie best, m order to protect onr customers 

 nd our reputation, lor we are unwilling to sella poor rod with a false 

 uamel (made by burning and staining, to imitate the genuine article) 

 ithoul letting our customers know just what they are getting. 

 P. O. Box, 1,29-1.— Ado. Abisbv & Imiskie, 4S Maiden Lane. 



—We have, received from Messrs. W. Haley and S. J. At- 

 wood, of Wintcrport, Me., a beautiful stereoscopic view of a 

 ruffed grouse sitting on her nest. The price of the, view 

 by mail is 35 cents. _ 



— The large hotel at the Jordan Alum Springs, in Virginia, 

 is now open for the season under the management of Mr. J. 

 N. Woodward, formerly of Rawlcy and Orkney Springs, who 

 is well known in that connection. They are delightfully 

 situated in the northeast part of Rockbridge County, in a 

 most picturesque portion of the moimtains of Virginia, 

 nestled in the beautiful valley, between the North Mountain 

 on the east and the Mill Mountain on the west. There are 

 two flue springs of chalybeate water in addition to the far- 

 famed alum waters whose medicinal virtues are so well known. 

 — [See ado. 



— Theinean inid-day temperature at New Smyrna, Florida, 

 for the month of June, as recorded by Major Geo. J. Alden, 



was 77 deg., hicheat 87, lowest at 7 a. m. 71, lowest tit 9 p. 



It. OS. 



— The Barnegat House has opened for the seasou under 

 new management, which promises to make it a -first-class 

 resort for sportsmen, and as it is easy of access from the city 

 should be well patronized*— \8ee ado. 



