22 THE DISEASES OE THE DOG. 



method of dealing with cases is specially required among 

 sporting dogs in injuries, tumours, and, most frequently, 

 joint diseases. Mustard plasters, sheep-skin, soap lini- 

 ment, and other external stimulants familiar to veterinary 

 surgeons are also resorted to in dog practice. Fibing is 

 specially used for greyhounds, and other sporting dogs. 

 The French and Arabs are very fond of it in canine prac- 

 tice. Peuch and Toussaint urge the necessity of firing 

 lightly and with great delicacy by means of a light leaf- 

 shaped cautery with slightly blunted point, heated to a 

 red-brown (about 20° of Daniel? s pyrometer). The patient 

 may be placed under the influence of anaesthetics and the 

 hair cut off. Some advocate the use of copper firing irons 

 in dog cases. Setons are very useful in canine prac- 

 tice, and are generally inserted at the nape of the neck 

 (as in convulsions, chorea, &c.) beneath the throat in 

 coughs, and along the sides in chest diseases. The 

 smallest-sized veterinary seton needle may be used, or one 

 specially manufactured for dog practice with an elliptical 

 cutting head, long narrow shank, and longitudinal eye. 



Pig. 9. — Dog seton needle. (Peuch and Toussaint.) 



Fomentation presents no special features except that 

 with long-haired dogs great care is necessary to prevent 

 after-chill, and it is not generally advisable to remove the 

 coat. The canine practitioner has a great advantage over 

 the veterinary in that he can resort to the effects of Baths 

 of various temperatures, which prove most valuable thera- 

 peutic means. The warm hath, at about 76° Fahr., is 

 specially useful in cases of nervous disorder, internal 

 spasm, fainting, and many other disordered conditions, as 

 an anodyne, antispasmodic, and sedative means. The 

 head must never be submerged. The patient must at once 

 be removed on the occurrence of any signs of weakness 



