114 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



much relief ; it may be followed by an emetic to remove 

 possible causes of irritation from the stomach, and soap- 

 and-water enemata at intervals of an hour. If the pain 

 is very urgent an anodyne antispasmodic draught should 

 be given and repeated every two hours as long as 

 necessary. In almost every case an oleaginous cathartic 

 is indicated. When the pain is severe and the paroxysms 

 prove frequent and of long duration, mustard plasters or 

 stimulating liniment may be applied to the belly ; but in 

 all these cases of colic we must carefully ascertain on 

 what disorder the abdominal pain depends, and must 

 direct our efforts to removal of that disorder. About 

 forty minims of laudanum with a dessertspoonful of 

 strong brandy and water, is a good colic drink for routine 

 practice. The flatulent form of colic is very rare in 

 carnivora. 



Diaeehcea. — The frequent passage of fluid faces ex- 

 ceeding the normal in total bulk, differs from " looseness 

 of the bowels," in which the faeces are simply abnormally 

 .soft. In cases of diarrhoea, tenesmus and colic are gene- 

 rally present ; in chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, debility, 

 and often ulceration of the bowel against the anus, with 

 relaxation of the sphincter, are present. Acute cases may 

 be catarrh of the bowels induced by the presence of some 

 irritant leading to increased secretion from the various 

 highly developed intestinal glands, and also from the mu- 

 cous membrane. This irritant may be food, worms, acrid 

 bile, &c, or the catarrh may be due to changes in the 

 weather, or to disorder of the blood. Diarrhoea also may 

 be simply a culmination of debilitating disease and carry 

 off the patient, or it may depend on hyper-secretion of 

 bile, or on abuse of purgative medicine (when it is termed 

 "super-purgation"). Treatment. — These cases always 

 require careful nursing, and when they become chronic 

 are apt to assume a dysenteric character. Cleanliness, 

 the giving of food of a readily digestible nature, and 

 avoidance of exposure, are particularly to be attended to. 

 Often an aperient is in the commencement necessary for 

 removal of acrid matters from the alimentary canal • 



