ON THE DISORDERS OP THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 123 



resulted from their puncturing the duodenum. It is- always 

 well in cases of indigestion to give vermifuges suitable for 

 both -round-worms and tape- worms, as these;. are a frequent 

 source of disorder, indeed, they may be the cause of epileptic 

 fits in puppies. Oil:of turpentine, common salt, santonin, or 

 sulphate of iron are useful in such cases. Spiroptera (v. 

 Filaria) sangumolenta sometimes is seen in . cystic abodes 

 in. the wall of the stomach of the dog. \In the- lining" 

 membrane of the stomach of the cat resides the adult 

 Ohdanus tricuspis, a trichina-like animal, the embryos of 

 which either penetrate the liver and lungs, " the infested 

 animal perishing in consequence of the inflammatory 

 action set up by their presence" in some cases, or are 

 passed with the faeces, and. in the mouse develop just as 

 trichina, do in man. . 



We may here with advantage discuss the question 

 whether dogs should he allowed to feed on bones, which fre- 

 quently arises in the course of canine practice. It cannot 

 be doubted that the ingestion of bones has a physiological 

 value in all carnivora, they are taken freely by the animal 

 and- swallowed. They serve to clear the teeth from 

 tartar accumulations, and possibly- assist in gastric reple- 

 tion and mild stimulation of the lining mucous membrane 

 of the stomach,' just as stones in a bird's gizzard 

 do. They^ are digested freely and afford useful nutri- 

 ment in the form of phosphates and bone gelatine. 

 On the other hand they are a fruitful source of mis- 

 chief, firstly, in breaking and displacing . the teeth • 

 secondly, in becoming impacted in the oesophagus and so 

 choking the animal ; thirdly, when sharp and spicular, in- 

 penetrating the. wall of the oesophagus or stomach, and so 

 reaching the surface ; fourthly, in causing impaction of 

 the bowels, especially the large, one. But, be it ; observed, 

 it is not the size of the bone but its roughness and sharp- 

 ness which causes this mischief ; and so these ill-effects 

 can not be attributed simply to the ingestion of them as 

 bones but as sharp bodies liable to wound. We may con-, 

 elude that the dog in health benefits, considerably, from; 

 an. occasional feed of bones y he. enjoys it,,/and jt tends to 



