126 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



Dysentery. — Is true inflammation of the mucous lining 

 membrane of the bowels — the effect of prolonged use of in- 

 nutritious food, of neglected diarrhoea, of the too continued 

 use of irritant medicines, and, it is said, acridity of the bile 

 also causes it. Symptoms. — Diarrhoea, the ejecta being of 

 an extremely offensive character often tinged with blood, 

 containing very hard small lumps, and often much frothy 

 or stringy mucus. They have an acridity which leads to 

 excoriation around the anus and to frequent tenesmus. The 

 animal suffers from fever and abdominal pain, and there is 

 rapidly increasing emaciation, so that very soon after the 

 commencement of the attack the patient. is in an extreme 

 state of debility, and its breath and cutaneous emanations 

 smell foul and sickly. Sometimes a considerable amount of 

 blood is passed with the stools. Where the dysentery is 

 subacute, the result of chronicity of diarrhsea, the animal 

 becomes a most miserable object, a living skeleton, gene- 

 rally covered with external parasites, and filthy about 

 the anus. Occasionally the stomach is involved in this 

 disorder by the continuity of its structure with . that 

 of the bowel, then persistent vomition is a marked 

 symptom, although the appetite may be ravenous and 

 depraved. Paralysis usually sets in several days before 

 death. 



Treatment of this serious disorder requires to be pro- 

 longed and very careful. Husbanding the strength by 

 every available means is necessary. Broth, milk, cod- 

 liver oil, and other nutritives may be given by the mouth 

 and also, mixed with astringents, per anum. When the 

 animal is in much pain opium (1 — 3 grs.) must be given 

 every second hour until ease is obtained. I prefer for 

 continued administration the astringent tonic barks, such 

 as oak and cinchona, and with them may be combined a 

 little chalk. The dilute mineral acids form tonic drinks 

 which are useful and palatable in these cases. Astrin- 

 gent suppositories (medicines introduced by means of 

 the finger per anum) are useful, and infusion of gentian, 

 catechu, or oak galls may be given as enemata frequently. 

 But our main reliance must be on cleanliness, fresh air, 



