130 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



get very hard, there is a foul smelling discharge from the 

 sebaceous glands of the anus, and the margin of the 

 opening becomes dry, harsh, and ulcerated ; oedema of the 

 perinseum may occur as a result. This is seen in chronic 

 diarrhoea and as a complication in cases of dysentery. 

 It must be treated by means of tonic astringent enemata, 

 and the administration through the mouth of tonics and 

 laxatives ; also occasional mechanical removal of hard 

 masses of faeces from the rectum. Mayhew's remarks 

 upon pathological states of the terminal portion of the 

 bowel are excellent. 



Polypus Recti is a disease of not infrequent occurrence. 

 The tumour is generally removeable by ligature, and pro- 

 bably the growths described under this name are merely 

 large hard piles. 



Steicttjee op the Bowel is rather frequent, indeed Mr. 

 A. Broad, a well-known London canine practitioner, con- 

 siders "induration and thickening of the commencing 

 portion of the duodenum very common in dogs," and 

 there are numerous cases of stricture, with or without 

 consequent dilatation, on record. Such may account for 

 obscure intermittent colic ; they mainly result from chem- 

 ical or mechanical irritants causing a shrinking scar of 

 the lining membrane of the bowel. They are seldom or 

 never curable, but, if suspected, may be palliated by the 

 routine adoption of a soft laxative diet. 



Hernia Abdominalis. — The several forms of hernia 

 of the intestines and their appendages as seen in man, 

 are not very frequent in the dog, because of the simplicity 

 of the bowels and their short length. Epiplocele in 

 puppies is not infrequent, the protrusion taking place 

 through the umbilical opening. The exploring needle 

 having been used, the omentum may be cut down on 

 and excised or else returned into the belly and retained 

 by a truss or by a ligature round the neck of the hernial 

 sac. However, it is a matter of difficulty to keep on a 

 truss, and the method of excision is not liable to any 

 serious complication, so I am inclined to prefer the latter. 

 Femoral and Inguinal Memiee are seen in bitches espe- 



