BOWELS. 459 



sion anxious, showing evidence of pain, which is increased on 

 pressing the bowels with the hand. The tail is kept closely 

 pressed against the body, and the attitude is peculiar to the 

 disease, the back being arched, and the legs all drawn together. 

 The bowels are costive, the urine scanty and high-coloured ; there 

 is thirst, and the appetite is absent altogether. Sometimes there is 

 a slight vomiting after food, but at others it is retained ; though, 

 in the later stages, the former condition generally prevails. The 

 disease soon runs on, and, if not relieved, is fatal in a few days. 

 To treat it, take a large quantity of blood ; give calomel and opium 

 in grain doses of each, every three or four hours ; put the dog in 

 a warm bath for half an hour, and, after drying him, rub in the 

 embrocation (43), avoiding pressure, and applying it rapidly, but 

 lightly. After twelve hours the bowels may be moved by means 

 of the castor oil (15); or, if necessary, the strong mixture (16), 

 repeating the calomel pills till the tenderness ceases. Great skill 

 is required in adapting the remedies to the disease, and a veteri- 

 nary surgeon should be called in whenever the dog is worth the 

 expense. 



Colic is also a frequent complaint among the dog tribe, the 

 signs being intense pain aggravated at intervals to such a degree 

 as to cause the patient to howl most loudly, the back being at the 

 same time arched as far as possible, and the legs drawn together. 

 If this shows itself suddenly after a full meal, the colic may at 

 once be surmised to exist, but the howl at first is not very loud, 

 the dog starting up with a sharp moan, and then lying down 

 again, to repeat the start and moan in a few minutes with increased 

 intensity, until it becomes a howl continued for many seconds 

 together. The nose is of a natural appearance, and there is little 

 or no fever, the evidence of pain being all that directs the atten- 

 tion to the bowels, where there is no tenderness, and, on the con- 



