462 INFLAMMATIONS. 



be mistaken for them. The treatment of habitual constipation 

 should be by giving regular exercise and green vegetables with 

 the food. Coarse oatmeal will almost always act gently on the 

 bowels of the dog, and a costive animal may be fed upon porridge 

 with great advantage, mixing wheat flour with it or Indian meal, 

 so as to correct any over-activity. It is better to avoid opening 

 medicine as a rule, though there is no objection to an occasional 

 dose of a mild drug like castor-oil. (See Aperients, page 403.) 

 If the faces are impacted, throw up warm water or gruel repeatedly, 

 till they are softened, and at the same time give the aperient ( 1 2), 

 ( 1 5), or ( 1 6). If there are piles, which may be seen as dark nut-like 

 tumours round the anus, give as much brimstone as will lie on a 

 shilling to a dog of average size every morning mixed up in his 

 food. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER. 



The former of these affections, which may be known by a great 

 scantiness of urine, and evident pain in the loins, is not very 

 common in the dog, but it does occasionally occur. The only 

 treatment likely to be of service is the administration of carbonate 

 of soda (s grs.), with 30 drops of sweet spirit of nitre, in a little 

 water twice a day. 



The "bladder, and the urethra leading from it for the passage of 

 the urine, are often subject to a mucous inflammation characterised 

 by pain and constant irritation in passing water, and by a gradual 

 dropping of a yellowish discharge from the penis. This is gene- 

 rally the result of cold, and may be treated by giving full doses 

 of nitre ( 1 o grs.) with Epsom salts (half an ounce) in some water 

 twice a week. If the discharge and pain are very severe, balsam 

 of copaiba may be administered, the best form being the " cap^ 



