KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



23 



nitre, and James's powder given more fre- 

 quently, and in larger doses than before. The 

 pulse of the dog may be felt at the side. If 

 the digitalis produces an intermittent pulse, 

 which it should do, it should be given more 

 cautiously, and in smaller quantities. 



If the inflammation is conquered, or it 

 should happen that there is none of any mo- 

 ment, and the huskiness still continues; if 

 the discharge from the nose increases, and 

 the animal loses flesh, and is becoming weak, 

 — the treatment must be changed. Half the 

 quantity only of the sedative and diuretic 

 medicine must be given, and some tonic, as 

 gentian, from ten to twenty grains ; and gin- 

 ger from five to ten grains, for a dose ; be 

 added. An emetic must be given occasion- 

 ally, and the bowels must be kept open, but 

 not purged. The dog must be urged to eat ; 

 and if he obstinately refuse, he must be forced 

 with strong beef-jelly. If, notwithstanding 

 this, the strength of the animal continues to 

 decline, and the discharge from the nose be- 

 comes purulent and offensive, the fever medi- 

 cine must be omitted, and the tonic balls, with 

 from thirty to sixty grains of carbonate of 

 iron in each, be given. If the dog begins to 

 recover, the tonic balls may be continued 

 without the iron ; giving now and then an 

 emetic if the huskiness threatens to return. 

 Wholesome food and good country air, how- 

 ever, are the best tonics. 



When the discharge from the nose is very 

 offensive, the lips swelled and ulcerated, and 

 the breath foetid, half an ounce of yeast may 

 be given every noon, and the tonics morning 

 and night. The mouth should be often washed 

 with a solution of the chloride of lime. When 

 fits appear early, give a strong emetic. Then 

 bleed, and open the bowels with five or six 

 grains of calomel, and a quarter of a grain of 

 opium, and commence the tonic balls. If 

 they occur at a later period, all that can be 

 done is to give a strong emetic ; open the 

 bowels with castor oil ; and give the tonic 

 balls, with a quarter of a grain of opium in 

 each. 



In the treatment of the yellow disease, we 

 shall seldom succeed. One large bleeding, 

 opening the bowels with Epsom salts, and 

 then giving one-grain doses of calomel twice 

 daily in a tonic ball, sometimes produces a 

 good effect. 



Let it be remembered, that while costive- 

 ness must be obviated, there is nothing more 

 to be dreaded in every stage of Distemper 

 than Diarrhcea. The purging of Distemper 

 will often bid defiance to the most powerful 

 astringent medicines. This shows the folly 

 of giving (as is often done) violent cathartics 

 in Distemper. It is of the utmost con- 

 sequence that, when purging arises, it should 

 be speedily checked. First, give a good 

 dose of Epsom salts, then twenty grains 



of chalk, ten grains of catechu, five grains of 

 ginger, and a quarter of a grain of opium, — 

 made into a ball with palm oil ; and this, for 

 a middle sized clog, twice a-day. 



When the " Twitchings" appear, a seton is 

 necessary, and some stimulating embroca- 

 tion, — such as the tincture of cantharides, — 

 may be rubbed along the whole course of 

 the spine. Castor oil, syrup of buckthorn, 

 and syrup of poppies, (in the proportion of 

 three parts of the first, two of the second, and 

 one of the last,) should be given morning 

 and night, and a tonic ball at noon ; but 

 if the spasms spread over the animal, accom- 

 panied by a moaning, that increases to a cry, 

 humanity demands that we should put an end 

 to that which cannot be cured. 



In the treatment of Chorea, (St. Vitus's 

 dance) which is an occasional sequel of Dis- 

 temper, a seton is the first thing. The 

 bowels should be kept moderately open, and 

 the nitrate of silver, (in doses of one-eighth 

 of a grain, increased to one quarter of a grain, 

 and made into a pill, with linseed meal) 

 should be given morning and night. 



Herein is comprised the best method of 

 treatment for that fatal disease, — Distemper. 



All your correspondents will doubtless 

 be glad to hear of a medicine which is 

 often successful in Chorea. Youatt says,— 

 " nitrate of silver will be the sheet-anchor 

 of the practitioner in this disease ; and if 

 used early, will seldom deceive him." We 

 must never make too sure of the recovery of 

 a distempered dog. It is a treacherous 

 disease, and the medicines should be con- 

 tinued for a month at least after every symp- 

 tom has disappeared. Palsy is sometimes 

 the termination of Distemper, — it is usually 

 accompanied by Chorea ; and is then, in the 

 majority of cases, hopeless. 



Zig-zag. 



BIEDS OF SONG * 



THE BLACKBIRD. 



This being the time of year when most 

 birds are silent, or partially so, from the 

 cold, we propose to introduce to our readers' 

 notice such of the choristers as usually take 

 the earliest part in the harmony of the 

 season. Every successive week will now be 

 telling of something new, something de- 

 lightful. 



We are just entering upon a month, in 

 which there is little observable, day by day, 



* Under this head (See our First and Second 

 Volumes) , all our most popular Birds of Song are 

 being treated of in turn. There has been a very 

 great demand for the separate Treatises ; but it is 

 not our present intention to publish them otherwise 

 than in the columns of Our Own Journal. — 

 Ed. K. J. 



