31 G 
JAUNDICE IN THE DOG. 
By Samuel Brown, M.R.C.V.S., Melton Mowbray. 
The dog, in common with other domesticated animals, is 
subject to attacks both of functional disturbance and inflam- 
matory action of the liver, either of which maladies or devia- 
tions from healthy action and function, is characterized by a 
yellowness of the skin, mucous membrane of the lips, mouth 
and eyes. Hence the terms yellows and jaundice. As the 
yellows in the dog is a dangerous disease, and one, too, which 
occasionally rages in an epidemic form, both in the kennels of 
hounds and pointers, I consider it of importance to publish my 
account of it. Indeed, in my opinion, it behoves us all, as one 
professional brotherhood engaged in the pursuit and advance- 
ment of veterinary science, to contribute the results of our limited 
experience in the nature and treatment of any disease to the 
general stock of knowledge ; in order that future veterinarians 
may build up a superstructure of domestic animal pathology. 
In a pecuniary point of view, canine medicine is unworthy of 
our consideration*. But as it is a branch of veterinary science 
which the upper classes of society expect us to be conversant 
with, it ought to be made a part of our education. 
In all cases of yellows the dog should be taken from the 
kennel, and if the weather be cold the animal should be put 
into a comfortably warm place, have a good bed of clean straw, 
and water kept within its reach. The disease is usually ac- 
companied with such a degree of thirst that water is lapped 
with avidity, and seems to be the only kind of sustenance which 
nature requires for the support of animal life for many days in 
succession. As nature is an economist, and frequently proves 
equal to her own wants in restoring diseased organs to a state 
of health, there can be but little doubt, but that she sets up the 
loss of appetite for the express purpose of relieving herself, 
and continues that loss until the liver be sufficiently restored 
to healthy action, and able to carry on its secretory function, 
which serves to purify the blood, while it preserves it from that 
superfluous flow of bile which gives the yellow tinge to the 
skin and other parts of the animal’s body. The dog is na- 
turally an active and sprightly animal, and one to which 
liberty is requisite for health. Confining him in the kennel, de- 
prives him of exercise and of his dog-grass — with which nature 
everywhere abounds, at the same time that she has endowed 
* In the country it may be; but is not so in metropolitan towns. — E d. Vet. 
