ON ENTEllTTIS IN THE BOG. 
599 
been too long delayed; but I could not permit the present occasion 
to pass without imperfectly, but decidedly, protesting against the 
exhibition of these outrageous doses of calomel in any of the dis¬ 
eases of the dog. 
If this species of inflammation is neglected, or these horribly 
drastic purgatives are administered, a peculiar contraction of the 
muscular membrane takes place, and one portion of the intestine is 
received within another—there is INTROSUSCEPTION. In most cases 
a portion of the anterior intestine is received into that which is pos¬ 
terior to it. Few of us have opened a dog that had been labouring 
under this peculiar affection without being struck with the col¬ 
lapsed state of the intestine in various parts, and at some of them 
much more than at others. Immediately posterior to this collapsed 
portion it is widened to a considerable extent. The peristaltic mo¬ 
tion of the intestine goes on, and the consequence is that the con¬ 
stricted portion is received into that which is widened—the anterior 
portion is invaginated in the posterior—obstruction of the intestinal 
passage is the necessary consequence, and the animal dies, either 
from the general disturbance of the system Avhich ensues, or the 
inflammation which is set up in the invaginated part. 
I will say nothing of medical treatment in this case ; for I do not 
know the symptoms of introsusception, or how it is to be distin¬ 
guished from acute inflammation of the bowels. Acute inflamma¬ 
tion will not long exist without producing it; and if its existence 
should be strongly suspected, the treatment would be the same as 
for inflammation. 
A few words with regard to constipation and inflammation of 
the mucous membrane of the intestines, and this paper shall close. 
The domesticated dog, from the nature of his food more than from 
any constitutional tendency, is liable to CONSTIPATION. This should 
never be neglected. If two or three days should pass without an 
evacuation, the case should be taken in hand, for inflammation that 
will not be readily subdued will otherwise be very soon established. 
And what should I use in order to accomplish my purpose 1 I 
frankly confess, the aloetic ball, with one or two grains of calomel. 
Beyond that, however, I should not dare to go; but if the constipa¬ 
tion continued, I should have recourse to the castor-oil mixture. I 
should have previously examined and emptied the rectum, and had 
frequent recourse to the enema syringe, and 1 should continue both. 
It would be my object to evacuate the intestinal canal with as little 
increased action as possible. 
There are two other species of inflammation of the bowels 
which must not be passed over without notice. Diarrhoea and Dy¬ 
sentery. 
Diarrikea is the discharge of faeces more frequently than 
