"Or, at the same incipient stage of the disorder, the discharge of the contents of the stomach may be occasionally produced with great benefit by such means as these : Solution of tartarized Antimony 6 drachms. 3 drachms. Mix, and make them into an emetic drink, which may be given every two or three days in a little oatmeal gruel for two or three times, if the strength of the dog does not sink too much. "A strong solution of common salt in warm water in the proportion of from one large table-spoonful, or one and a half, to from three to five of the water, as the strength and size of the dog may be, will often an. swer the purpose. "The bowels of the dog should at the same time be kept gently open; but where there is an excess of looseness, it must be instantly restrained by such means as these : Compound powder of Chalk Kino, in fine powder, 3 drachms. 1 drachm. a drachm. Syrup sufficient to make them into two balls, which may be given and repeated as there may be occasion; mild and astringent food being had recourse to at the same time, such as flour or rice boiled in milk. "Sometimes, in these early stages, submuriate of mercury in small doses, and a mixture of Turbith's mineral, in the proportion of four or five grains, and one of tartarized antimony, are found very serviceable; a little blood being previously let where necessary. "It is necessary to let dogs have plenty of proper good food at all times in the course of the disease, except in the very early stage of its attack, while the active inflammation is present. "Besides these means, the distemper powder, so much celebrated and advised for this use, may be found of much advantage in some cases at the onset of the disease, and is to be had with proper directions for giving it in most places. "Where the dogs have much tightness and stoppage in the nasal parts, common tar and butter melted together, and put on and rubbed well upon the higher portions of them, are often of benefit in relieving them: and in cases of much distress and confusion, with stupor in the head, utility is sometimes produced by the application of a blister or blistering ointment on the top part of it; but little service is produced from the insertion of setons in most of these cases. "After the first stages of the disease are over, recourse must be had to the more tonic and strengthening sort of remedies, such as the following:- Cinchona quilled bark, in fine Cascorilla bark, in powder, 1 drachm. Make them into a powder, which may be given in a little broth two or three times in the day if necessary. "The diet of the dog should now be gradually rendered more full, with increasing larger proportions of animal matter, and a plentiful supply of drink. "In a case where I had a dog, which I much prized, as soon as he was affected with the first symptom of the distemper, when the husky cough and slimy discharge from the nose and mouth had already begun, I bled him in the neck till he fainted through loss of blood on the evening of the same day, I administered : Tartar Emetic - 10 grains, doubled between some bread and butter: this dose I repeated four successive mornings; after which all virulent symptoms had disappeared, and in less than ten days after the bleeding, the dog was perfectly restored to health. "At all times cleanliness is very essential in this disease, as also fresh air; and no dog should be allowed to lie or sleep near a fire while affected with this disorder. Dogs fed on potatoes and biscuit suffer much less in cases of distemper, than such as live on high food, as raw meat, carrion, &c. "No flesh should be given during the progress of the disease." MANGE Is generally the result of neglect, although it will occasionally be present among the cleanest dogs, and in the best of kennels; with some it is acquired by infection, with others it is the sequent of a morbid action of the constitution. Dogs confined too long in one small kennel, will engender mange, owing to the acrid effluvia of their transpiration. It is as common to dogs well fed as to such as are in ill-condition; and nothing will sooner produce the disorder than feeding on salt provisions, or drinking stale and dirty water. Mange has been divided into four different kinds: the common, the red, the spongy, and the surfeit; of these the common mange is the most infectious, but the red mange is the most obstinate to cure. Common mange has been cured by brimstone alone; this has been given regularly every day in the food; sometimes oil of turpentine has been mixed with it, and then it may be used as an outward application. The number of prescriptions recommended in cases of mange are almost extremely numerous, and would occupy pages: I shall but mention a few. This must be well mixed, and then rubbed well into the skin once every day for eight or ten days. The three first are sufficient for the disease, but the aloes prevents the dog licking off the wash: some strongly recommend These are put into a jug, over which is poured a quart of boiling water; when cold the dog is washed in the decoction, and a few washings generally will effect a cure. For the red mange, which is known by the colour of the skin, and the apparent irritability of the dog, the following is used: The animal is very liable to catch cold from the application of this ointment, but from the nature of the disease, we are obliged to resort to powerful remedies; internal remedies are also necessary to keep the bowels in a proper state: in obstinate cases, use— Oil of Vitriol Flour of Sulphur Conserve of Roses 8 drops. This must be divided into ten doses, and one given in a ball every morning. Red mange frequently alters the colour of the hair, and has even been known to fall away altogether and leave the body bare. The spongy and surfeit mange will bear the same treatment as the red with surfeit mange, bleeding and opening medicines are particularly recommended. In slight cases of mange, much benefit is derived from washing the dogs in lime water; tan-yards abound with lime-pits, and I have frequently known dogs perfectly cured by two or three dips in these. When ointment is used, it is not sufficient to smear the hair; an hour, at least, is necessary to dress a dog properly, and every thing should be well rubbed into the skin. WORMS Are very peculiar to dogs, and occasion them much uneasiness, and puppies frequently die of them: purges are very commonly employed in every case; mercurials in small doses, pewter, tin, sulphur, bitters, &c., have all been tried. Epsom salts are very efficacious, and quickly expel worms; but, unfortunately, they quickly return: a medicine very much recommended is |