The Dog

"Hopeless as cases of fracture in horses generally are, from the difficulty experienced in managing the patient, they are by no means to be so regarded in dogs. I have in several instances seen dogs recover, and with very good use of the parts, if not perfect restoration of them, when the accidents have been considered, at the time they took place, of a nature so irremediable as to render it advisable to destroy the animals.

"May 4, 1839. A valuable Irish spaniel fell from a high wall, and fractured his off shoulder. On examination, I found the os humeri fractured about an inch above its radial extremity, causing the limb to drop pendulously from the side, and depriving the animal of all use of it. The arm, by which I mean the fore arm, was movable in any direction upon the shoulder, and there was distinct crepitus: in a word, the nature of the accident was too plain to admit of doubt; nor was there any splinter or loose piece of bone discoverable. I directed that the animal might be laid flat upon his sound side in a hamper, or covered basket or box, of sufficient dimensions, but not large enough to admit of his moving about; to have his hind legs fettered, his mouth muzzled, and his injured parts covered with a linen cloth wetted with a spirit lotion.

May 5. The parts are tumefied, but not more, nor even so much as one night have expected. Continue the lotion.

6th. At my request, Mr. Youatt was called in to give his opinion as to the probability of effecting a cure. He thought from the inconvenient situation of the fracture, that the chances of success were doubtful; and recommended that a plaster, composed of thick sheep-skin and pitch, cut to the shape of the parts, should be applied, extending from the upper part of the shoulder down upon the arm, and reaching to the knee; and that the whole should be enveloped in well-applied bandages, one of them being carried over the shoulders and brought round between the fore legs, to support the limb, and aid in retaining the fractured ends in apposition. Prior to the application of the pitch plaster the hair was closely shorn off. Thus bound up, the dog was replaced in his hamper, and had some aperient medicine given to him.

8th. The medicine has operated; and he appears going on well, his appetite continuing unimpaired.

10th. He growls when I open the basket to look at him. On examining him (while his keeper had hold of him), I found the plaster loosening from its adhesion; I took it off altogether, and applied a fresh one, composed of the stopping composition I use for horses' feet.

June 7. Up to this time everything appears to have been going on properly. The fracture feels as if it were completely united, and, as the plaster continues to adhere firmly, I thought the bandages enveloping it, as they were often getting loose, might now he dispensed with, and that the dog might with benefit be chained to a kennel, instead of being so closely confined as he has been. In moving, he does not attempt to use the fractured limb, but hops along upon the three other legs.

July. He has acquired pretty good use of the limb. Being now at liberty, he runs about a good deal; halting, from there being some shortness of the limb, but not so much as to prevent him being serviceable, as a slow hunter, in the sporting-field.

"About a twelvemonth ago," continues Mr. Percivall, "I was consulted concerning a blood-hound of great size and beauty, and of the cost of £50, that had been a cripple in one of his hind limbs for some considerable time past, owing, it was said or thought, to having received some injury. After a very careful handling, and examination of the parts about the hips, the places where he expressed pain, I came to the conclusion that there had been, and still existed, some fracture of the ischial portion of the pelvis, but precisely where, or of what nature, I could not determine; and all the treatment I could recommend was, that the animal should be shut up within a basket or box of some, sort, of dimensions only sufficient to enable him to lie at ease, and that he be kept there for at least six months, without being taken out, save for the purpose of having his bed cleansed or renewed. His owner had previously made up his mind to have him destroyed; understanding, however, from me, that there still remained a chance of his recovery, he ordered his groom to procure a proper basket, and see that the dog's confinement was such as I had prescribed. The man asked me to allow him to have his kennel, which, being no larger than was requisite for him, I did not object to; and to this he had an iron lattice-door made, converting it into a sort of wild beast cage. After two months' confinement, I had him let out for a short run, and perceived evident amendment. I believe altogether that he was imprisoned five months, and then was found so much improved that I had him chained to his kennel for the remaining month, and this, I believe, was continued for another month. The issue was the complete recovery of the animal, very much to the gratification and joy of his master, by whom he is regarded as a kind of unique or unobtainable production.

"The fractures of dogs and other animals must, of course, be treated in accordance with all the circumstances of their cases; but I have always considered it a most essential part of their treatment that such portable patients as dogs and cats, &c., should be placed and kept in a state of confinement, where they either could not, or were not likely to, use or move the fractured parts; and, moreover, I have thought that failure, where it has resulted after such treatment, has arisen from its not having been sufficiently long persisted in."

*Acidum Acetum (Vinegar)*	This is useful for sprains, bruises, and fomentations.
*Acidum Nitricum (Nitric Acid; Aqua Fortis)*	This may be used with advantage to destroy warts or fungous excrescences. A little of the acid should be dropped on the part and bound tightly down. The protuberance will slough off and healthy granulations will spring up. A surer application, however, is the *nitrate of silver*.
*Acidum Hydrocyanicum (Prussic Acid)*	This is an excellent application for the purpose of allaying irritation of the skin in dogs; but it must be very carefully watched. I have seen a drachm of it diluted with a pint of distilled water, rapidly allay cuticular inflammation. The dreadful degree of itching which had been observed during the last two or three years yielded to this application alone; and to that it has almost invariably yielded, a little patience being used.
*Acupuncturation*	is a practice lately introduced into veterinary surgery. It denotes the insertion of a needle into the skin or flesh of a person or animal suffering severely from some neuralgic affection. The needle is small and sharp: it is introduced by a slight pressure and semi-rotating motion between the thumb and forefinger, and afterwards withdrawn with the same motion. This should always employ a quarter of an hour at least, and in cases of very great pain it should continue two hours; but when the object is to afford an exit to the fluid collected, mere puncture is sufficient. It is attended with very little pain; and therefore it may be employed at least with safety if not with advantage. The operation was known and practised in Japan, many years ago; but it was only in the seventeenth century that its singular value was ascertained. In 1810 some trials of it were made in Paris, and M. Chenel look the lead. He had a young dog that he had cured of distemper, except that a spasmodic affection of the left hind leg remained. He applied a needle, and with fair success. He failed with another dog; but M. Prevost, of Geneva, relieved two mares from rheumatism, and an entire horse that had been lame sixteen months. In the Veterinary School at Lyons acupuncturation was tried on two dogs. One had chorea, and the other chronic paralysis of the muscles of the neck. The operation had no effect on the first; the other came out of the hospital completely cured. In the following year acupuncturation was tried without success in the same school. Four horses and two dogs were operated upon in vain.
*Adeps (Hog's Lard)*	forms the basis of all our ointments. It is tasteless, inodorous and free from every stimulating quality.
*Alcohol (Rectified Spirit)*	This is principally used in tinctures, and seldom or never administered to the dog in a pure state.
*Aloes, Barbadoes*	From these are formed the safest and best aperients for the dog — consisting of powdered aloes, eight parts; antimonial powder, one part; ginger, one part; and palm oil, five parts; beaten well together, and the size of the ball varying from half a drachm to two drachms, and a ball administered every fourth or fifth hour. Mr. Blaine considers it to be the safest general purgative. He says that such is the peculiarity of the bowels of the dog, that while a man can take with impunity as much calomel as would kill two large dogs, a moderate-sized dog will take a quantity of aloes sufficient to destroy two stout men. The smallest dog can take 15 or 20 grains; half a drachm is seldom too much; but the smaller dose had better be tried first, for hundreds of dogs are every year destroyed by temerity in this particular. Medium-sized dogs usually require a drachm; and some large dogs have taken two or even three drachms.
*Alteratives*	are medicines that effect some slow change in the diseased action of certain parts, without interfering with the food or work. The most useful consist of five parts of sublimed sulphur, one of nitre, one of linseed meal, and two of lard or palm oil.
*Alum*	is a powerful astringent, whether employed externally or internally. It is occasionally administered in doses of from 10 to 15 grains in obstinate diarrhœa. In some obstinate cases, alum whey has been employed in the form of a clyster.
*Oxide of Antimony*	in the form of a compound powder, and under the name of James's powder, is employed as a sudorific, or to cause a determination to the skin.
*Antimonii Potassio Tartras (Tartar Emetic)*	besides its effect on the skin, is a useful nauseant, and invaluable in inflammation of the lungs and catarrhal affections of every kind. The Black Sesquisulphuret of Antimony is a compound of sulphur and antimony, and an excellent alterative.
*Argenti Nitras — Nitrate of Silver (Lunar Caustic)*	I have already strongly advocated the employment of this caustic for empoisoned wounds and bites of rabid animals. In my opinion it supersedes the use of every other caustic, and generally of the knife. I have also given it internally as a tonic to the dog, in cases of chorea, in doses from an eighth to a quarter of a grain. A dilute solution may be employed as an excitant to wounds, in which the healing process has become sluggish. For this purpose, ten grains or more may be dissolved in a fluid ounce of distilled water. A few fibres of tow dipped in this solution, being drawn through the channel which is left on the removal of a seton, quickly excite the healing action. Occasionally one or two drops of this solution may be introduced into the eye for the purpose of removing opalescence of the cornea. In cases of fungoid matter being thrown out on the cornea, the fungus may be touched with a rod of nitrate of silver, and little pain will follow.
*Peruvian Bark*	or its active principle the *disulphate of quina, is a valuable tonic in distemper, especially when combined with the iodide of iron; the iron increasing with the general tone* of the system, and the iodine acting as a stimulant to the absorbents.
*Blisters*	are occasionally useful or indispensable in some of the casualties and diseases to which the dog is liable. They are mostly of the same description, and act upon the same principles as in the horse, whether in the form of plaster, or ointment, or stimulating fluid. Blisters can be kept on the dog with difficulty: nothing short of a wire muzzle will suffice; Mr. Blaine says, that for very large dogs, he used to be compelled to make use of a perforated tin one. The judgment of the practitioner will determine in these cases, as well as with regard to the horse, whether the desired effect should be produced by severe measures or by those of a milder character, by active blisters or by milder stimulants; the difficulty of the measures to be adopted, and the degree of punishment that may be inflicted, being never forgotten by the operator. We have stated in our work on the Horse, that "the art of blistering consists in cutting or rather shaving the hair perfectly close; then well rubbing in the ointment, and afterwards, and, what is the greatest consequence of all, plastering a little more of the ointment lightly over the part, and leaving it. As soon as the vesicles have perfectly risen, which will be in twenty or twenty-four hours, the torture of the animal may be somewhat relieved by the application of olive or neat's-foot oil, or any emollient ointment. "An infusion of two ounces of the cantharides in a pint of oil of turpentine, for several days, is occasionally used as a languid blister; and when sufficiently lowered with common oil, it is called a sweating oil, for it maintains a certain degree of irritation and inflammation on the skin, yet not sufficient to blister; and thus gradually abates or removes some old or deep inflammation, or cause of lameness."¹ *Iodine* in various cases is now rapidly superseding the cantharides and the turpentine.
*Calomel*	Sufficient has been said of this dangerous medicine in the course of the present work. I should rarely think of exhibiting it, except in small doses for the purpose of producing that specific influence on the liver, which we know to be the peculiar property of this drug. In large doses it will to a certain extent produce vomiting; and, if it finds its way into the intestines, it acts as a powerful drastic purgative.
*Castor Oil (Oleum Ricini)'*	This is a most valuable medicine. It is usually combined with the *syrup of buckthorn and white poppies*, in the proportions of three parts of the oil to two of the buckthorn and one of the poppy-syrup; which form a combination of ingredients in which the oleaginous, stimulant, and narcotic ingredients happily blend.
*Catechu*	This is an extract from the wood of an acacia-tree (Acacia catechu), and possesses a powerful astringent property. It is given in cases of superpurgation, united with *opium, chalk, and powdered gum. A tincture* of it is very useful for the purpose of hastening the healing principle of wounds. Professor Morton says, that he considers it as the most valuable of the vegetable astringents.
*Clysters*	Professor Morton gives an account of the use of clysters. The objects, he says, for which they are administered, are: To empty the bowels of fæces: thus they act as an aperient. Also, to induce a cathartic to commence its operations, when, from want of exercise or due preparation, it is tardy in producing the desired effect. Clysters operate in a twofold way: first, by softening the contents of the intestines; and, secondly, by exciting an irritation in one portion of the canal which is communicated throughout the whole; hence they become valuable when the nature and progress of the disease require a quick evacuation of the bowels. The usual enema is warm water, but this may be rendered more stimulating by the addition of salt, oil, or aloes. For the purpose of killing worms that are found in the rectum and large intestines: in this case it is usually of an oleaginous nature. For restraining diarrhœa: sedatives and astringents being then employed. For nourishing the body when food cannot be received by the mouth. Gruel is generally the aliment thus given. For allaying spasms in the stomach and bowels.
*Copper*	Both the verdigris, or subacetate, and the blue vitriol of sulphate of copper, are now comparatively rarely used. They are employed either in the form of a fine powder, or mixed with an equal quantity of the acetate of lead in order to destroy proud flesh or stimulate old ulcers. They also form a part of the ægyptiacum of the farrier. There are many better drugs to accomplish the same purpose.
*Creosote*	is seldom used for the dog. We have applications quite as good and less dangerous. It may be employed as a very gentle excitant and antiseptic.
*Creta Preparata (Chalk)*	in combination with *ginger, catechu, and opium, is exceedingly useful; indeed, it is our most valuable medicine in all cases of purging*, and particularly the purging of distemper.
*Digitalis*	is an exceedingly valuable drug. It is a direct and powerful sedative, a mild diuretic, and useful in every inflammatory and febrile complaint.
*Gentian and Ginger*	are both valuable; the first as a stomachic and tonic, and the last as a cordial and tonic. It is occasionally necessary, or at least desirable, to draw this distinction between them.
*Chloride of Lime*	is a useful application for ill-conditioned wounds and for the frequent cleansing of the kennel.
*Epsom Salts, or Sulphate of Magnesia*	are mild yet effective in their action: with regard to cattle and sheep, they supersede every other aperient; for the dog, however, they must yield to the castor-oil mixture.
*Mercury*	The common mercurial ointment is now comparatively little used. It has given way to the different preparations of *iodine. In direct and virulent mange, it is yet, however, employed under the form of calomel, and combined with aloes, but in very small doses, never exceeding three grains. It is also useful in farcy* and jaundice. The corrosive sublimate is occasionally used for mange in the dog, and to destroy vermin; but it is a very uncertain and dangerous medicine.
*Palm Oil*	would be an excellent emollient, if it were not so frequently adulterated with turmeric root in powder. It is far milder than the common lard.
*Nitrate of Potash*	is a valuable cooling and mild diuretic, in doses of eight or ten grains.
*Sulphur*	is the basis of ihe most effectual applications for mange. It is a good alterative, combined usually with *antimonials and nitre*, and particularly useful in mange, surfeit, grease, hide-bound, and want of condition.
*Turpentine*	is an excellent diuretic and antispasmodic; it is also a most effectual sweating blister and highly useful in strains.
*The Sulphate of Zinc*	is valuable as an excitant to wounds, and promotes adhesion between divided surfaces and the radix.

Chapter XVII — Medicines Used in the Diseases of the Dog

Appendix — The New Laws of Coursing

Index (including the Editor's Additions)