The Dog

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"I told the proprietor that there was no chance of recovery except by
an operation; and, even then, I thought it exceedingly doubtful. I was
desired to operate, and I took him home.

"The head was now almost twice as large as when the accident occurred,
proceeding from a quantity of coagulated blood that had been effused
under the skin covering the skull. I gave him a dose of aperient
medicine, and on the following morning commenced my operation.

"The hair was clipped from the head, and an incision carried
immediately from between the eye-brows to the back part of the skull,
in the direction of the sagittal suture. Another incision was made
from this towards the root of the ear. This triangular flap was then
turned back, in order to remove the coagulated blood and make a
thorough exposure of the skull. I was provided with a trephine,
thinking that only a portion of the bone had been depressed on the
brain, and it would be necessary, with that instrument, to separate it
from its attachment, and then with an elevator remove it; but I found
that the greater part of the parietal bone was depressed, and that the
fracture extended along the sagittal suture from the coronal and
lamdoidal sutures. At three-fourths of the width of the bone, the
fracture ran parallel with the sagittal suture, and this large portion
was depressed upon the tunics of the brain, the dura mater being
considerably lacerated. The depressed bone was raised with an
elevator, and I found, from its lacerated edges and the extent of the
mischief done, that it was far wiser to remove it entirely, than to
allow it to remain and take the chance of its uniting.

"In a few days, the dog began to experience relief from the operation,
and to be somewhat conscious of what was taking place around him. He
still requires care and attention, and proper medicinal agents to be
administered from time to time; but with the exception of occasionally
turning round when on the floor, he takes his food well, and obeys his
master's call."[1]

[Footnote 1: Trans. Vet. Med. Assoc., i. 51.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER XVII.

MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE DOG.

These are far more numerous and complicated than would, on the first
consideration of them, be imagined. The Veterinary Surgeon has a long
list of them, suited to the wants and dangers, imaginary or real, of his
patients; and he who is not scientifically acquainted with them, will
occasionally blunder in the choice of remedies, or the application of
the means of cure which he adopts. Little attention may, perhaps, be
paid to the medical treatment of the dog; yet it requires not a little
study and experience. I will endeavour to give a short account of the
drugs, and mode of using them, generally employed.

The administering of medicines to dogs is, generally speaking, simple
and safe, if a little care is taken about the matter, and especially if
two persons are employed in the operation. The one should be sitting
with the dog between his knees, and the hinder part of the animal
resting on the floor. The mouth is forced open by the pressure of the
fore-finger and thumb upon the lips of the upper jaw, and the medicine
can be conveniently introduced with the other hand, and passed
sufficiently far into the throat to insure its not being returned. The
mouth should be closed and kept so, until the bolus has been seen to
pass down. Mr. Blaine thus describes the difference between the
administration of liquid and solid medicines:

"A little attention will prevent all danger. A ball or bolus should be
passed completely over the root of the tongue, and pushed some way
backward and forward. When a liquid is given, if the quantity is more
than can be swallowed at one effort, it should be removed from the
mouth at each deglutition, or the dog may be strangled. Balls of a
soft consistence, and those composed of nauseous ingredients, should
be wrapped in thin paper, or they may disgust the dog and produce
sickness."

Dogs labouring under disease should be carefully nursed: more depends on
this than many persons seem to be aware. A warm and comfortable bed is
of a great deal more consequence than many persons who are fond of their
dogs imagine. Cleanliness is also an essential point. Harshness of
manner and unkind treatment will evidently aggravate many of their
complaints. I have sometimes witnessed an angry word spoken to a healthy
dog produce instant convulsions in a distempered one that happened to be
near; and the fits that come on spontaneously in distemper, almost
instantly leave the dog by soothing notice of him.

'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 diarrhoea. 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.

The '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.

The '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--1. To empty
the bowels of faeces: 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. 2. 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. 3. For
restraining diarrhoea: sedatives and astringents being then employed. 4.
For nourishing the body when food cannot be received by the mouth. Gruel
is generally the aliment thus given. 5. 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 aegyptiacum 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 the 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'.

[Footnote 1: The Horse, p. 501.]

* * * * *

APPENDIX.

THE NEW LAWS OF COURSING,

'As Revised and Enlarged at a Meeting of Noblemen and Gentlemen, held at
the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's Street, June 1, 1839'.

I. Two stewards shall be appointed by the members at dinner each day, to
act in the field the following day, and to preside at dinner. They shall
regulate the plan of beating the ground, under the sanction of the owner
or occupier of the soil.

II. Three or five members, including the secretary for the time being,
shall form a Committee of Management, and shall name a person, for the
approbation of the members, to judge all courses--all doubtful cases
shall be referred to them.

III. All courses shall be from slips, by a brace of greyhounds only.

IV. The time of putting the first brace of dogs in the slips shall be
declared at dinner on the day preceding. If a prize is to be run for,
and only one dog is ready, he shall run a by, and his owner shall
receive forfeit: should neither be ready, the course shall be run when
the Committee shall think fit. In a match, if only one dog be ready, his
owner shall receive forfeit; if neither be present, the match shall be
placed the last in the list.

V. If any person shall enter a greyhound by a name different from that
in which he last appeared in public, without giving notice of such
alteration, he shall be disqualified from winning, and shall forfeit his
match.

VI. No greyhounds shall be entered as puppies unless born on or after
the 1st of January of the year preceding the day of running.

VII. Any member, or other person, running a greyhound at the meeting,
having a dog at large which shall join in the course then running, shall
forfeit one sovereign; and, if belonging to either of the parties
running, the course shall be decided against him.

VIII. The judge ought to be in a position where he can see the dogs
leave the slips, and to decide by the colour of the dogs to a person
appointed for that purpose: his decision shall be final.

IX. If, in running for prizes, the judge shall be of opinion that the
course has not been of sufficient length to enable him to decide as to
the merits of the dogs, he shall inquire of the Committee whether he is
to decide the course or not; if in the negative, the dogs shall be
immediately put again into the slips.

X. The judge shall not answer any questions put to him regarding a
course, unless such questions are asked by the Committee.

XI. If any member make any observation in the hearing of the judge
respecting a course, during the time of running, or before he shall have
delivered his judgment, he shall forfeit one sovereign to the fund; and,
if either dog be his own, he shall lose the course. If he impugn the
decision of the judge, he shall forfeit two sovereigns.

XII. When a course of an average length is so equally divided that the
judge shall be unable to decide it, the owners of the dogs may toss for
it; but, if either refuse, the dogs shall be again put in the slips, at
such time as the Committee may think fit; but, if either dog be drawn,
the winning dog shall not be obliged to run again.

XIII. In running a match the judge may declare the course to be
undecided.

XIV. If a member shall enter more than one greyhound, 'bona fide' his
own property, for a prize, his dogs shall not run together, if it be
possible to avoid it; and, if two greyhounds, the property of the same
member, remain to the last tie, he may run it out or draw either, as he
shall think fit.

XV. When dogs engaged are of the same colour, the last drawn shall wear
a collar.

XVI. If a greyhound stand still in a course when a hare is in his or her
sight, the owner shall lose the course; but, if a greyhound drops from
exhaustion, and it shall be the opinion of the judge that the merit up
to the time of falling was greatly in his or her favour, then the judge
shall have power to award the course to the greyhound so falling, if he
think fit.

XVII. Should two hares be on foot, and the dogs separate before reaching
the hare slipped at, the course shall be undecided, and shall be run
over again at such time as the Committee shall think fit, unless the
owners of the dogs agree to toss for it, or to draw one dog; and if the
dogs separate after running some time, it shall be at the discretion of
the Committee whether the course shall be decided up to the point of
separation.

XVIII. A course shall end if either dog be so unsighted as to cause an
impediment in the course.

XIX. If any member or his servant ride over his opponent's dog when
running, so as to injure him in the course, the dog so ridden over shall
be deemed to win the course.

XX. It is recommended to all union meetings to appoint a committee of
five, consisting of members of different clubs, to determine all
difficulties and cases of doubt.

'The following general rules are recommended to judges for their
guidance:'

The features of merit are:

The race from slips, and the first turn or wrench of the hare (provided
it be a fair slip), and a straight run-up.

Where one dog gives the other a go-by when both are in their full speed,
and turns or wrenches the hare. (N. B. If one dog be in the stretch, and
the other only turning at the time he passes, it is not a fair go-by.)

Where one dog turns the hare when she is leading homewards, and keeps
the lead so as to serve himself, and makes a second turn of the hare
without losing the lead.

A catch or kill of the hare, when she is running straight and leading
homewards, is fully equal to a turn of the hare when running in the same
direction, or perhaps more, if he show the speed over the other dog in
doing it. If a dog draws the fleck from the hare, and causes her to
wrench or rick only, it is equal to a turn of the hare when leading
homewards.

When a dog wrenches or ricks a hare twice following, without losing the
lead, it is equal to a turn.

N. B. It often happens when a hare has been turned, and she is running
from home, that she turns of her own accord to gain ground homeward,
when both dogs are on the stretch after her; in such a case the judge
should not give the leading dog a turn.

There are often other minor advantages in a course, such as one dog
showing occasional superiority of speed, turning on less ground, and
running the whole course with more fire than his opponent, which must be
led to the discretion of the judge, who is to decide on the merits.

LOCAL RULES.

I. The number of members shall be regulated by the letters in the
Alphabet, and the two junior members shall take the letters X and Z, if
required.

II. The members shall be elected by ballot, seven to constitute a
ballot, and two black balls to exclude.

III. The name of every person proposed to be balloted for as a member,
shall be placed over the chimney-piece one day before the ballot can
take place.

IV. No proposition shall be balloted for unless put up over the
chimney-piece, with the names of the proposer and seconder, at or before
dinner preceding the day of the ballot, and read to the members at such
dinner.

V. Every member shall, at each meeting, run a greyhound his own
property, or forfeit a sovereign to the Club.

VI. No member shall be allowed to match more than two greyhounds in the
first class, under a penalty of two sovereigns to the fund, unless such
member has been drawn or run out for the prizes, in which case he shall
be allowed to run three dogs in the first class.