The presence of all these worms is readily detected. There is generally a dry, short cough, a staring coat, a hot and fetid breath, a voracious appetite, and a peculiar state of the bowels; alternately constipated to a great degree, or peculiarly loose and griping. In young dogs the emaciated appearance, stinted growth, fetid breath, and frequent fits, are indications not to be mistaken.
At other times, however, the dog is filled with worms with scarcely any indication of their presence. Mr. Blaine very properly remarks that it does not follow, because no worms are seen to pass away, that there are none: neither when they are not seen does it follow even that none pass; for, if they remain long in the intestines after they are dead, they become digested like other animal matter.
The
means of expelling or destroying worms in the intestines of the dog are twofold: the first and apparently the most natural mode of proceeding, is the administration of purgatives, and usually of drastic ones; but there is much danger connected with this; not merely the fæces will be expelled, but a greater or less portion of the mucus that lines the intestinal canal. The consequence of this will be griping and inflammation to a very dangerous extent. Frequent doses of Epsom salts have been given; but not always with success, and frequently with griping. Mercurial medicines have been tried; but they have not always succeeded, and have often produced salivation.
One
method of expelling the worm has been adopted which has rarely failed, without the slightest mischief — the administration of glass finely powdered. Not a particle of it penetrates through the mucus that lines the bowels, while it destroys every intestinal worm. The powdered glass is made into a ball with lard and ginger.
The
following account of the symptoms caused by tænia may be interesting. A dog used to be cheerful, and particularly fond of his master; but gradually his countenance became haggard, his eyes were red, his throat was continually filled with a frothy spume, and he stalked about with an expression of constant inquietude and suffering. These circumstances naturally excited considerable fear with regard to the nature of his disease, and he was shut up in a court, with the intention of his being destroyed. Thus shut up, he furiously threw himself upon every surrounding object, and tore them with his teeth whenever he could seize them. He retired into one of the corners of the court, and there he was continually rubbing his nose, as it were to extract some foreign body; sometimes he bit and tore up the earth, barking and howling violently; his hair stood on end, and his flanks were hollow.
During the whole of his disease he continued to recognise his master. He ran to him at the slightest word. He refused nothing to drink; but he would not eat. He was killed on account of the fear excited among the neighbours.
The veterinary surgeon who attended him suspected that there was some affection of the head, on account of the strange manner in which he had rubbed and beaten it. The superior part of the nose was opened, and two
tæniæ lanceolatæ
were found: it was plain enough that they were the cause of all the mischief.
The proprietor of the dog nevertheless believed that it was a case of rabies; he had the caustic applied to his hands, and could not persuade himself that he was safe until he had been at the baths of Bourbonne
4
.
There is a worm inhabiting the stomach of young dogs, the
Ascaris Marginata
, a frequent source of sickness and occasionally of spasmodic colic, by rolling itself into knots. It seems occasionally to take a dislike to its assigned residence, and wanders into the œsophagus, but rarely into the larger intestines. A dog had a severe cough, which could not be subdued by bleeding or physic, or sedative or opiate medicines. He was destroyed, and one of these ascarides was found in the trachea. Others find their way into the nasal cavity; and a dreadful source of irritation they are when they are endeavouring to escape, in order to undergo one of the changes of form to which they are destined, or when they have been forced into the nostril in the act of vomiting.
I once had a dog as a patient, whose case, I confess, I did not understand. He would sneeze and snort, and rub his head and nose along the carpet. I happened to say that the symptoms in some respects resembled those of rabies, and yet, that I could not satisfy myself that the dog was rabid. The mention of rabies was sufficient, and in defiance of my remonstrances the animal was destroyed.
The previous symptoms led me to examine the nasal cavity, and I found two of these ascarides, one concealed in the middle and the other in the upper
meatus
, through neither of which could any strong current of air be forced, and from which the ascarides could not be dislodged.
Worms
may be the cause of sudden death in a dog. The following case, communicated by Professor Dick, illustrates this fact:
I lately had the body of a dog sent to me: his owner sent the following letter by the same conveyance.
"My keeper went out shooting yesterday morning with the dog which I now send to you. He was quite lively, and apparently well, during the former part of the day; but towards evening he was seized with violent vomiting. When he came home he refused to eat, and this morning about eight o'clock he died. As I have lost all my best dogs rather suddenly, I will thank you to have him examined, and the contents of his stomach analyzed; and have the kindness to inform me whether he has been poisoned, or what was the cause of his death."
On opening the abdomen, the viscera appeared quite healthy: the stomach was removed, and the contents were found to be more decidedly acid than usual. The acids were the muriatic and acetic: the finding of an increased quantity of these is far from being unusual. There was not a trace of arsenical, mercurial, nor any other metallic poison present. Of the vegetable poisons, I can only say there was not the slightest trace of the morbid effects of any of them. The pericardium and the left side of the thorax contained a small quantity of bloody serous fluid, and the heart was full of black blood. The left lung was a little inflamed. The trachea contained some frothy yellow mucous matter, similar to the contents of the stomach. In the larynx was found one of those worms occasionally inhabiting the cavities of the nose, and which had probably escaped from the nose while the dog had been hunting; and, lodging in the larynx, had destroyed the animal by producing spasms of the larynx. The worm was about one inch and a half in length, and had partly penetrated through the
rima glottidis.
Another worm about the same size was found in the left bronchia, and a still smaller one among the mucus of the trachea: there were also four others in the nose.
Some years ago I found some worms of the
filacia
species in the right ventricle of the heart of a dog, which had produced sudden death by interrupting the action of the valves.
The following is a curious case of tape-worm, by Mr. Reynold:
On an estate where a great quantity of rabbits are annually destroyed in the month of November, we have observed that several dogs that were previously in good health and condition soon became weak, listless, and excessively emaciated, frequently passing large portions of the tape-worm. This induced us to examine the intestines of several hares and rabbits; and, with, very few exceptions, we found each to contain a perfect tape-worm three to four feet in length. We then caused two of the dogs whose cases appeared the worst to be separated from the others, feeding them on potatoes, &c.; and, in eight or ten days, after voiding several feet of the worms, they were perfectly restored to their former strength and appearance. The worm disease, hitherto so formidable to the spaniel and pointer, may in a great measure be fairly attributed to the custom of giving them the intestines of their game, under the technical appellation of "the paunch." The facts above stated, in explaining the cause of the disease, at the same time suggest the remedy.
A worm in the urethra of a dog
M
. Séon, veterinary surgeon of the Lancers of the Body Guard, was requested to examine a dog who strained in vain to void his urine, often uttering dreadful cries, and then eagerly licking his penis. M. Séon, after having tried in vain to abate the irritation, endeavoured to pass an elastic bougie. He perceived a conical body half an inch long protruding from the urethra with each effort of the dog to void his urine, and immediately afterwards returning into the urethra. He crushed it with a pair of forceps, and drew it out. It proved to be a worm resembling a
strongylus
, four and a half inches long. It was living, and moving about. M. Séon could not ascertain its species. The worm being extracted, the urine flowed, and the dog soon recovered
5
.
Contents/Detailed Contents, p. 6/Index
This is a too frequent consequence of piles. It is often the result of the stagnation of hardened fæces in the rectum, which produces inflammation and ulceration, and frequently leaves a fistulous opening. If we may judge what the quadruped suffers by the sufferings of human beings, it is a sadly painful affair, whether the fistula is external or internal. Whether it may be cured by a mild stimulant daily inserted to the bottom of the abscess, or whether there is a communication with the opening of the rectum which buries itself in the cellular tissues around it, and requires an operation for its cure, it will require the assistance of a skilful surgeon to effect a cure in this case.
Footnote 1:
Tetanus observed on a Dog, by M. Debeaux. —
Pract. Med. Vet.
1829, p. 543
return to footnote mark
Footnote 2:
Blaine's Canine Pathology
, p. 151.
return
Footnote 3:
Proceedings of the Veterinary Medical Association,
1839-40
return
Footnote 4:
Prat. Méd. Vét.
1824, p. 14.
return
Footnote 5:
Prat. Méd. Vét., Fév.
1828.
return
Contents/Detailed Contents, p. 6/Index
This operation is exceedingly useful in many accidents and diseases. It is, in fact, as in the horse, the sheet-anchor of the practitioner in the majority of cases of an inflammatory character. There is some difference, however, in the instrument to be used. The lancet is the preferable instrument in the performance of this operation. The fleam should be banished from among the instruments of the veterinary surgeon.
A ligature being passed round the lower part of the neck, and the head being held up a little on one side, the vein will protrude on either side of the windpipe. It will usually be advisable to cut away a little of the hair over the spot designed to be punctured. When a sufficient quantity of blood is abstracted, it will generally be necessary, and especially if the dog is large, to pass a pin through both edges of the orifice, and secure it with a little tow.
When no lancet is at hand, the inside of the flap of the ear may be punctured with a pen-knife, the course of a vein being selected for this purpose. In somewhat desperate cases a small portion of the tail may be amputated.
The
superficial brachial vein
, the
cephalic
vein of the human subject, and the
plat
vein of the farrier, may be resorted to in all lamenesses of the fore limb, and especially in all shoulder-wrenches, strains of the loins, and of the thigh and the leg, and muscular and ligamentous extensions of any part of the hind limbs; the
vena saphena major
, and the
anterior tibial
vein may be punctured in such cases.
The quantity of blood to be abstracted must be regulated according to the size and strength of the dog and the degree of inflammation.
One or two ounces may be sufficient for a very small dog, and seven or eight for a large one.
Contents/Detailed Contents, p. 7/Index
To M. Amusat, of Paris, we are indebted for the introduction of the artery-forceps for the arresting of hemorrhage. I shall do but justice to him by describing his mode of proceeding. He seizes the divided vessel with a pair of torsion-forceps in such a manner as to hold and close the mouth of the vessel in its teeth. The slide of the forceps then shuts its blade, and the artery is held fast. The artery is then drawn from out of the tissues surrounding it, to the extent of a few lines, and freed, with another forceps, from its cellular envelope, so as to lay bare its external coat. The index and thumb of the left hand are then applied above the forceps, in order to press back the blood in the vessel. He then begins to twist the artery. One of the methods consists in continuing the torsion until the part held in the forceps is detached. When, however, the operator does not intend to produce that effect, he ceases, after from four to six revolutions of the vessel on its axis for the small arteries, and from eight to twelve for the large ones. The hemorrhage instantly stops. The vessel which had been drawn out is then replaced, as the surrounding parts give support to the knot which has been formed at its extremities. The knot becomes further concealed by the retraction of the artery, and this retraction will be proportionate to the shortening which takes place by the effect of the twisting, so that it will be scarcely visible on the surface of the stump. It is of the utmost importance to seize the artery perfectly, and to make the stated number of twists, as otherwise the security against the danger of consecutive hemorrhage will not be perfect.
Mr. W. B. Costello, of London, was present when the operation was performed at Paris. He brought back a full account of it as performed there, and availed himself of an early opportunity of putting it to the test before some of our metropolitan surgeons. A dog was placed on the table, the forceps were applied, and the operation perfectly succeeded.
A few days afterwards a pointer bitch was brought to my infirmary, with a large scirrhous tumour near the anterior teat on the left side. It had been gradually increasing during the last five months. It was becoming more irregular in its form, and on one of its tuberculous prominences was a reddish spot, soft and somewhat tender, indicating that the process of suppuration was about to commence.
I had often, or almost uniformly, experienced the power of iodine in dispersing glandular enlargements in the neck of the dog, and also those indurated tumours of various kinds which form about the joints of some domesticated animals, particularly of cattle; but frequent disappointment had convinced me that it was, if not inert, yet very uncertain in its effect in causing absorption of tumours about the mammæ of the bitch. Having also been taught that the ultimate success of the excision of these enlargements depended on their removal before suppuration had taken place, and the neighbouring parts had been inoculated by the virus which so plentifully flowed from the ulcer, I determined on an immediate operation; and, as the tumour was large, and she was in high condition, I thought it a good case for
the first trial of torsion
. She was well physicked, and on the third day was produced before my class and properly secured. I had not provided myself with the
torsion forceps
, but relied on the hold I should have on the vessel by means of a pair of common artery forceps; and the effect of imperfect instruments beautifully established the power of torsion in arresting hemorrhage.
Two elliptical incisions were made on the face of the tumour, and prolonged anteriorly and posteriorly about an inch from it. The portion of integument that could be spared was thus enclosed, while the opposed edges of the wound could be neatly and effectually brought together after the operation. The dissection of the integument from the remaining part of the face of the tumour was somewhat slow and difficult, for it was in a manner identified with the hardened mass beneath; but the operation soon proceeded more quickly, and we very soon had the scirrhus exposed, and adhering to the thorax by its base. About two ounces of venous blood had now been lost.
I was convinced that I should find the principal artery, by which the excrescence was fed, at its anterior extremity, and not far from the spot where the suppuration seemed to be preparing: therefore, beginning posteriorly, I very rapidly cut through the cellular texture, elevating the tumour and turning it back, until I arrived at the inner and anterior point, and there was the only source of supply; the artery was plainly to be seen. In order to give the experiment a fair chance, I would not enclose it in the forceps, but I cut through it. A jet of blood spirted out. I then seized the vessel as quickly as I could, and began to turn the forceps, but before I could effect more than a turn and a half I lost my hold on the artery. I was vexed, and paused, waiting for the renewed gush of blood that I might seize the vessel again; but to my surprise not a drop more blood came from the arterial trunk. That turn and a half, considerable pressure having been used, had completely arrested the hemorrhage. I can safely say that not more than four drachms of arterial blood were lost.
The wound was sponged clean: there remained only a very slight oozing from two or three points; the flaps were brought together, secured by the ordinary sutures, and the proper bandages applied. The weight of the tumour was twenty-two ounces; there was no after-bleeding, no unpleasant occurrences; but the wound, which had been nearly six inches in length, was closed in little more than three weeks.
He will essentially promote the cause of science, and the cause of humanity, who will avail himself of the opportunity which country practice affords of putting the effect of torsion to the test: and few things will be more gratifying than the consciousness of rescuing our patients from the unnecessary infliction of torture.
In docking, it will be found perfectly practicable: our patients will escape much torture, and tetanus will often be avoided. The principal danger from castration has arisen from the severity with which the iron has been employed. The colt, the sheep, and the dog will be fair subjects for experiment. The cautery, as it regards the first, and the brutal violence too frequently resorted to in operating upon the others, have destroyed thousands of animals.
Contents/Detailed Contents, p. 7/Index
This operation is performed on a great portion of our domestic animals. It renders them more docile, and gives them a disposition to fatten. It is followed by fewest serious accidents when it is performed on young animals. The autumn or spring should, if possible, be chosen for the operation, for the temperature of the atmosphere is then generally uniform and moderate.
It
should be previously ascertained that the animal is in perfect health; and he should be prepared by a mash diet and bleeding, if he is in a plethoric state, or possessed of considerable determination. If it is a young animal that is to be operated upon, an incision may be made into the scrotum, the testicle may be protruded, and the cord cut without much precaution, for the blood will soon be stayed; but for older animals it will be advisable to use a ligature, applied moderately tightly round the spermatic cord a little more than an inch beyond its insertion into the testicle; the scalpel is then used, and a separation effected between the ligature and the testis. The
vas derens
needs not to be included; a great deal of pain will then be spared to the animal.
The ordinary consequences of castration are pain, inflammation, engorgement, and suppuration. The pain and suppuration are inevitable, but generally yield to emollient applications. The engorgement is often considerable at first, but soon subsides, and the suppuration usually abates in the course of a few days.
It
has been said that the castrated dog is more attached and faithful to his master than he who has not been deprived of his genital powers: this, however, is to be much doubted. He has, generally speaking, lost a considerable portion of his courage, his energy, and his strength. He is apt to become idle, and is disposed to accumulate fat more rapidly. His power of scent is also very considerably diminished and he is less qualified for the sports of the field. Of this there can be no doubt. It has been said that he is more submissive: I very much doubt the accuracy of that opinion. He may not be so savage as in his perfect state; he may not be so eager in his feeding; but there is not the devotion to his master, and the quickness of comprehension which belongs to the perfect dog.
The
removal of the ovaries, or spaying of the female, used to be often practised, and packs of spayed bitches were, and still are, occasionally kept. In performing this operation, an opening is made into the flank on one side, and the finger introduced — one of the ovaries is laid hold of and drawn a little out of the belly; a ligature is then applied round it, just above the bifurcation of the womb, and it is cut through, the end of the ligature being left hanging out of the wound. The other ovary is then felt for and drawn out, and excised and secured by a ligature. The wound is then sewed up, and a bandage is placed over the incision. Some farriers do not apply any ligature, but simply sew up the wound, and in the majority of cases the edges adhere, and no harm comes of the operation, except that the general character of the animal is essentially changed. She accumulates a vast quantity of fat, becomes listless and idle, and is almost invariably short-lived.
The
female dog, therefore, should always be allowed to breed. Breeding is a necessary process; and the female prevented from it is sure to be affected with disease sooner or later; enormous collections and indurations will form, that will inevitably terminate in scirrhus or ulceration.
A
troublesome process often occurs when the female is not permitted to have young ones; namely, the accumulation of milk in the teats, especially if at any previous time, however distant, she may have had puppies once. The foundation is laid for many unpleasant and unmanageable complaints. If she is suffered to bring up one litter after another, she will have better health than those that are debarred from intercourse with the male.
The temporary union which takes placed between the male and female at the period at which they are brought together is a very singular one. The
corpora cavernosa
of the male and the
clitoris
of the female being suddenly distended with blood, it is impossible to withdraw either of them until the turgescence of the parts has entirely ceased.
Contents/Detailed Contents, p. 7/Index
The pupping usually takes place from the sixty-second to the sixty-fourth day; and the process having commenced, from a quarter to three quarters of an hour generally takes place between the production of each puppy.
Great numbers of bitches are lost every year in the act of parturition: there seems to be a propensity in the females to associate with dogs larger than themselves, and they pay for it with their lives. The most neglected circumstance during the period of pregnancy is the little exercise which the mother is permitted to take, while, in point of fact, nothing tends more to safe and easy parturition than her being permitted or compelled to take a fair quantity of exercise.
When the time of parturition has arrived, and there is evident difficulty in producing the fœtus, recourse should be had to the ergot of rye, which should be given every hour or half hour, according to circumstances. If after a certain time some, although little, progress has been made, the ergot must be continued in smaller doses, or perhaps suspended for a while; but, if all progress is evidently suspended, recourse must be had to the hook or the forceps. By gentle but continued manipulation much may be done, especially when the muzzle of the puppy can be brought into the passage. As little force as possible must be used, and especially the fœtus little broken. Many a valuable animal is destroyed by the undue application of force.
If the animal seems to be losing strength, a small quantity of laudanum and ether may be administered.
"The patience of bitches in labour is extreme," says Mr. Blaine; "and their distress, if not removed, is most striking and affecting. Their look is at such time particularly expressive and apparently imploring."
When the pupping is protracted, and the young ones are evidently dead, the mother may be saved, if none of the puppies have been broken. In process of time the different puppies may, one after another, be extracted; but when violence has been used at the commencement, or almost at any part of the process, death will assuredly follow.
June 15, 1832.
— A spaniel bitch was brought to my infirmary to-day, who has been in great and constant pain since yesterday, making repeated but fruitless efforts to expel her puppies. She is in a very plethoric habit of body; her bowels are much confined, and she exhibits some general symptoms of febrile derangement, arising, doubtless, from her protracted labour. This is her first litter. Upon examination, no young could be distinctly felt.
Place her in a warm bath, and give her a dose of castor oil, morning and evening.
June 16
. — The bitch appears in the same state as yesterday, except that the medicine has operated freely upon the bowels, and the febrile symptoms have somewhat decreased. Her strainings are as frequent and distressing as ever. Take two scruples of the ergot of rye, and divide into six doses, of which let one be given every half hour.
In about ten minutes after the exhibition of the last dose of this medicine, she brought forth, with great difficulty, one dead puppy, upon taking which away from her, she became so uneasy that I was induced to return it to her. In about a quarter of an hour after this I paid her another visit: the puppy could not now be found; but a suspicious appearance in the mother's eye betrayed at once that she had devoured it. I immediately administered an emetic; and in a very short time the whole fœtus was returned in five distinct parts,
viz
., the four quarters and the head. After this, the bitch began to amend very fast; she produced no other puppy; and as her supply of milk was small, she was soon convalescent.
Twelve months afterwards she was again taken in labour, about eleven o'clock in the morning, and after very great difficulty, one puppy was produced. After this the bitch appeared in great pain, but did not succeed in expelling another fœtus, in consequence of which I was sent for about three o'clock, P.M. I found her very uneasy breathing laboriously; the mouth hot, and the bowels costive; but I could not discover any trace of another fœtus. She was put into a warm bath, and a dose of opening medicine was administered.
About five o'clock she got rid of one dead and two living puppies.
2d.
She is still very ill; she evinces great pain when pressed upon the abdomen; and it is manifest that she has another fœtus within her. I ordered a dose of the ergot, and in about twenty minutes a large puppy was produced, nearly dying. She survived with due care.