Recipe:
| Bicarbonate of Soda, | 2 drachms. |
| Tincture Rhubarb, | 4 ” |
| Tincture Nux Vomica, | 1 drachm. |
| Water to | 6 ounces. |
From one teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] three times a day.
Diet: Spratt’s biscuits soaked in soup, with green vegetables added.
A lever for forcibly opening the jaws in cases of ‘Lock-jaw’
Lock-jaw:
Symptoms: A rare disease, but occurs occasionally, the result of injury to the head or severe hurt to the eye, and may result from sunstroke. It is seldom that the whole body as well as the jaw is affected in the dog as in other animals and people, and, as a rule, it assumes a chronic form. Though the dog is unable to open his mouth, he is generally able to suck in fluid food, as milk with eggs and strong beef-tea. The muscles of the head become much wasted.
Treatment: At first give sedatives, as from two to ten grains[1] each of hydrated chloral and bromide of potassium in water three or four times a day. After a time, means must be taken by aid of levers to gently force the jaws apart. It must be done very gradually by increasing the extent of the opening a little more each day. The treatment requires to be continued some time to obtain permanent beneficial results; but directly the dog is able to open his mouth a little, encourage the gnawing of bones.