The health may be restored, but the teeth will never regain their whiteness, nor the breath recover its natural odor. A mild acidulated drink, made of sulphuric acid and sweetened water, will be the most proper remedy. It should be made pleasant, and tasted before given to the dog, which will prevent its being administered of too great a potency. Of this as much as can be conveniently got down may be given, from a quarter of a pint to a quart daily; and with it the sulphate of iron, the disulphate of quinine, and vegetable bitters, made into pills, may be joined. If the bowels are costive, injections of the sulphate of magnesia, or small doses of the salt, may be employed, while the food should be nourishing. Sulphuric acid and the sulphates, with generous diet, will constitute the treatment; and if the case be not too far advanced, these will ultimately restore the strength.
BRONCHOCELE.
This disease is usually seen in greatest severity in pups. It consists in an enlargement of the thyroid body, which increases so much as to destroy the life. In old dogs it is commonly stationary, or of a fixed size. Spaniels and terriers, are much exposed to it; and of the last-mentioned breed, probably bull-terriers are, of all animals, the most liable to be attacked.
In pups, the thyroid body greatly and quickly enlarges, so as to cut short the life by when the sixth week is attained. The disease of itself, in old dogs, is rather annoying than fatal; but the manner in which it destroys the animal when very young, is by impeding the circulation and respiration. The enlarged thyroid body presses upon the trachea and jugular veins. The blood which should return from the brain and head is thereby prevented descending, and hindered from reaching the heart in a full current. The vessels enlarge so as to become obvious to the most indifferent observer. The veins not only look swelled, but they feel turgid, and cannot be compressed; the little beast is dull; the breathing is very laborious; the animal sleeps much, and at last dies without a struggle, casting off life as it were but a troubled dream. It never has perfectly enjoyed existence, and its departure is not to be regretted.
With the older animals, so far as my experience at present teaches me, the thyroid body, when enlarged, has not suddenly increased; yet this fact by no means proves that the diseased part is always quiescent, and cannot increase in size. Because of this possibility, and the safety of the process, the disease should be eradicated. This is to be done by administering iodine by the mouth, and painting over the enlargement (having the hair first closely shaved off the part) with some of the tincture of the same drug, applied by means of a camel's hair brush. As iodine soon separates and is thrown down to the bottom, all the preparations of it should be used as freshly made as may be convenient. The mixture of which iodine is the active ingredient, and which is a week old, may be confidently said to have lost the major part of its virtue. Every three or four days this medicine should be concocted; for even when put into pills, iodine, being very volatile, will evaporate. The quantity to be given to the dog varies, from a quarter of a grain four times a day to the smallest pup, to two grains four times daily to the largest dog. The tincture used for painting the throat is made with spirits of wine, an ounce; iodide of potassium, a drachm.
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
The Larynx of the dog is affected in various ways. It is called a "little box," and the projecting part of this organ is, in the throat of man, spoken of as "Adam's apple." It opens at the back part of the mouth, and is placed at the beginning of the windpipe. All the air that inflates the lungs must pass through it, but it will permit nothing else to enter with impunity. A drop of saliva, or the smallest particle of salt, will be sufficient to call forth the most painful irritability. In fact the lining membrane of the larynx is the most tender or sensitive structure in the body; and, as parts are exposed to suffering just in proportion as they are endowed with sensation, of course, the organ so finely gifted is often the seat of disease.
The dog's larynx has many peculiarities. It is very complicated, and exquisitely constructed. Few persons have, perhaps, much attended to the notes of the animal's voice; but those who will observe the sounds may find these take a range far more wide than is generally imagined. The dog's voice is remarkably expressive, and to my ear speaks very intelligible music. The deep growl is not without variety; for by the feeling of the animal that emits it the note is always modulated. The rumble of expostulation the favorite gives utterance to when the master pretends to take away its bone does not resemble the rattle of joy with which the child's playmate accompanies a game of romps. Both, however, are distinct from the suppressed warning with which the watchdog announces the advancing stranger, or the sharp defiance by which he signifies his determination to attack. The bark also is not by any means monotonous, but is capable of infinite variety. The cries of the animal are remarkably modulated; but the soft and gentle sounds it can emit when inclined to coax its master, or answering to the excess of pleasure which his caresses create, are full of natural music. The dog's voice is not to my ear less beautiful than the song of a bird; but more delightful, because it is more full of meaning. The nightingale has but one song, which it constantly repeats. The cur has many tuneful notes, with which it responds to my attentions. Music has been recognised in the tongues of the pack, but I have heard harmony more delightful from the hound in my home. I like to hear the dog's voice, especially when not too loud, and having studied it, I have often wondered the animal did not speak. There can be little doubt it would be able to frame words if it possessed the power to comprehend their meaning; but the high intelligence of the creature unfits it for parrot-like mimicry. The dog is, in all it does, guided by its reason, and it performs no act without a reasonable motive. If any physical incapacity exist, it is to be found rather in the formation of the mouth than in the construction of the larynx, which presents no explanation of the dog's inability to frame definite sounds like words.