Part 23 (1/2)
GUTTA SERENA.--The author has seen one or two cases of this affection. One was present with disease of the brain, to the increase of which it was clearly traceable. The other was attributable to no known cause; but as blows on the head are beyond all doubt ascertained to produce this affliction, the author in his own mind has no doubt of its origin. A temporary affection of this nature is also constantly witnessed when the dog falls down in a fit, or rather faints from weakness; as when a female is rearing an undue number of pups, or when a dog has been too largely bled, or retained too long in the warm bath.
In the last cases, the gutta serena departs as the animal recovers; but in the first-named, sometimes it is constant, and no medicine appears to affect it for good or for evil. The author, therefore, does nothing in such cases beyond giving general directions, as in the instance of cataract.
Gutta serena is known by the organ being perfectly clear, but the iris remaining permanently fixed. The introduction of sudden light produces no effect on it; neither, unless the current of air be agitated, does the eyelid move. Towards the latter stage the eye changes color; but when it first occurs, a person without experience would prefer the eye in this state, because it looks so thoroughly bright and transparent. The aspect of these eyes is known to those who are much among animals, and the carriage of the body is recognised as altered when a creature becomes blind; besides which, trust him alone, and his running against different obstacles, as well as his manner of walking, will declare the truth.
SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA.--To this disorder of the eye the dog is very susceptible. It may be caused by dust, dirt, thorns, or portions of leaves getting into the eyes; the symptoms are, constant closing of the lid, and perpetual flowing of the tears. Though the eye be closed, the lid is never quiet; but is being, during the entire period, spasmodically, though partially, raised to be shut again, or in perpetual movement. If the lids are forced asunder, the conjunctiva or mucous membrane forming the inner lining of the lid is seen to be inflamed; while the same membrane covering the ball of the eye is perceived to be of a white color, and perfectly opaque.
The cure in this instance is always, first, to remove the cause of the injury, and then to apply some of the remedies in the manner mentioned hereafter.
The conjunctiva in the dog is very sympathetic with the mucous membrane lining the stomach. The interior of the stomach may be inflamed, and the eye sometimes exhibits no sign of sympathy; but more often, as in distemper or rabies, it will denote the existence of some serious disorder. So if the animal's digestive powers are weakened by an undue quant.i.ty of purgative medicine, the eyes will a.s.sume all the symptoms of distemper, even to the circular ulcer in the centre of the organ. However, in instances of this kind nothing need be done for cure; the major disorder being subdued, the minor one subsides.
No matter how virulent the disease of the eye may appear to be--even though it should become perfectly opaque--let it alone: any meddling does injury. No bathing or medicaments can hasten the cure. Although it should ulcerate in the centre, and the terrible appearance of the eye be seconded by the entreaties of the proprietor, still I caution you to continue quite pa.s.sive. Touch the ulcer with nitrate of silver, as is the common practice, and the eye will most likely burst. The aqueous humor will escape, and a large bunch of fungus will start up in the place of the ulcer occupied. This fungus, if let alone, may fade away as the stomach returns to health; but a white spot is established in its place to remind you of your officiousness.
Nevertheless, simple ophthalmia occasionally will appear when nothing can be detected to affect the stomach; probably owing to large dogs chasing through brush-wood, or those of the smaller breeds hunting through long gra.s.s. Then a square of soft lint, formed by doubling a large piece several times, is laid upon the painful organ, and kept wet with the following lotion:--
(1.) LOTION FOR THE EYE.
Tinct. arnic. mont. Three drops.
Tinct. opii Six drops.
Mist. camph. One ounce.
The first symptoms having subsided--that is, the dog being capable of raising the lid, and the flow of tears having in some measure stopped--the previous lotion may be changed for the following wash:--
(2.) EYE WASH.
Arg. nit. One grain.
Mist. camph., or Aq. dist. One ounce.
The proper manner of applying these preparations to the eye deserves notice. Let the owner buy a large-sized, long-haired, camel's-hair painting brush; pour a little of the liquid into a saucer; saturate the brush in the fluid; pull the lids gently asunder, being careful not to call forth resistance by frightening a timid animal with any exhibition of haste or violence; then, having the eye exposed, draw the brush quickly across it, and the business is over.
The author is frequently consulted by ladies, because their favorites'
eyes run water. Such is a consequence of high breeding in some of the canine species; and being so, medicines of various kinds, by drying up the secretion of the lachrymal gland, may at first appear to do good, but must ultimately be fruitful of the most serious injury.
EJECTION OF THE EYE.--The eye of the dog is rather curiously situated, which, as the writer knows of no author who has remarked on its position, he may as well refer to in this place. The eye of man is situated within a bony orbit, from which it cannot in the course of nature protrude. The eye of the dog, also, has an orbit partly formed of bone; but as regards the ridge, which in man supports and gives prominence to the eyebrow, in the dog it is composed of ligament, as with animals of the cat, pig, and other species. The reason of this arrangement--the cause for composing part of the orbit of ligament--is to allow the eye to protrude or to take its place without and before the orbit. This position of the eye is easily perceived, when a live specimen which has confidence in man is examined upon the knee, and at the same time the skull is inspected. The cause of this peculiar situation of so important an organ, is to allow the eye to possess telescopic properties; because the dog has the faculty of withdrawing the eye within, or rather quite to the back of the orbit; as any who have beheld the animal in some stages of brain disease, or the last stage of distemper, must, with their attention directed to the fact, be convinced. The dog in its wild state lives by the chase, and therefore has Providence endowed his visual organ with peculiarities which best enable it to discover its prey; at the same time, also, affording extra scope of vision, or power of seeing around it, to the eye of the animal.
Owing to this peculiarity, the eye in consequence of a bite may be forced out upon the cheek; or, as once happened in my own experience, the use of tapes for the purpose of giving medicine may be the cause of the injury.
Whenever this happens, procure a gla.s.s of clean milk-warm water, and a piece of soft lint; then wash the eye; when obtain a soft napkin; let the eye be well greased with any mild and perfectly sweet ointment; wrap the napkin about the right hand, and with the fingers thus encased, gently take hold of the ejected ball of the eye, while the fingers of the left hand are employed in raising the lid of the emptied orbit; then applying gentle but adequate force, and at the same time giving to the wrist of the right hand a rotatory motion, the eye will at once a.s.sume its proper place. The use of the eye lotion and wash will perform all that the after symptoms may require.
Dogs are often brought to us because the animal has been taking liberties with the cat; which mistress puss has turned to resent, and her paw--the claws in the moment of irritation being out--has unfortunately scratched the dog's eye. When consulted on such a subject, the eye lotion No. 1 is in most instances all that is required; for the coverings of the eye are endowed with great powers of self-reparation. If, however, the application recommended does not perform everything to the proprietor's satisfaction, the eye wash No. 2 will perfect the cure. Accidents of this description are apt to leave scars in the shape of white marks across the eye, which time must be allowed to remove; and this in general is performed, while all the appliances of art in the writer's hand have been useless for hastening this object.
DISEASES OF THE LIMBS.
THE DEW-CLAWS.--The dew-claws, as they are termed, grow high upon the inner side of the leg, nearer to the foot than to the elbow. They are frequently removed while the dog is very young, being then merely cut off with a pair of scissors. This, however, is a very primitive way of operating; and it is best done with a knife, first reflecting back sufficient skin to cover the wound which the removal will occasion. The excision, moreover, is only justifiable when the dew-claw hangs from the leg attached to it merely by integument; when it is regularly formed, united to the leg by means of continuous bone, it may be allowed to remain; for in that case there is little more danger of its being torn off as the dog grows up and hunts game, than any other of the claws appended to the extremity of the foot.
THE CLAWS.--These frequently, especially in petted dogs that pa.s.s their days parading about on Turkey carpets, become of extraordinary length; in some cases, turning round and forming a complete circle, so as to penetrate the little pad at the base of the last joint of the toe. In this case they cause swelling, inflammation, and suppuration, accompanied by such intense pain, that in extreme cases it may be necessary to take away the toe of the foot itself, although in general it is sufficient to clip the offending claw. However, to do this nicely, with expedition, and without giving great pain to the patient, is to be desired. Blaine recommends a small saw, such as is employed to cut off c.o.c.ks' spurs with; but the dog must have excessive patience and extraordinary powers of endurance, who could allow this to be moved quickly backwards and forwards on a claw, one end of which rests on an inflamed and highly sensitive surface. Besides, it is not one claw we are generally required to remove, but sixteen; and long before the first had been fairly taken off by the method advised by Blaine, the cries of the poor animal would say, ”Hold, enough!” Moreover, favorites of the cla.s.s I have mentioned are generally brought by their mistresses, who cannot endure their pets to suffer, and rightly refuse to leave them to the mercy of a veterinary surgeon. This last circ.u.mstance requires a speedier instrument than the one proposed by Blaine, to be discovered. The rowelling bistoury, employed for the horses, answers better than the saw; but even it occasions so much pain as to cause serious annoyance and obstruction. I have found nothing answer so well as a pair of wire nippers; which, provided they be in good condition, will take off the whole of a dog's claws, although for the operation the animal never quits its mistress's arms. They are quick and effective, cutting through the strongest claw on the instant; giving no pain; often removing the nail without the knowledge of the patient, who provokes laughter rather than commiseration by frequently shamming the agony he does not feel--venting heart-rending cries, but invariably in the wrong place. For the performance of the operation there is but one caution necessary, and that is, to leave the root of the claw long enough, or not to attempt cutting it too short; because the unnatural life the animal lives causes small arteries to extend even into the growth of horn, and a little blood is a terrible loss in a lady's eyes. However, beyond causing the mistress distress, the pract.i.tioner need be in no fear about dividing one of these abnormal vessels, for the eccentric growth of which the most experienced pract.i.tioner cannot at all times be prepared.
FALLING OFF OF THE CLAW.--There is another injury to which the claws of the dog are exposed, and the cause of which in no instance have I been able to trace. The toe becomes hot, swollen, and inflamed; the animal walks lame, or upon three legs. Whenever the particular claw in fault is touched, the cries of the dog sufficiently testify that the seat of the disease has been found. A simple treatment, such as bathing the claw and placing the foot frequently in warm water, will occasion the h.o.r.n.y covering to be cast off in a few days; after which all that is required will be to wrap the part up in soft lint for a short period, and to deprive the animal of its accustomed exercise for a day or two.