The same may be said of Dog practice; those who keep and take an interest in dogs know that some practitioners make a special study of canine pathology; but even these gentlemen cannot always succeed, and I am somewhat proud of the fact that on a number of occasions I have been instrumental in applying homoeopathic treatment to cases that these specialists have given up as incurable, and not only in applying the treatment, but in seeing success follow efforts; to quote one instance only, which has already appeared in one or two journals, but being exceptionally interesting will well bear repetition.
A St. Bernard dog of considerable value was brought to me in a state of collapse; the dog had been under treatment for four months, during which period he gradually went from bad to worse; the most noticeable symptom, of which he was the subject, was a racking cough; he had been under the care of two professional men and also the Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, but without the slightest benefit in either case, indeed, as already stated, the dog had according to his owner gradually got worse.
On examination I found that the cough was in reality a secondary symptom, the primary cause of his illness being two tumours, one about the size of an ordinary hen’s egg and the other about equal in measurement to a pigeon’s egg, and in each case they were similarly shaped; these tumours were suspended in the mesentery just below the liver: the dog was in a emaciated condition; refused absolutely every sort and description of food, but drank greedily and frequently, that is to say a little and often; there were other symptoms, all of which when considered as a whole served to direct my attention to Arsenicum album; this drug I administered in the sixth decimal attenuation for a fortnight with the happiest result; up to this period there was no alteration in the size of the tumours, though the dog resumed his appetite, and in all respects showed signs of recovery to health: thenceward I administered the drug in the twelfth decimal attenuation, and in four days thereafter the tumours began to diminish in size, from which time the reduction proceeded until at the expiration of six weeks neither tumours was palpably noticeable.
This was a remarkable cure; a system which, without surgical aid, can bring about such a result has little to fear, when applied, from any disease.
Before bringing this paper to a close, I desire to draw the attention of all owners, and especially breeders of dogs to an experiment I have been conducting for the past four years with a view to discover a preventive treatment against “distemper”.
This disease is such a terrible scourge in all kennels where breeding is carried on that I have long felt something ought to be found out to act as a prophylactic, and I believe I have succeeded; I have experimented on my own greyhounds–a very delicate and susceptible breed bye the bye–and in no single instance has any one of the dogs operated on ever shown any sign of “distemper” nor any disease simulating “distemper.”
Moreover to fairly test the efficacy of the experiment, I exposed four puppies, that had been inoculated with the animal lymph which I rely upon some four months previously, to the risk of infection by putting them in the same kennel as six others which had not been inoculated and had fully developed “distemper” at the time; they were kept in this kennel for several days but not one of them took the diseases or showed the slightest signs of illness; such a result cannot be considered other than eminently satisfactory: more recently I have inoculated some twenty young dogs of various breeds, and so far they all appear to be protected, and judging from my experience I conclude they are; this of course cannot be described as an instance of homoeopathic treatment, but I merely mention it in passing, that those who read this tract my be assured that we endeavour to keep pace with the times, not only by curing disease on the best known principle, but by preventing it where possible.
Other common diseases of the DOGS and their Remedies are:-
Canker of the Ears–Hepar. Also Arsenicum, Carbo Veg. or Mercurius (first and the last when Abscess forms, the other for the old dogs and those used to violent exercise). Dose–5 drops, twice daily.
Catarrh–Nux Vomica and Mercurius.
Colic–Aconite; may be followed by Arsenicum or Nux Vomica–the latter, esp. if there is constipation. Dose–5 drops, once a day.
Diarrhoea–Arsenicum (when with violent straining and protrusion of rectum); Chamomilla (when after cold); Mercurius (frequent, copious, bloody, putrid stools). Dose–5 drops, every two to four hours until relief.
Ophthalmia–Aconite, Arnica (if due to injury). Belladonna and Euphrasia (follow Aconite). Sulphur (if the cure is not perfect). Dose–5 drops every 2 to 4 hours, until relief.
Pneumonia–Aconite; usually followed by Phosphorus, Antimonium Tartaricum, Belladonna, Bryonia and Sulphur may be needed. Dose–5 drops every 2 to 4 hours until relief.
Rheumatism–Aconite, Bryonia, Rhus, Tox, and Sulphur–Arnica, if due to violent exertion. Doses–5 drops, twice a day.
Common Diseases of the HOGS and their Remedies are:-
Angina–Aconite. May be followed by Arsenicum (when with intense thirst). Belladonna and Hepar (with dark swellings) Spongia (with dyspnoea and impending suffocation). Dose–5 drops, twice daily.
Catarrh–Mercurius and Nux Vomica. Dose–5 drops, twice daily.
Cholera–Arsenicum Iodium Dose–An oz. of the 2x trit. dissolved in water and mixed with the food of the hogs.
Mammitis (Inflammation of the Udder)–Aconite. May be alternated with Belladonna, if Aconite proves insufficient. Dose–5 drops, twice daily.
Pneumonia–Aconite; may be followed by Phosphorus Bryonia (with short, dry cough and standing in one position for a long time), Sulphur (hastens recovery). Dose–5 drops every 2 to 3 hours, according to the violence of the symptoms.
St. Anthony’s Fire–Arsenicum, Belladonna. Dose–5 drops, every one to three hours, according to the violence of the symptoms.
