Diarrhea is of very frequent occurrence in dogs, and more particularly in young, puppies and in old and overfed dogs. It generally exists as a result of indigestion, brougbt on by improper feeding. The practice of leaving stale food from one meal to another is a common source of this disease. Diarrhea may be classed as acute and chronic. In the acute form there is much looseness of the bowels, frequently accompanied or preceded by copious vomiting of acrid offensive matter; the evacuations are loose, watery and offensive. If not checked, it soon produces excessive weakness, and, especially in puppies, is the cause of great mortality. In the chronic state the disease is slower in its progress and longer in its duration. It may be set up by a diseased liver and excess of bile, or it may be the result of inflammation of the bowels. A by no means uncommon cause is the abuse of calomel and other mercurials, these being "specifics" with many persons for all dog diseases. Diarrhea often finishes up the work of distemper, and this is so in most cases where, as too frequently happens, mercurials have been relied on as a cure for that disease. Worms are also a common cause of diarrhea, and when these exist the nature of the discharge is variable, frequent and small in quantity, Sometimes lumpy, followed by gelatinous, glary matter, and often frothy and covered with small air bubbles. When worms appear to be the cause, means should be taken to expel them as directed later on. Exhalations from accumulations of filth, and especially in low lying, damp and badly drained and badly ventilated kennels, are also a cause of diarrhea, and one which never should exist. In treating diarrhea it is often of considerable advantage to give a mild purge to remove the irritating cause. Castor oil is very suitable; and, if there is evidence of much pain attending the disease, a dose of laudanum, from 20 to 30 drops, may be added. As a remedy in diarrhea I know of nothing equal to the following mixture, which very rarely fails to check it if the patient at the same time receives proper attention in other respects:

Astringent Anodyne Mixture For Diarrhea

Take prepared chalk.......................... 3 drams'.

Aramatic confection (powder)................ . 2 drams.

Powdered gum acacia......................... 1 dram.

(Laudanum) tincture of opium ................ 1 ounce.

Oil of cassia ............................ 6 or 8 drops.

Tincture of catechu .......................... 3 drams.

Spiritis of sal volatile'......................... 2 drams.

Water sufficient to make ...................... 8 ounces.

The powders must be rubbed very fine in a mortar, the oil of cassia within them; the water must be gradually added, rubbing well to form a smooth mixture. The tincture added in the bottle. Of this mixture the dose will be from a half to two teaspoonfuls for puppies, and from one to two table-spoonfuls for full-grown dogs, given every three or four hours, as long as the purging continues. The bottle must be well shaken before measuring the dose.

When getting this filled, I would advise, either taking your book to the druggist, or copying and showing him as to the mixing of the above.

For convenience of form the following may, under circumstances, be preferred, as it keeps well and is in less compass:*

Spirits of camphor ........................... 2 drams.

Laudanum ................................. 1/2 ounce.

Spirits of volatile .......................... 2 drams.

Tincture of catechu........................... 1 ounce.

Mix. Dose, from twenty drops to a teaspoonful in water every three or four hours, if required.

"The diet must be carefully regulated all through the disease; such light and easily-digested food as well boiled oatmeal, rice or arrowroot should be given, with milk or beef tea, and if the patient refuses to feed, a little should be given with a spoon or a drencher every two or three hours; when the dog is very weak, add a little port wine to the food; instead of plain water, give rice or barley water to drink. In the case of bitches suckling, the diet must be changed, a dose of castor oil given, and the 'astringent anodyne mixture' in small doses, or an injection may be administered.

"If the diarrhea is very persistent, and accompanied by blood, inject twice a day into the rectum 2 gr. to 5 gr. of sulphate of copper with 15 to 60 drops of tincture of opium in 4 oz. of water. If this does not check it, then give 1/4 gr. to 1/2 gr. of sulphate of copper, increasing the dose to 1 gr. with 1/2 gr. to 1 gr. of powdered opium.

"It is most important that rigorous cleanliness should be observed. All discharges should be immediately removed, and the animal kept clean by sponging with lukewarm water if necessary, while disinfectants should be sprinkled 'about. The patient should also be kept warm, and left as quiet and undisturbed as possible.

Dr. Clayton's diarrhea cure I have found a very good remedy in many cases. Spratt's Patent (see advertisement) makes a diarrhea pill that I have often used on my dogs, and with great success, in checking up this trouble, which is often caused in dogs at a show by the change in water drank there and on the trip. A tablet or pill is often more easily administered than a liquid.

A party wrote as to a diarrhea from distemper in a six-months-old pointer puppy, just over the distemper, that is getting along nicely and has a fairly good appetitte, but is bothered with diarrhea. His passages are very thin and very offensive. The puppy tries to do something quite often, and then walks all over the kennel yard and passes a few drops only. At the first stage of the distemper I doctored him for worms and took many from him. For the last five or six weeks I have fed him on eggs and milk, boiled together, with a few crackers in each mess. The diarrhea seems to hold him back so he don't get fat as he should. The answer was to give the dog the following, and, if necessary, to repeat the dose:

Chalk ...................................... 5 grains.

Laudanum .................................. 5 grains.

Ether ...................................... 5 drops.

Mix and give in soup or milk; continue same feeding and to also give dry, well-browned toast soaked in meat broths or meat gravy made with flour in it. Understand that the above prescription was for one dose.