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Some Clinical Case Notes
310
THE VETERI NARY JOUR NAL
Some .Clinical Case Notes. By V. B. JONES, M.R.C.V.S., T he W onersh K ennels, Gttildford.
Filled Frontal Sinus. A K EES-H OND dog, aged . History of becoming lethargic and dull , and with a habit of whimpering and holding his head on one side as if he had toothache. After a somewhat lengthy examination I d ecided there was a filled front al sinus on the left side ; this diagnosis I confirmed by a skiagraph . Operated, under morphia and a local amesthetic, by trephining over the sinus, removing a mass of gelatinous-mucous-like material, which was drawn away in a string. The cavity was t hen washed out with normal saline solution until a free flow was obtained down the nostril, packed with a Eusol swab and bandaged . After 48 hours, however, t he dog still continually whimpered and cried, so that the owner felt tha t it would be kinder to destroy the subject. I wonder if the increased whimpering was due to the onset of meningitis, or whether t he case would have done well ? G
.~,.l
,.
'
Severed Tendo-Acllilles.
A TERRI E R, wi th a history of having jumped through a window and very b~&ly 'cut his leg down to the bone above the hock, some months previously . When seen, the dog was using the solar surface of the leg from the hock down as a foot. Operated , under a general amesthetic, removing the fibrous connective tissue which had replaced and joined the cut ends of the tendo-achilles, cl eaned up the severed ends, re-united the proximal and dist al ends of the involved tendons by each a single Chinese t wi?t suture. Sutured the tendons, sheath and skin, splinted the leg, providing a window for dressings. The wound healed by first intention , and in fou r weeks t he dog was walking freely and apparently quite normally . Lucky ! •
Coal Gas' Poisoning. A B uLLDOG. Bistory of progressive dullness and con tinual salivat ion for 14 days. Temperature, 99°. . Pulse, soft and sluggish. Pupils, dilated. Membranes, normal. Slightly enlarged and tender glands, including the testicles. Appetite capricious. Motions, normal. No tumour or foreign body found on palpation or by skiagraph. Diagnosis, some narcotic poisoning, possibly belladonna .
SOME CLINICAL CASE NOTES
311
The dog progressively got duller , still copiously salivating. He showed a curious ext ra-abdominal contraction after each expiration (broken-winded effect). After a further seven days he could recognise no one. Complete inappetence and started doing spasms, drawing up th e head by a series of jerks, until the head and neck were full y extended , remained in this position for some seconds and then dropped the head to normal. Symptomatic treatment was adopted , including caffein, normal saline inj ections and albumen water. The last four to five days he started vomiting saliva and could not keep down his food. H e was fed rectally, etc. , but got rapidly very weak and died quite quietly, apparently from sheer exhaustion. Unfortunately I was unable to make an autopsy. Y1r. Guy Sutton, F .R.C .V. S. , saw this case in consultation and suggested delayed coal gas poisoning. The dog, I afterwards found , was very fond of lying very close to a gas fire.
Urticaria? A G REAT DANE suddenly developing a cutaneous eruption in the shape of small, more or less, raised circular areas of the size of a sixpenny piece. They appeared chiefly about the head, cheeks and loins and were associated with an intolerable pruritis. Th ere were no observable inflammatory or vesicular premonitory signs, the ,V
Abdominal Injury. A DANDlE DrNMONT bitch with history of having been run over by a touring car some months previously, with no apparent damage. On examina tion she showed much accelerated and laboured breathing.
312
THE VETERINARY JOURNAL
Pulse hard and frequent. Temperature subnormal. · On auscultation the lungs appeared to be norm al. She showed great pain on pressure over the abdominal muscles, particularly about the right kidney region; however , she so tensed her muscles that satisfactory palpation was impossible. The urine appeared normal, as also were her fceces. Treated with sod. sal. , gr. 1: every two hours until easier and gave local applications of Tinct. Belladonnce Co; Lin. Saponis Meth. A a. The pain eased for two days, when it recurred with even more severity. Poulticed with antiphlogistine. On removal of this poultice a most beautiful moist impression of the right ovary and right horn of the uterus, with part of the body and part of the left horn was shown-obviously the seat of inflammation and pain . Further poulticing eased the pain so much that operative measures have been postponed. In this connection it is of interest to note how often an antiphlogistine poultice will diagnose the seat of an internal inflammation for one ; the moist spot definitely locating the seat of the t ro uble.
Tonsilitis. AN outbreak of.acute tonsilitis has occurred among the dogs of
this district. The tonsils becoming as large as small mulberries and of a bright strawberry colour, and giving often very great p ain . They occasionally show small pin-head ulcers and sometimes pin-point necrosis. They all quickly subside if painted t-i .d. with one per cent. silver nitrate solution , together with external cold compresses. The condition is apparently not contagious, since of several dogs kennelled together only one may suffer-but ·why so m any cases of the sort within a few weeks ?
«Esophageal Diverticulum. A SEALYHAM, with a history of gradually falling off in condition
over a period of months. Clinically showed ancemia, very enlarged mesenteric glands. The owner stated the dog was a poor feeder, but that she had seemed normal otherwise. I suspect ed a mesenteric tumour with possible metastasis . Tonics, etc., proved valueless, and after a few months the dog was chloroformed ; autopsy showing a thoracic cesophageal diverticulum the size of a tangerine. There appeared to be no foreign body to have caused the diverticulum ; perhaps a swallowed section of marrow bon e had become lodged there and after some months absorbed.
Harmful Drench. A Pow P oN Y with a history of suddenly going off its feed entirely
and looking very tucked up a nd ill. Temperature up one degree, very
LACTATION IN A HE-GOAT
313
slight pharyngitis and bronchitis. Why so ill ? Pulled out the tongue to complete the examination and found nearly all the mucous membrane of the mouth sloughing. The groom had thought the horse could " do with a dose " and had found some old bottle marked medicine, the contents of which he had straightway poured down the poor beast-it was strong ammonia. Swabs of glycerine very soon soothed the mouth and in four days the horse was eating normally. How quickly mouth wounds do heal!
Fright Disease in Dogs. By N. S. MAYO, V.S., Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, U.S.A. THis subject is particularly interesting to us in America, because we have been attempting to deal with this problem rather unsuccessfully for a number of years. "Fright disease," " running fits" or "canine hysteria" first came into prominence in the Southern States, and has gradually extended, until it is now found practically all over the United States. No definite scientific work on the causative agent of this disease has been reported, but many theories regarding the cause have been a dvanced. Some think it is of dietetic origin, others attribute fright disease to entozoa, while some consider it to b e a form of nervous distemper. The line of treatment generally adopted is to empty the digestive tract promptly and follow with intestinal antiseptics. Hypnotics a re administered and the dog placed in a comfortable quiet place. The dog is examined for intestinal parasites and if fo und proper treatm ent given. A rather h eavy meat diet is also recommended. The conditions under which fright disease is generally observed makes it difficult to carry on definite continuous scientific study, but the general extension of the disease is strongly suggestive that some specific organism is the causative factor.
A Physiological Anomaly- Lactation in a He .. Goat. By A. C. AGGARWALA, B.Sc. HoNs., M. R. C.V.S., Professor,
P~mjab
Veterinary College, Lahore.
A PAHARI (mountain) he-goat, about four and a half years old , was brought to the College Outdoor Clinic on March 5th, 1927 (Case No. 2640, prope rty of Mr. W. T .' Biscoe, N .W.R., Lahore) for
THE VETERI NARY JOUR NAL
Some .Clinical Case Notes. By V. B. JONES, M.R.C.V.S., T he W onersh K ennels, Gttildford.
Filled Frontal Sinus. A K EES-H OND dog, aged . History of becoming lethargic and dull , and with a habit of whimpering and holding his head on one side as if he had toothache. After a somewhat lengthy examination I d ecided there was a filled front al sinus on the left side ; this diagnosis I confirmed by a skiagraph . Operated, under morphia and a local amesthetic, by trephining over the sinus, removing a mass of gelatinous-mucous-like material, which was drawn away in a string. The cavity was t hen washed out with normal saline solution until a free flow was obtained down the nostril, packed with a Eusol swab and bandaged . After 48 hours, however, t he dog still continually whimpered and cried, so that the owner felt tha t it would be kinder to destroy the subject. I wonder if the increased whimpering was due to the onset of meningitis, or whether t he case would have done well ? G
.~,.l
,.
'
Severed Tendo-Acllilles.
A TERRI E R, wi th a history of having jumped through a window and very b~&ly 'cut his leg down to the bone above the hock, some months previously . When seen, the dog was using the solar surface of the leg from the hock down as a foot. Operated , under a general amesthetic, removing the fibrous connective tissue which had replaced and joined the cut ends of the tendo-achilles, cl eaned up the severed ends, re-united the proximal and dist al ends of the involved tendons by each a single Chinese t wi?t suture. Sutured the tendons, sheath and skin, splinted the leg, providing a window for dressings. The wound healed by first intention , and in fou r weeks t he dog was walking freely and apparently quite normally . Lucky ! •
Coal Gas' Poisoning. A B uLLDOG. Bistory of progressive dullness and con tinual salivat ion for 14 days. Temperature, 99°. . Pulse, soft and sluggish. Pupils, dilated. Membranes, normal. Slightly enlarged and tender glands, including the testicles. Appetite capricious. Motions, normal. No tumour or foreign body found on palpation or by skiagraph. Diagnosis, some narcotic poisoning, possibly belladonna .
SOME CLINICAL CASE NOTES
311
The dog progressively got duller , still copiously salivating. He showed a curious ext ra-abdominal contraction after each expiration (broken-winded effect). After a further seven days he could recognise no one. Complete inappetence and started doing spasms, drawing up th e head by a series of jerks, until the head and neck were full y extended , remained in this position for some seconds and then dropped the head to normal. Symptomatic treatment was adopted , including caffein, normal saline inj ections and albumen water. The last four to five days he started vomiting saliva and could not keep down his food. H e was fed rectally, etc. , but got rapidly very weak and died quite quietly, apparently from sheer exhaustion. Unfortunately I was unable to make an autopsy. Y1r. Guy Sutton, F .R.C .V. S. , saw this case in consultation and suggested delayed coal gas poisoning. The dog, I afterwards found , was very fond of lying very close to a gas fire.
Urticaria? A G REAT DANE suddenly developing a cutaneous eruption in the shape of small, more or less, raised circular areas of the size of a sixpenny piece. They appeared chiefly about the head, cheeks and loins and were associated with an intolerable pruritis. Th ere were no observable inflammatory or vesicular premonitory signs, the ,V
Abdominal Injury. A DANDlE DrNMONT bitch with history of having been run over by a touring car some months previously, with no apparent damage. On examina tion she showed much accelerated and laboured breathing.
312
THE VETERINARY JOURNAL
Pulse hard and frequent. Temperature subnormal. · On auscultation the lungs appeared to be norm al. She showed great pain on pressure over the abdominal muscles, particularly about the right kidney region; however , she so tensed her muscles that satisfactory palpation was impossible. The urine appeared normal, as also were her fceces. Treated with sod. sal. , gr. 1: every two hours until easier and gave local applications of Tinct. Belladonnce Co; Lin. Saponis Meth. A a. The pain eased for two days, when it recurred with even more severity. Poulticed with antiphlogistine. On removal of this poultice a most beautiful moist impression of the right ovary and right horn of the uterus, with part of the body and part of the left horn was shown-obviously the seat of inflammation and pain . Further poulticing eased the pain so much that operative measures have been postponed. In this connection it is of interest to note how often an antiphlogistine poultice will diagnose the seat of an internal inflammation for one ; the moist spot definitely locating the seat of the t ro uble.
Tonsilitis. AN outbreak of.acute tonsilitis has occurred among the dogs of
this district. The tonsils becoming as large as small mulberries and of a bright strawberry colour, and giving often very great p ain . They occasionally show small pin-head ulcers and sometimes pin-point necrosis. They all quickly subside if painted t-i .d. with one per cent. silver nitrate solution , together with external cold compresses. The condition is apparently not contagious, since of several dogs kennelled together only one may suffer-but ·why so m any cases of the sort within a few weeks ?
«Esophageal Diverticulum. A SEALYHAM, with a history of gradually falling off in condition
over a period of months. Clinically showed ancemia, very enlarged mesenteric glands. The owner stated the dog was a poor feeder, but that she had seemed normal otherwise. I suspect ed a mesenteric tumour with possible metastasis . Tonics, etc., proved valueless, and after a few months the dog was chloroformed ; autopsy showing a thoracic cesophageal diverticulum the size of a tangerine. There appeared to be no foreign body to have caused the diverticulum ; perhaps a swallowed section of marrow bon e had become lodged there and after some months absorbed.
Harmful Drench. A Pow P oN Y with a history of suddenly going off its feed entirely
and looking very tucked up a nd ill. Temperature up one degree, very
LACTATION IN A HE-GOAT
313
slight pharyngitis and bronchitis. Why so ill ? Pulled out the tongue to complete the examination and found nearly all the mucous membrane of the mouth sloughing. The groom had thought the horse could " do with a dose " and had found some old bottle marked medicine, the contents of which he had straightway poured down the poor beast-it was strong ammonia. Swabs of glycerine very soon soothed the mouth and in four days the horse was eating normally. How quickly mouth wounds do heal!
Fright Disease in Dogs. By N. S. MAYO, V.S., Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, U.S.A. THis subject is particularly interesting to us in America, because we have been attempting to deal with this problem rather unsuccessfully for a number of years. "Fright disease," " running fits" or "canine hysteria" first came into prominence in the Southern States, and has gradually extended, until it is now found practically all over the United States. No definite scientific work on the causative agent of this disease has been reported, but many theories regarding the cause have been a dvanced. Some think it is of dietetic origin, others attribute fright disease to entozoa, while some consider it to b e a form of nervous distemper. The line of treatment generally adopted is to empty the digestive tract promptly and follow with intestinal antiseptics. Hypnotics a re administered and the dog placed in a comfortable quiet place. The dog is examined for intestinal parasites and if fo und proper treatm ent given. A rather h eavy meat diet is also recommended. The conditions under which fright disease is generally observed makes it difficult to carry on definite continuous scientific study, but the general extension of the disease is strongly suggestive that some specific organism is the causative factor.
A Physiological Anomaly- Lactation in a He .. Goat. By A. C. AGGARWALA, B.Sc. HoNs., M. R. C.V.S., Professor,
P~mjab
Veterinary College, Lahore.
A PAHARI (mountain) he-goat, about four and a half years old , was brought to the College Outdoor Clinic on March 5th, 1927 (Case No. 2640, prope rty of Mr. W. T .' Biscoe, N .W.R., Lahore) for