The sympathy between the skin and alimentary tract shows itself in common disorders, indigestions and catarrh becoming complicated by skin eruptions acute and chronic, by indigestions and impactions. To both conditions the nature of the food of house dogs largely contributes, the habit of eating abundantly at each meal time of the master, the consumption of highly spiced meats, of sweet cakes, pastry and puddings, and even the exclusive diet of white bread or farinaceous and starchy aliment. In long haired dogs, the matting of these hairs together across the anus proves a factor by rendering defecation difficult and painful. The formation of tumors around the anus, or inflammation and swelling of the anal glands are additional causes. _Symptoms._ As in other animals this condition may be chronic, lasting for a long time without leading to complete obstruction. The fæces are passed in hard fœtid, whitish masses, often partly divided, in pellets, dry, and polished on the surface and covered with a film of mucus, sometimes blood. They are passed at considerable intervals, slowly and with painful effort and straining. In the more advanced and violent cases defecation becomes absolutely impossible, though the animal strains violently and frequently. The anus and rectum bulge as a rounded swelling and the congested and bleeding mucous membrane may be exposed, but nothing is passed. The anus is hot and tender to the touch and the anal glands swollen. Manipulation of the abdomen between the two hands can detect the impacted gut extended forward for a considerable distance, and even implicating the colon. The oiled finger in the rectum may detect the impacted matter as a conglomerate mass of gritty materials. If the appetite continues this becomes all the more extensive. The affected animal is dull, prostrate and indisposed to exertion, seeking a dark retired place where he can rest undisturbed curled up into a ball. Sometimes he starts with a sharp yelp. Especially does he shrink and complain when the belly is handled. If made to walk, he does so stiffly, hangs head and tail, arches the back and tucks up the belly. The face and eyes express severe suffering. Vomiting is a frequent complication, the rejected matters being often feculent. Colicy pains are indicated by yelping or moaning, enteritis and peritonitis by hyperthermia and extreme abdominal tenderness. The acute disease may last from one to two weeks, and death may be preceded by auto-infection, by nervous symptoms of various kinds or by enteritis or peritonitis. _Lesions._ These may be stated shortly as impaction, catarrh or necrotic changes of the mucosa, more or less extensive inflammations of the bowels and peritoneum, perforations, and congestions of the liver and kidneys.