A dose of purgative medicine, judiciously administered, is a good remedy for many minor complaints, and often makes what looks like being a very sick dog into a healthy one. Castor oil is a good household remedy, but causes constipation afterwards; but in cases of diarrhœa, when it is necessary to clear the bowel of any irritating matter, there is nothing better than castor oil. The dose varies from half a teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls.[1] When the dog is showing signs of abdominal pain, from three[1] to fifteen drops of laudanum may be added to the dose. The following is a mild aperient mixture, and does not bind afterwards:— _Recipe_: Castor Oil, } Equal parts. Syrup of Buckthorn, } Salad Oil, } Well mixed. _Doses_: From half a teaspoonful[1] to two tablespoonfuls, fasting, in the morning. For little dogs suffering from constipation, salad oil mixed daily with the food answers well. Give from a half[1] to a teaspoonful once or twice a day. Some dogs refuse to take their food with oil in it. In these cases, fluid magnesia is a nice mild laxative; and one,[1] two, or three teaspoonfuls may be given with a little milk at breakfast-time. A little gingerbread cake, given at night, keeps a small dog’s bowels very regular; besides, it is appreciated. For a purge for small dogs, one or two of the following pills may be given:— _Recipe_: Extract Colocynth, 12 grains. Extract Jalap, 6 ” Septandrin, 3 ” Extract Gentian, 6 ” Podophyllum, 3 ” Gingerine, 1½ ” Mix. Divide into 12 pills. Sometimes it is difficult to give a dog a pill. In these cases, a powder may be administered, as jalapin. Two grains is the dose for a very small dog, and twelve grains for a big one like a great Dane or St. Bernard. It may be just shaken dry on the tongue or mixed with a little thick gruel. The following is a good cathartic pill for dogs varying in size from a fox-terrier to the biggest kind:— _Recipe_: Barbadoes Aloes, 24 grains. Gamboge, 12 ” Jalap, 24 ” Colocynth, 12 ” Powdered Soap, 12 ” Calomel, 12 ” Gingerine, 3 ” Excip. sufficient. Mix. Divide into 12 pills—one, two, three, or four[1] to be give on an empty stomach. In cases of skin disease, when purgative medicine is necessary, Epsom salts is the best. The dose varies from fifteen grains to one ounce,[1] given in some sweetened milk. =Purpura=: _Symptoms_: Extravasation of blood into the skin in very small pin-like spots, or may be in large patches. They are first bright red, then turn darker, and afterwards become brown in colour. The same symptoms may occur on the tongue, also the cheek, and on the white parts of the eye, and they occur also on the internal organs.