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THE    DOG 


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THE   DOG 

ITS    VARIETIES 
AND   MANAGEMENT  IN   HEALTH 

BY 

"STONEHENGE" 

WITH  ITS  DISEASES   AND 
THEIR    TREATMENT 

BY 

GEORGE  ARMATAGE,  M.R.C.V.S. 

Formerly  Lecturer  in  the  Albert  and  Glasgow   Veteriniry  Colleges 

AUTHOR  Or    "the  HORSE  DOCTOR,"  "THE  CATTLE  DOCTOR" 
"the  SHEEP  DOCTOR,"  ETC.  ETC. 

WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS 


LONDON 
FREDERICK    WARNE    AND    CO. 

'iAll  riffkiy  ■.■eserve^], 


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PREFACE. 

Our  dumb  friend  and  companion  has  advanced  to  signal 
prominence  in  various  directions.  His  mental  aptitude, 
as  well  as  natural  capabilities,  are  better  understood,  and 
recent  years  have  witnessed  a  marvellous  increase  in  his 
varied  spheres  of  usefulness,  with  corresponding  appre- 
ciation of  his  intelligence  and  intrinsic  worth.  His 
management  in  health  and  disease  is,  therefore,  a 
subject  of  the  first  importance.  To  promote  the  first 
and  remove  the  latter  is  the  supreme  desire  of  him  who 
rightly  appreciates  the  virtues  of  his  canine  friend. 
How  to  effect  this  forms  the  prominent  theme  of  the 
following  pages. 

The  valuable  experience  of  Stonehenge  which  graced 
the  pages  of  the  first  part  of  former  editions  has  been 
largely  retained,  new  matter  being  added  where  it  was 
expressly  needed. 

The  second  part,  relating  to  Disease,  has  been  entirely 
re-written,  and  presents  the  standard  of  current  experience 
as  to  its  nature  and  appropriate  treatment. 

In  the  endeavour  to  present  reliable  views  regarding 
the  nature  of  the  maladies  of  the  dog,  they  are  arranged 
as  far  as  practicable  in  accordance  with  the  supposed 
causes  ;  thus,  many  are  conveniently  included  under  the 
head  of  Blood  Diseases ;  others  are  due  to  specific  or 
contagious  elements ;  while  the  majority,  perhaps,  arising 
from  interference  with  organic  function,  injury,  &c.,  are 


viii  Preface. 

conveniently  dealt  with  in  connection  with  the  several 
systems,  or  groups  of  organs. 

The  chapter  on  Materia  Medica  deals  with  the 
numerous  remedies  employed  in  the  treatment  of  disease, 
their  combination  and  forms  of  administration,  details  of 
which  are  given  in  everyday  language.  The  reader  will 
find  ample  choice,  and  experience  little  difficulty  in  pro- 
curing from  the  nearest  chemist,  the  preparations  he  may 
need. 

By  way  of  embellishment,  faithful  portraits  of  celebri- 
ties have  been  secured,  through  the  kindness  of  several 
exhibitors,  and  especially  Mr.  Charles  Reid,  of  Wishaw, 
whose  similar  efforts  have  satisfactorily  enriched  previous 
companion  volumes. 

London,  1896. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE   DOG  AND   ITS   HABITS. 

PAGE 

Origin— Characteristics — Age,  &c.  &c     ,        .        .        .        .1 
CHAPTER  II. 

VARIETIES   OF   THE  DOG. 

Pointer— Setters — Field  Spaniels— Sussex  Spaniel — Clumber 
Spaniel — Norfolk  Spaniel — Cocker — Water  Spaniels — Old 
English  Water  Spaniel— North  of  Ireland  Water  Spaniel — 
South  Irish  Water  Spaniel — English  Greyhound       ,        .       4 

CHAPTER  III. 

VARIETIES  OF  THE   DOG  {continued). 

Hounds — The  Bloodhound — Staghound — Foxhound — Harrier 
— Beagle  —  Dachshund  —  Otterhound  —  Fox  Terrier  — 
Truffle  Dog — Retrievers — Deerhound — The  Borzoi  .         .     28 

CHAPTER  IV. 

USEFUL   COMPANIONS   OF  MAN. 

Old  English  Mastiff— The  Great  Dane— Newfoundland— St. 
Bernard — Bulldog — Bull  Terriers — Pure  Terriers — Smooth 
English  Terrier — Black  and  Tan  English  Terrier — Rough 
or  Bioken-haired  Terrier — Skye  Terrier — Dandie  Dinmont 
— Bedlington  Terrier — Irish  Terrier — Welsh  Terrier — 
Whippet — Bob-tailed  Sheep-Dog — Collie — Pomeranian  or 
Spitz      ..........     51 


^  Co7itents. 

CHAPTER  V. 
ladies'  toy  dogs. 

PAGE 

King  Charles  Spaniel— Blenheim  Spaniel— Italian  Greyhound 

—Pug— Maltese  Dog— Toy  Terrier— Poodle    ...     86 

CHAPTER  VI. 

GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   THE   DOG. 

General  Management  of  Dogs — Of  Whelps — Dressing — Kennels 

—  Management  of  Pet  Dogs      ..♦,..  loo 

CHAPTER  VII. 

DISEASES   OF   THE   DOG. 

General  Observations — Health  and  Disease — Pathology — Fever: 
Simple,  Sympathetic,  and  Specific — Inflammation— Abscess 

—  Serous  Cyst — Prevention  of   Disease — Classification  of 
Disease io8 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

MATERIA  MEDICA. 

The  Dispensing  of  Medicines — Nursing — Doses  of  Medicines — 
Alteratives  —  Anodynes — Antiseptics  —  Antispasmodics — 
Aperients  —  Astringents  —  Blisters  —  Caustics  — Clysters, 
Enemas,  or  Injections — Cordials — Dtmulcents — Diapho- 
retics— Digestives — Diuretics — Electuaries — Embrocations 
or  Liniments  —  Emetics  —  Expectorants  —  P'ebrifuges — 
Fomentations  —  Hypodermic  Injections  —  Inhalations  — 
Lotions — Ointments — External  Parasiticides — Poultices — 
Stimulants  —  Stomachics  —  Styptics  —  Tonics  —  Worm 
Medicines,  Internal  Parasiticides Ii6 

CHAPTER   IX. 

BLOOD  DISEASES. 

Plethora — Obesity — Anaemia— Rheumatism — Rickets,  or  Ra- 
chitis—  Inter-breeding — Crooked  or  Bandy  legs — Leuchae- 
mia — Jaundice — Uroemia — Apnoea 138 


Contents.  xi 

CHAPTER  X. 

SPECIFIC   AND   CONTAGIOUS    DISEASES. 

PAGB 

Anthrax— Cholera  — Diphtheria — Distemper— Eczema  Epizoo- 
tica— Glanders  —  Measles  —Rabies—  Relapsing  Fever— 
Septicsemia— Tuberculosis— Variola,  or  Small  Pox    .         .   146 

CHAPTER  XI. 

DISEASES   OF   THE   RESPIRATORY    SYSTEM. 

Catarrh,  or  Coryza—OzcXna— Parasitic  Ozaena— Epistaxis— 
Polypus  —  Laryngitis— Aphonia—  Snoring — Bronchitis- 
Pneumonia— Pleurisy— Parasitic  or  Verminous  Bron- 
chitis—Chronic  Cough —Asthma       ...  .170 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

DISEASES   OF  THE   CIRCULATORY   SYSTEM.. 

Fatty  Degeneration  of  the   Heart — Rupture  of  the    Heart — 

Valvular  Disease— Pericarditis— Invasion  by  Parasites       .   180 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

DISEASES   OF  THE   DIGESTIVE   SYSTEM. 

The  Teeth  :  Caries— Abscess  of  the  Jaw— Diseases  of  the 
Tongue  :  Glossitis,  Wounds,  Paralysis— Ptyalism— The 
Lips:  Pharyngitis— Choking  — Stricture  of  the  Gullet — 
Indigestion  — Vomition  —  Gastric  Catarrh  —  Gastritis- 
Foreign  Bodies  in  the  Stomach— Ulceration — Worms  in 
the  Stomach—  Colic  — Diarrhoea— Dysentery-Constipa- 
tion—Impaction— Enteritis— Prolapsus— Piles— Atony — 
Thickening — Hernia— Worms  in  theBowels — Peritonitis — 
Ascites,  or  Dropsy— Hepatitis,  Acute  and  Chronic — Fatty 
Degeneration— Parasites  in  the  Liver— Diseases  of  the 
Spleen  and  Pancreas— Goitre 184 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

DISEASES   OF   THE   URINARY   SYSTEM. 

Nephritis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys  —  Albuminous 
Nephritis -Cilculi,  or  Stones  in  the  Kidney— Hcematuria, 


xii  Contents. 

or  Red  Water— Atrophy  and  Hypertrophy — Worm  in  the 
Kidney — Impaction  of  the  Ureters — Cystitis,  or  Inflam- 
mation of  the  Bladder — Stone  in  the  Bladder — Rupture  of 
the  Bladder — Diabetes — Paralysis  of  the  Bladder — Disease 
of  the  Prostate — Stone  in  the  Urethra — Urethritis — 
Balanitis — Posthitis — Worm  in  the  Urethra      .         ,        .  204 

CHAPTER  XV. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  GENERATIVE  SYSTEM. 

Male  Organs:  Gonorrhoea — Imperforate  Prepuce — The  Penis 
— Amputation — Scrotal  Inflammation — Orchitis — Abscess 
of  the  Testicles— Scirrhus.  Female  Organs  :  Metritis, 
or  Inflammation  of  the  Womb — Dropsy — Inversion,  or 
Prolapsus  —  Haemorrhage,  or  Flooding  —  Amputation  — 
Tumours  in  the  Vagina — Inversion,  or  Prolapsus — Ampu- 
tation—Use of  the  Catheter.  Diseases  of  the  Organs 
OF  Lactation:  Retention  of  Milk— Mammitis,  or  Inflam- 
mation of  the  Milk  Gland — Malignant  Tumours— Warts 
— CEstrum — Parturition     ...         «...  210 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

DISEASES   OF   THE   EYES   AND   EARS. 

Organs  of  Vision  :  Simple  Ophthalmia,  or  Conjunctivitis — 
Cataract — Iritis — Amaurosis,  or  Gutta  Serena — Staphyloma 
— Hydrophthalmia — Distension,  and  Dislocation  of  the 
Eyeball — Tumour  of  the  Plaw — Dermatoid  Conjunctiva — 
Ulceration  of  the  Eyelids — Ectropion — Entropion — Watery  - 
Eyes.  Organs  of  Hearing  :  Otitis — Internal  Canker — 
External  Canker — Abscess  of  the  Ear-flap,  or  Blood  Abscess 
— Polypi,  or  Tumours  within  the  Ear — Squamula,  or  Scurfi- 
ness  of  the  Ear-flap — Ticks — Mange  of  the  Ear         .         .  220 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

diseases   OF  THE  NERVOUS   SYSTEM, 

Epilepsy — Vertigo— Neuralgia — Apoplexy — Tetanus.orLocked- 
jaw-r- Chorea — Cramp — Injuries  to  the  Head  :  Concussion 
—.Compression — Apople^cy—Enccphaliiis— Hydrocephalus 
— Paralysis — ^Parasitism   .        •  •        .        .       '.  22<> 


Contents.  xiii 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  SKIN. 

PAGE 

Alopecia,  or  Baldness— Anasarca,  or  Dropsy  of  the  Cellular 
Tissue— Eczema,  Surfeit,  or  "  Red  Mange"— Erythema- 
Warts— PARASITIC  Diseases  of  the  Skin,  Animal 
Parasites  :  Scabies,  or  Sarcoptic  Mange — Follicular 
Mange  —  The  Harvest  Bug  —  Fleas  —  Lice  —  Ticks 
— Vegetable  Parasites  :  Tinea  Tonsurans,  or  Ring- 
worm — Tinea  Favosa,  or  Honeycomb  Ringworm      •        .  236 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

LOCAL  INJURIES. 

Anchylosis,  or  Stiff-joint— Sprain  of  Muscle  and  Sinew — Con- 
genital Deformity— Dislocations— Fracture  of  Bone— False 
Joint — Lameness — Sprain  of  Muscle — Sprain  of  Tendon — 
Lameness  of  the  Feet— Carpet  Fever— Injuries  by  Thorns, 
Nails,  &c.— Raw,  Bruised  and  Bleeding  Feet— Mange  of  the 
Foot  —  Overgrown  Claws  —  Wounds  —  Haemorrhage^  or 
Bleeding 248 

CHAPTER  XX. 

poisons. 

Empirical  Poisoning — Accidental  Poisoning — Wilful  and  Mali- 
cious Poisoning— Symptoms  of  Poisoning — Treatment — 
Mineral  Poisons — Vegetable  Poisons — Animal  Poisons — 
Snake  or  Viper-bite — Wasps,  Hornets,  and  Bees — Destruc- 
tion of  Dogs 254 


INDEX ^,        ^        •        .  261 


LIST   OF   PLATES 


11, 
III. 

IV. 
V. 

VI. 
VII. 
VIII. 
IX. 
X. 
XI. 

XII. 
X  II. 

XIV. 

XV. 

?CVI, 


POINTERS     "  CHAMPION     SANDFORD     BANG         AND 
"CHAMPION    HEATHER   BEE"  Frontispiece 

GORDON    SETTERS  ....        iofacep. 

IRISH   SETTER    "  CHAMPION    HEATHER   ROY  ' 

GREYHOUNDS  .... 

WIREHAIRED    FOX    TERRIER    "JACK    ST. 
LEGER "  .... 

FLAT   COATED    RETRIEVER    "HELPFUL 

DEERHOUND  .... 

BORZOI  

ENGLISH    MASTIFF    "PRINCE    OF    WALES  ' 

NEWFOUNDLAND    .... 

ROUGH    COATED    ST.    BERNARD 


BULLDOG        

WHITE    ENGLISH  TERRIER    "  CHAMPION 

MORNING    STAR  "     . 
IRISH    TERRIER    "BREDA    MIXER" 
ROUGH    COATED    COLLIE  .  . 

rUG    "PRIMROSE    KNIGHT"    ,  * 


lO 

12 
20 

40 
48 
50 
52 

54 
56 
60 


THE     DOG. 


CHAPTER  T. 
THE  DOG  AND  ITS  HABITS. 

Origin— Characteristics— Age,  &c.,  &.G. 

THE  DOG  belongs  to  the  division  Vertehrata,  and 
the  class  Ma??imaiia.  It  is  also  in  the  order  Ferce, 
the  family  Fdidce,  and  the  sub-family  Caniiia,  which  in- 
cludes the  dog,  wolf,  jackal,  and  fox.  This  sub-family  is 
distinguished  by  having  two  tubercular  teeth  behind  its 
canine  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw ;  and  the  Canis  familiaris 
has  the  pupils  of  the  eye  round,  while  in  the  fox  they  are 
like  those  of  the  cat,  perpendicular  slits,  and  in  the  wolf 
oblique  ones.  Volumes  have  been  written  on  the  origin 
of  the  dog,  but  our  knowledge  on  this  subject  may  easily 
be  summed  up  in  one  little  word,  ;////  I  shall  therefore 
not  inflict  upon  the  readers  of  this  book  all  the  various 
arguments /r^  and  con;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  dog  is  now 
an  inhabitant  chiefly  of  cold  and  temperate  climates;  that 
it  rapidly  degenerates  if  transported  to  a  very  warm  one, 
as  is  seen  in  India  and  China,  but  that  it  will  bear  every 
climate  from  the  Arctic  circle  to  the  Equator  without  loss 
of  life.  The  dog  is  a  carnivorous  animal  by  nature, 
though  he  will  feed  upon  and  devour  any  vegetable  sub- 
stance that  comes  in  his  way  if  pressed  by  hunger.  In 
his  domesticated  state  he  tlirives  best  upon  a  mixed  diet, 
and  is  usually  considered,  and  Avith  truth,  as  omnivorous. 
His  teeth  are  fitted  for  tearing  flesh,  and  he  has  no  true 
grinders  suited  to  bruise  grain ;  his  stomach  is  a  simple 

1 


2  The  Doo;  and  its  Habits. 


one,  and  his  intestines  are  of  a  nie(iium  length  between 
the  short  ones  of  the  true  Carnivora,  and  the  long  ones 
of  the  graminivorous  quadrupeds. 

It  is  impossible  to  fix  the  epoch,  as  we  have  said,  when 
the  dog  became  the  servant  of  man.  The  oldest  tradi- 
tions, the  most  ancient  historical  documents,  show  us  the 
dog  reduced  to  a  state  of  domesticity.  Thus  it  may  be 
said  that  the  dog  forms  an  integral  part  of  mankind. 
This  is  what  Toussenel  has  well  said  :  "  Ce  qu'il  y  a  de 
meilleur  dans  I'homme,  c'est  le  chien."  The  dog  pos- 
sesses all  the  qualities  of  intelligence  and  spirit.  Where 
can  we  find  a  more  certain,  more  constant,  or  more  de- 
voted friendship,  a  more  faithful  memory,  a  stronger 
attachment,  more  sincere  abnegation,  a  mind  more  loyal 
and  frank  ?  The  dog  does  not  know  what  ingratitude  is. 
He  does  not  abandon  his  benefactor  in  danger  or  adver- 
sity. AVith  joy  he  offers  to  sacrifice  his  life  for  those 
who  feed  him.  He  pushes  his  devotion  so  far  as  to  for- 
get himself  He  does  not  recall  the  corrections,  the 
unkind  treatment,  to  Avhich  he  has  been  subjected ;  he 
thirsts  for  caresses,  while  the  indifterence  of  those  who 
are  dear  to  him  plunges  him  into  deep  distress.  Noble 
creature !  the  favourite  of  the  rich,  consolation  of  the 
poor,  inseparable  companion  of  tlie  unfortunate ;  thanks 
to  thee,  the  miserable  individual  who  dies  alone  in  the 
midst  of  society,  counts  at  least  one  friend  at  his  me- 
lancholy funeral;  he  does  not  descend  alone  into  the 
cold  grave,  for  thou  comest  to  shed  on  his  tomb  the  sin- 
cere tears  of  affection  and  regret,  and  such  is  the  excess 
of  thy  grief,  that  no  one  can  tear  thee  from  that  spot 
where  sleeps  the  corpse  of  him  thou  lovest ! 

And  what  intelligence  !  what  penetration  !  \A\dX  finesse 
is  there  in  this  admirable  companion  of  our  gladness 
and^ sorrow!  How  w^ll  he  can  read  countenances;  how 
skilfully  he  knows  how  to  interpret  the  sentiments  con- 
veyed in  gestures  and  words !  In  vain  you  may  threaten, 
in  vain  try  to  frighten  him.  Your  eye  betrays  you ;  that 
smile,  which  scarcely  appears  upon  your  lips,  has  un- 
masked your  feelings  ;  and  so  far  from  fearing  and  avoid- 
ing you,  he  comes  to  soHcit  your  attention. 


The  Dog  and  its  Habits.  3 

Volumes  might  be  written,  if  desirable,  relating  all  the 
extraordinary  stories  of  which  dogs  are  the  heroes. 
Every  day,  in  ordinary  life,  we  see  something  of  this 
kind,  and  which,  although  of  so  frequent  occurrence,  is 
none  the  less  curious.  Is  it  necessary  to  recall  to  memory 
the  dog  of  Ulysses,  the  model  of  fidelity;  the  dog  of 
Montargis,  the  vanquisher  of  crime;  of  Munito,  the 
brilliant  player  at  dominoes?  Must  we  mention  the 
Newfoundland  dog  an4  the  dog  of  Mount  St.  Bernard, 
both  of  them  preservers  of  human  life  ?  Is  it  necessary 
to  speak  of  intelligent  dogs  going  for  provisions  for  their 
master,  and  assisting  him  in  his  duties  with  ability ;  of 
the  shoeblack's  dog,  trained  to  plant  his  muddy  paws  on 
the  best  polished  boots,  so  as  to  bring  more  business  to 
his  master,  the  man  of  the  brush?  We  should  never 
come  to  an  end  if  we  attempted  to  register  all  the  ex- 
ploits of  this  valuable  companion  of  man. 

Dogs  are  digitigrade,  or  walk  on  their  toes  ;  their  cla\A-s 
are  not  retractile — they  have  five  toes  on  the  fore-feet  and 
generally  four  on  the  hind  ones.     Their  teeth  are — 

6  I— I  6    6 

Incisors  —  Canine  iRIolars  

6  I— I  8    8 

The  tongue  of  the  dog  is  smooth,  not  lacerating  like  that 
of  the  cat ;  its  application  to  wounds  has  a  healing  ten- 
dency when  the  animal  is  in  health.  Dogs  live  on  an 
average  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years. 


Varieties  of  the  Dog, 


CHAPTER  II. 
VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

Pointer— Setters— Field  Spaniels— Sussex  Spaniel— Clumber  Spaniel— Norfolk 
Spaniel— Cocker— Water  Spaniels— Old  English  Water  Spaniel— North  of 
Ireland  Water  Spaniel — South  Irish  Water  Spaniel — English  Greyhound. 

The  Pointer  of  the  present  day  is  no  doubt  descended 
from  the  old  Spanish  dog,  crossed  with  the  foxhound  or 
greyhound,  by  which  he  has  obtained  greater  lightness 
and  activity,  united  with  more  lasting  powers,  but  at  the 
expense  of  his  nose,  which  is  not  so  dehcate  as  that  of 
the  source  from  w^hich  he  sprang. 

The  well-bred  pointer,  in  the  eyes  of  the  true  sportsman, 
is  a  grand  and  graceful  dog.  His  ancestry  probably 
cannot  be  traced  so  far  back  as  that  of  the  setter,  but  as  a 
true  sporting  dog  he  is  often  preferred,  to  the  exclusion  of 
the  latter.  The  habit  of  pointing  at  their  game  is  an 
innate  qualification  of  the  breed,  and  may  be  observed  in 
young  puppies  standing  to  their  game  when  they  are  first 
taken  to  the  field. 

At  the  various  shows  of  the  United  Kingdom  three 
sizes  of  this  dog  may  be  seen,  which  are  denominated  as 
large,  medium,  and  small  weight.  Of  the  first,  the  dog  is 
estimated  to  be  upwards  of  70  lbs.,  and  the  bitch  over 
60  lbs.  ;  medium,  dogs,  50  to  70  lbs.,  and  bitches,  45  to 
60  lbs. ;  dogs  of  small  weight  are  under  50  lbs.,  the 
bitches  not  exceeding  45  lbs.  The  best  colours  for  show 
purposes  are  the  lemon  and  white,  quality  being  more 
prominent  in  pointers  of  this  colour.  Some  sportsmen 
prefer  the  liver  and  white,  under  the  conviction  that  they 
are  possessed  of  greater  endurance  ;  others  regard  colour 
as  a  secondary  matter,  resting  on  the  conviction  that  a 
good  dog  cannot  possess  a  bad  colour,  always  looking 
forward  in  their  selecdon  to  obtaining  symmetrical 
proportions,  good  build,  and  muscular  development,  all  of 


Varieties  0-^  the  Boo;.  5 

which  combine  towards  the  essential  qualities  of  the 
breed,  viz.,  strength,  speed,  and  endurance.  A  black 
nose  is  common  to  the  liver  and  white  pointer,  but  it  is 
disastrous  to  the  lemon  and  white  in  the  show  ring. 

The  head  of  the  pointer  should  be  large  ^  but  not 
heavy,  wide  across  the  ears,  and  showing  a  raised  fore- 
head. The  nose  should  be  long  and  broad,  with  its  front 
outHne  square,  the  teeth  being  even.  This  marks  the 
pointer  from  the  hound,  whose  nose  has  a  tendency  to 
slope  towards  the  throat,  the  extreme  of  which  is  called 
the  "pig's  snout."  The  lips  should  be  well  marked, 
without  running  into  the  flews  of  the  bloodhound.  Ears 
long,  soft,  and  thin,  set  on  low  down,  and  carried  quite 
close  to  the  cheeks.  Eyes  moderately  large,  soft,  and 
intelligent,  the  colour  varying  from  buff  to  dark  brown 
according  to  that  of  the  coat.  A  peculiarly  rounded  out- 
line on  the  upper  side  of  the  neck  marks  the  well-bred 
pointer,  which  can  scarcely  be  described  in  words.  No 
tliroatiness  is  allowable,  as  it  indicates  too  much  of  the 
Spanish  strain.  This  poi?it  should  be  divided  as  follows : — 
Skull,  id;  nose,  lo  j  ears,  5  ;  neck,  5 — total,  30 

The  frame  may  be  divided  into  loin,  hind  quarter, 
shoulders,  and  chest.  The  loin,  which  with  the  hiftd 
quarter  constitutes  the  propelhng  powers,  must  be  well 
arched,  broad,  and  deep,  and  strongly  united  to  the  ribs 
in  front,  and  to  the  couples  behind,  which  latter  should 
be  wide  and  somewliat  ragged.  Next  in  importance  are 
the  shoulders,  upon  the  obliquity  of  which  depends  the 
elasticity  of  the  action,  while  they  must  be  well  clothed 
with  muscle,  to  enable  the  dog  to  keep  up  for  many 
hours  in  succession.  The  chest  must  be  full,  but  not  so 
much  so  as  that  of  the  old  barrel-shaped  Spanish  pointer, 
the  back  ribs  being  required  to  be  very  deep.  Hind 
quarters  well  bent  at  the  stifles,  provided  with  strong 
hocks,  and  clothed  with  powerful  muscles.  In  estima- 
ting these  points,  I  should  give  to  the  shoulders  and 
chest,  15  points;  back  and  hind  quarters,  15  points — 
total,  30  points. 

Without  the  feet  and  legs  the  continued  action  of  each 
dog  must  altogether  be  forbidden,  as  weakly-formed  ones 


6  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

soon  give  way,  and  the  dog  becomes  lame.  The  feet 
should  be  round  and  cat-like,  with  hard  horny  soles, 
pasterns  short,  large  in  the  bone  and  tendons,  and  not 
sloping  backwards  towards  the  knees  to  any  great  extent. 
A  long  and  muscular  arm  is  specially  necessary,  and  the 
elbow  must  be  neither  in  nor  out.  These  points  may  be 
valued  as  follows,  viz.  : — feet,  6  ;  legs,  6  ;  elbows,  4 ; 
hocks,  2  ;  stifleSj  2 — total,  20. 

The  general  quality  and  stern  indicate  by  their  appear- 
ance the  amount  of  breeding,  and  are  therefore  neces- 
sarily attended  to,  but  the  former  cannot  be  described. 
The  stern  should  be  shaped  like  a  bee's  st\ng,  having  a 
strong  root,  a  straight,  fine,  and  stiff  body,  and  a  pointed 
tip — total  value,  10. 

Of  the  colour,  symmetry,  and  coat,  the  first  may  be 
selected  according  to  fancy,  but  most  people  prefer  a  dog 
with  a  good  deal  of  white,  so  that  he  may  readily  be  seen 
in  turnips.  Liver  and  white,  or  lemon  and  white,  are  the 
most  common,  next  to  which  come  black  and  white, 
which,  when  mixed  with  tan  on  the  cheeks,  indicates  the 
hound  cross.  Whole  colours  are  liver,  red,  black,  and  white. 
The  texture  of  the  coat  should  be  short  and  soft,  but  not 
too  fine,  the  last-named  quality  being  often  accompanied 
by  a  delicate  constitution.     HhtSQ  points  are  put  at  10. 

Setters  of  the  present  day  are  classed  as  either  Eng- 
lish, Scotch  (Gordon),  Irish,  or  Russian.  It  is  needless 
to  describe  the  last-named,  as  the  breed,  which  was  com- 
mon enough  thirty  years  ago,  is  now  seldom  met  with, 
and  has  no  advantage  to  recommend  it.  It  is  a  very 
long-haired  animal,  almost  resembling  a  poodle  in  coat, 
except  that  there  is  not  so  much  curl.  Hence,  in  the 
hot  weather  so  often  experienced  in  August  and  September, 
it  is  soon  knocked  up,  and  though  possessing  a  very 
fine  nose,  this  is  of  little  use  at  its  master's  heels. 

All  the  various  breeds  of  the  setter  are  doubtless  de- 
scended from  the  spaniel,  which  dog  has  a  natural  pro- 
pensity to  pause  before  springing  on  his  game.  This 
peculiarity  has  been  encouraged  and  developed  until  the 
innate  point  has  become  established,  and  the  setter  puppy, 
if  well  bred,  may  be  expected  to  point  game  on  the  first 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  7 

or  second  time  of  showing  it  to  him,  or,  if  very  high* 
couraged,  as  soon  as  he  finds  he  cannot  run  it  down  by 
speed.  In  the  early  days,  after  the  breed  was  first  estab- 
lished, it  was  used  solely  by  the  falconer  and  netter,  who 
were  contented  with  any  animal  which  would  find  birds, 
and,  setting  down  on  the  ground,  would  allow  the  net  to 
be  drawn  over  him,  or  the  hawk  to  be  cast  off,  without 
moving.  Since  the  introduction  of  the  plan  of  shooting 
flying,  a  faster  and  stouter  dog  has  become  necessary,  and 
one  also  which  will  bear  the  heats  of  August  and  Septem- 
ber. Hence  the  object  of  the  breeder  has  been  to  get  rid 
of  the  thick  curly  coat  of  the  spaniel  on  the  body  of  the 
setter,  and  at  the  same  time  to  retain  and  even  improve 
upon  the  elegant  feather  beneath  the  tail,  or  flag,  as  it  is 
called,  and  behind  the  legs.  The  three  breeds  wc  have 
mentioned,  into  which  setters  are  divided,  all  agree  in  this 
point,  however  much  they  may  differ  in  others,  as  we  shall 
presently  see. 

Youatt's  remarks  on  the  setter  are  interesting.  He 
says: — "The  setter  is  more  active  than  the  pointer. 
He  has  greater  spirit  and  strength.  He  loves  his  master 
for  himself,  and  not,  like  the  pointer,  merely  for  the 
pleasure  he  shares  with  him.  His  somewhat  inferior 
scent,  however,  makes  him  a  little  too  apt  to  run  into  his 
game,  and  he  occasionally  has  a  will  of  his  own.  He 
requires  good  breaking  and  plenty  of  work,  but  that 
breaking  must  be  of  a  peculiar  character;  it  must  not 
partake  of  the  severity  which  too  often  accompanies,  and 
unnecessarily  so,  the  tuition  of  the  pointer."  Several 
distinct  breeds  of  the  setter  are  met  with  :  the  Laverack 
setter,  which  is  probably  the  purest  of  the  English 
breeds,  the  colours  being  liver  and  white,  flints,  or  blue, 
or  lemon  and  white  Beltons,  or  mottles.  The  Featherston 
Castle,  and  also  the  Newark  Castle  setters  are  liver  and 
white,  the  latter  being  distinguished  by  top-knots.  The 
Lort  setter  is  black  and  white  or  orange  and  white.  The 
Earl  of  Seafield's  breed  is  lemon  and  white,  and  that  of 
Lord  Lovat  is  black,  white,  and  tan.  The  Llewellyn 
setter  is  described  as  a  very  neat  and  handsome  dog, 
coming  pretty  close  to  the  Laverack  in  many  of  his  points. 


8  Varieties  of  the  Dog: 

As  his  name  implies,  the  setter  crouches,  sits,  or  sets  his 
game,  a  qualification  which  is  careluUy  estimated  by 
experienced  judges.  If  he  stands  at  his  game,  the  fault 
is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  pointer. 

The  English  setter  is  longer  and  mure  open  in  his  frame 
than  the  pointer,  and  has  a  proportionally  longer  stride  in 
all  his  paces.  He  is  capable  of  harder  work  than  that  dog, 
and  as  his  toes  are  clothed  with  hair  in  the  intervals  between 
them,  he  is  not  so  liable  to  become  "foot-sore,"  either  from 
very  dry  or  very  wet  ground.  In  regard  to  nose,  there  is 
much  difference  of  opinion,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  the  setter  has  a  slight  advantage  in  this  respect. 
When  well  bred,  the  setter  is  as  easily  broken  as  the 
pointer,  to  the  point  and  back,  but  he  is  seldom  quite  as 
tractable  in  regard  to  the  other  elements  of  his  education, 
and  is,  moreover,  more  apt  to  forget  his  lessons  than  his 
smooth  c6mpetitor  in  the  shooting-field.  These  remarks, 
however,  apply  more  to  the  setter  of  the  early  part  of 
this  century  than  to  the  dog  of  the  present  day,  which  is 
a  great  improvement  upon  his  ancestors. 

The  head  is  lighter  than  the  pointer's,  and  narrower 
across  the  ears,  but  equally  high  at  the  forehead.  The 
nose  is  long,  and  shows  a  slight  tendency  to  fall  inwards 
towards  the  eyes,  the  corners  of  which  should  be  not 
less  than  four  inches  from  its  tip.  This  should  be  broad, 
with  large  open  nostrils,  well  bedewed  with  moisture,  and 
of  a  dark  colour.  Teeth  level,  and  without  the  slightest 
tendency  to  the  "  snipe  "  form.  Lips  full  at  the  angles, 
but  not  pendulous  even  to  the  extent  allowable  in  the 
pointer.  Ears  must  be  about  6  inches  long,  set  on  low 
and  well  forward,  carried  without  any  approach  to  the 
prick  shape,  and  rounded  at  the  lower  edges.  Eyes 
large,  but  not  protruding,  and  beaming  with  love  of  ap- 
probation and  intelligence.  Neck  long,  thin,  and  slightly 
arched  above,  but  showing  a  clean-cut  line  where  it  joins 
the  head.  Value  of  these  points  :  head,  lo;  nose,  lo  ; 
neck,  5  ;  ears,  5 — total,  30. 

The  frame  and  outline,  though  different  to  the  eye  of 
the  judge  from  that  of  the  pointer,  cannot  be  separated 
from  the  latter  by  any  verbal  description,  except  that  the 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  9 

chest  is  rarely  so  wide  or  barrelled  as  is  allowable  in  that 
dog.  The  hips  are  also  more  ragged  and  the  loin  slightly 
more  arched.  These /6'/>//j"  are  :  shoulders  and  chest,  15  ; 
back  and  hind  quarters,  15 — total,  30  points. 

In  the  feet  and  legs  also  the  remarks  on  the  pointer  are 
equally  ai)]jlicable,  but  there  is  some  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  the  hare-foot,  which  by  many  is  considered  to  be 
necessary  to  the  thorough-bred  setter.  In  this  shape  the 
toes  are  longer  than  in  tlie  cat-foot,  more  split  up,  and 
thickly  clothed  Avith  strong  hair  between  the  toes.  No 
doubt  this  last  feature  is  of  great  service  in  keeping  the 
skin  free  from  inflammation  when  at  work  over  marshy 
ground,  buJ;  the  long  toes  which  usually  attend  this  de- 
velopment do  not  stand  so  well  as  the  stout  cat-hke  forma- 
tion of  the  other  foot.  It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  strike 
the  balance  between  these  feet,  as  one  form  is  best  suited 
to  wet  ground  and  tlie  other  to  hard.  If  it  is  possible  to 
get  the  cat-like  foot  with  sufficient  hair  upon  it,  I  should 
no  doubt  prefer  that  form,  and  though  I  have  never  seen 
the  two  fully  united,  I  do  not  despair  of  getting  them  by 
careful  breeding.  Legs  and  feet,  1 2  ;  elbows,  hocks,  and 
stifles,  8. 

In  the  general  quality  or  character  there  is  not  much 
to  alter  from  the  remarks  given  under  the  ])ointer,  but  the 
stern  ox  flag  varies  a  good  deal.  It  should  be  set  on  well 
up  the  back,  but  not  carried  with  the  slightest  curl  over 
it,  though  there  may  be  a  gentle  and  regular  sweep  in  its 
upper  outline.  The  feather  should  be  flat,  long,  and 
silky,  deep  in  the  centre,  and  tapering  to  each  end.  This 
should  be  as  pointed  as  in  the  pointer,  and  should  be 
carried  in  the  same  perpendicular  plane  as  the  rest  of  the 
flag,  without  the  slightest  approach  to  the  corkscrew  fomi. 
Total  value,  10. 

The  coat  must  be  fine  and  silky,  but  still  somewhat 
hard  to  the  touch,  a  combination  that  can  only  be  felt, 
and  not  imagined.  There  must  be  little  or  no  curl,  while 
the  shorter  it  is  on  the  body,  and  the  longer  in  the  feather, 
the  better  for  the  value  of  the  dog.  A\alue  in  conjunction 
with  symmetry,  lo.  The  order  of  merit  of  the  various 
colours  met  with  is   as  follows,    viz.  : — i.    Orange   and 


10  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

white,  with  freckled  nose  and  legs.  2.  Orange  and  white, 
plain.  3.  Lemon  and  white.  4.  Black  and  white,  espe- 
cially if  ticked  slightly  with  tanned  spots  on  feet  and  legs, 
known  as  "  Belton  greys."  5.  Pure  white.  6.  Black. 
7.  Fallow  or  yellow.  8.  Liver  or  liver  and  white.  9. 
Liver  and  tan. 

The  Scotch  or  Gordon  Setter  has  become  very 
fashionable  of  late  years,  and  especially  since  dog  shows 
were  established.  The  Gordon  differs  from  the  English 
setter  in  the  following  properties  : — In  stern  he  is  generally 
shorter,  or  if  long,  it  has  a  decided  tendency  to  show  the 
"  teapot  "  form,  than  which  nothing  is  more  ugly.  This 
is  probably  derived  from  the  collie  cross,  which,  I  have  no 
doubt,  has  been  used  in  some  strains  with  the  disadvan- 
tage of  introducing  this  defect  and  a  more  woolly  coat. 
In  my  own  dog  Rex  (son  of  Kent  and  Regent)  whose 
portrait  is  here  given,  the  flag  is  faultless,  and  is  some- 
what longer  both  in  bone  and  feather  than  is  given  by 
the  artist,  who  sketched  him  while  yet  in  his  puppyhood. 
The  Gordon  head,  is  perhaps  slightly  heavier  than  the 
English,  and  his  nose  and  intelligence  are  proportionably 
good.  In  colour  he  is  a  rich  black  and  tan,  but  it  is  as- 
serted by  many  experienced  breeders,  that  the  original 
colour  was  more  or  less  mixed  with  white,  and  I  believe 
that  black,  white,  and  tan  colour  is  quite  as  correct  as  the 
whole  black  and  tan.  His  carriage  is  very  lively,  and  he 
is  full  of  hunt,  but  he  is  apt  to  be  shy  and  headstrong. 
My  experience  of  the  breed  in  the  field  is  chiefly  con- 
fined to  Rex,  who  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  perfect 
dogs  I  ever  saw  out ;  but  though  he  was  selected  from  a 
lot  as  a  sample,  to  test  their  value,  it  does  not  follow  that 
he  is  not  an  exceptional  animal  of  his  strain.  He,  like 
all  the  dogs  of  the  breed  I  have  seen,  does  not  last  more 
than  half  a  day,  but  some  of  the  bitches  of  the  same 
strain  are  everlasting.  T\it  points  are  nearly  the  same  as 
in  the  English  dog,  the  only  difference  being  that  5  points 
are  taken  off  the  ears  and  neck,  and  added  to  the  colour 
and  coat. 

The  exact  origin  of  the  Gordon   setter  is  somewhat 
enveloped  in  doubt.  As  described  by  judicious  authorities 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  1 1 

the  original  colour  was  black,  white,  and  tan,  these  being 
derived  from  the  collie,  bloodhound,  and  the  English  or 
Irish  setter,  each  of  which  contributed  to  the  genesis  of 
the  breed.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  averred  that  the 
breed  was  determined  in  the  Gordon  kennels,  by  crossing 
the  collie  with  an  English  setter  or  spaniel,  while  the 
evidence  of  the  bloodhound  is  not  forthcoming.  Again, 
it  is  urged  that  the  breed  was  not  the  outcome  of  special 
design  or  selection  in  the  first  instance,  but  the  result  of 
numerous  as  well  as  various  crosses  conducted  on  the 
principles  above  named.  Careful  in- breeding  has  since 
secured  the  distinctive  characteristics  of  this,  as  in  all 
other  breeds.  A  true  Gordon  setter  is  said  to  possess  in 
almost  equal  proportions,  the  main  qualifications  of  the 
collie,  bloodhound,  and  the  setter.  This  breed  is 
eminently  distinguished  by  a  remarkably  acute  intelligence 
and  scenting  power,  combined  with  great  endurance, 
as  a  glance  at  the  construction  of  the  head  will  clearly 
indicate.  A  beautiful  feature  in  this  dog  is  his  straight 
and  slightly  wavy  coat  of  jet  black,  and  the  well  defined 
mahogany  tan  of  the  muzzle  and  inside  of  the  thighs,  and 
downwards  from  the  front  of  the  stifle  and  knees  to  the 
ground. 

As  observed  in  the  field,  the  essential  characteristics  of 
the  English  and  Irish  setters  are  great  speed,  activity, 
and  endurance,  especially  in  the  cold  and  wet  during 
rough  work  on  the  moors.  In  this  respect  the  Irish 
setter  is  more  suitable  than  the  English ;  but  both  are 
extremely  sensible  of  the  heat  of  the  sun  without  water. 
Some  dogs  of  both  breeds  are  quite  incapable  of  work 
under  a  hot  sun  unless  they  can  plunge  into  a  pool ;  on 
this  account,  in  the  south  the  pointer,  well  up  to  partridge 
shooting,  is  generally  preferred  to  the  setter,  while  in  the 
northern  moors  the  setter  will  range  wider  and  faster,  do 
more  work,  and  endure  the  vicissitudes  of  weather,  as 
well  as  the  strong  heather,  which  proves  so  irritating  to 
the  feet  and  legs  of  the  high-bred  pointer.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  pointer  is  also  superior  with  respect  to  nose,  but 
it  is  probable  that  when  both  are  in  condition,  neither 
being  distressed  by  heat,  but  little  if  any  difference  will 


1 2  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

be  found.  A  moderately  slow  dog  will  always  appear  to 
have  a  better  nose  than  a  very  fast  one,  and  will  put  up 
less  game ;  but,  if  too  slow,  he  will  lose  a  great  many 
points  which  are  taken  from  him  by  his  faster  competitor. 
Hence  it  follows  that  there  is  a  medium  in  point  of  speed 
which  may  be  possessed  by  either  breed,  and  a  selection 
need  not  be  made  on  that  account.  The  setter  is, 
however,  acknowledged  to  be  more  difficult  to  break  than 
the  pointer,  and  is  apt  to  forget  his  lessons ;  the  pointer, 
on  the  other  hand,  rarely  forgets  underan  intelligent  master. 
Respecting  the  Irish  Setter  there  is  still  more  difference 
of  opinion  as  to  the  shade  of  colour  than  in  regard  to  the 
Gordon.  By  one  party  it  is  asserted  that  the  well-bred 
Irish  setter  must  be  of  a  deep  pure  blood-red,  without  the 
slightest  approach  to  black  or  mahogany-colour  on  the 
back,  ear,  or  stern.  After  the  pubHcation  in  the  Field  of 
the  article  on  this  dog,  in  which  this  was  laid  down  as  the 
attribute  of  the  breed,  Mr.  Hungerford  opened  the  con- 
troversy by  asserting  that,  according  to  his  experience, 
they  might  be  either  red  or  red  and  white,  followed  by  the 
late  Mr.  John  Walker  (the  well-known  judge  at  most  of  the 
recent  dog  shows),  who  raised  the  question  as  to  the  ob- 
jection to  the  black  tinge,  which  was  answered  by  Colonel 
Whyte  in  the  negative,  and  by  Mr.  Henry  Blake  Knox  as 
follows  :  "  The  coat  should  be  rather  coarse,  for  you  want 
him  for  hard  work  and  hardships  ;  smooth  or  wavy,  not 
curly  ;  hair  of  moderate  length  on  the  upper  parts  of  the 
body;  the  foot-half  tawny,  the  tip-half  deep  senna,  ap- 
pearing as  if  stained  with  port  wine  (blood-red),  but  never 
showing  black  on  the  ears,  back,  head,  or  tail ;  the  legs 
and  under  parts,  deep  or  pale  tawny ;  white  should  not 
appear  anywhere  except  in  the  centre  of  the  forehead  and 
the  centre  of  the  breast.  I  breed  without  any  white  at 
all."  Captain  Hutchinson  objects  to  the  black  stain,  and 
supports  his  opinion  by  adding  some  high  authorities  in 
its  favour.  On  the  whole,  therefore,  it  may  be  assumed 
that  the  weight  of  evidence  is  against  the  dark  stain.  In 
other  respects  Mr.  Knox's  description  is  so  admirable 
that  I  quote  it  ///  exfenso : — "  The  ears  should  be  long, 
reaching  at  the  end  of  the  hair  to  nose,  pendulous,  and 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  1 3 

as  if  lying  in  a  fold,  set  well  back  and  low  on  the  head  ; 
they  should  never  be  set  high,  short  in  length,  or  half 
diamond-shajDed  ;  their  feather  should  be  moderate.  The 
eye  is  of  a  rich  hazel  or  bright  brown,  well  set,  full,  kind, 
sensible,  and  loving,  the  iris  mahogany-colour ;  it  should 
be  gooseberry,  black,  or  prominent  and  staring,  like  the 
King  Charles.  The  nose  is  mahogany,  dark  flesh,  or 
blackish  mahogany,  never  black  or  pink.  Even  dark 
flesh  is  not  so  much  admired,  though,  with  a  good  clear 
eye,  I  like  it ;  but  with  the  gooseberry  eye  you  indeed 
have  a  rare  brute.  My  old  dog  has  a  dark  flesh-colour 
nose,  unlike  any  of  his  kind,  yet  none  of  his  pups  got 
it,  all  having  dark  mahogany ;  the  whiskers  red ;  the 
head  itself  long  and  narrow,  yet  wide  in  the  forehead, 
arched  in  the  peaked  cranium  behind.  A  short  bullet 
head,  a  wide  flat  one,  or  one  running  to  a  point  at  the 
snout,  is  very  common  and  very  bad  ;  the  lips  deep  or 
moderately  so.  The  chest  should  be  wide  when  the  dog 
is  sitting  on  his  haunches  and  the  head  held  back.  Too 
wide  a  chest  is  apt  to  give  a  dog  a  waddle  and  slow  gait. 
The  chest  ribs  cannot  be  too  deep.  The  loins  for  speed 
should  be  long,  moderately  wide,  and  the  belly  well  tucked 
up.  The  fore-legs  straight,  moderately  feathered,  and  the 
feet  close  and  small,  not  round  like  a  hound's,  or  splayed. 
The  ham  straight,  flat,  and  muscular,  and  feathered  well 
with  buff-coloured  hair,  and  the  hind  quarters  altogether 
square  and  active  made.  The  tail  should  be  well  covered 
with  coarse  hair  curling  along  the  tip,  and  hanging  mode- 
rately, though  bushy  from  beneath,  but  not  in  silken 
streamers,  or  in  a  great  bushy  flag  like  a  Newfoundland. 
It  should  be  carried  in  a  horizontal  line  with  the  back,  or 
slightly  above  it,  not  cocked  or  curled.  In  the  field  or  in 
excitement,  I  like  it  carried  low,  stiff,  and  beating  the  hind 
legs."  As  in  the  case  of  the  Gordon  setter,  there  is  no 
difference  in  the  points  from  those  of  the  English  variety. 
Field  Spaniels  are  divided  into  two  principal  grouj^s, 
the  Springers,  or  larger  variety,  used  for  all  sorts  of  covert 
game,  and  the  Cockers,  kept  more  especially  for  wood- 
cocks, to  follow  which  they  must  be  of  smaller  size.  The 
springer  is  again  subdivided  into  the  Clumber,  Sussex, 


H 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


Norfolk,  and  other  strains  ;  while  the  cocker  includes  tha 
Devonshire  and  Welsh  varieties,  as  well  as  many  other 
strains  without  special  name. 

The  Sussex  Spaniel  is  now  very  rare,  being  replaced 
by  the  Clumber,  which  works  mute,  and  is  more  easily 


Sussex  Spaniel. 


kept  under  control,  and  therefore  better  for  assisting  the 
beaters  in  our  modern  battues.  It  is  a  very  old  breed, 
and  is  probably  the  earliest  of  all  those  used  with  the  gun 
or  net,  though  by  some  people  the  Clumber  is  considered 
to  have  the  claim  to  seniority. 

The  head  of  this  spaniel  should  be  long  and  heavy  ^ 
eye  large  and  languishing,  with  the  forehead  prominently 
over  it ;  muzzle  square  j  lips  somewhat  pendulous  ;  mouth 
large,  with  the  under  iaw  receding  slightly,  though  not  to 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  \  $ 

the  extent  which  could  constitute  a  pig-jaw  or  snipe  nose. 
Ears  large  and  lobe-shaped,  well  furnished  with  silky  hair, 
and  set  on  low  down.  Nostrils  large,  and  the  external 
nose  large  and  liver-coloured.  Neck  strong  and  mus- 
cular, with  the  crest  slightly  arched.  Value  of  these 
fioints:  head,  20;  nose,  10;  ears,  5  ;  neck,  5 — total,  40. 
The  chest  should  be  very  wide,  with  round  or  barrel- 
like ribs,  deep  behind  ;  shoulders  well  thrown  back  ;  body 
long  and  round.  Value  :  chest,  5  ;  shoulders,  5 — total, 
10. 

The  legs  should  be  short  and  strong,  well  feathered  to 
the  feet  before  and  behind.  The  feet  round,  with  the  toes 
well  arched  and  abundantly  furnished  with  tan  between 
the  toes.     Points :  legs,  5  ;  feet,  5. 

The  loin  must  be  very  strong  ;  back  ribs  very  deep  and 
round ;  tail  (docked  to  about  9  inches  in  length)  set  low 
and  carried  considerably  below  the  level  of  the  back, 
never  above  it.  Points :  loin,  5  ;  back  ribs,  5  ;  low  set 
and  carriage  of  tail,  10. 

The  colour  is  a  golden  liver  without  white.  Coat  waved 
(not  curly),  thick,  shiny,  and  abundant.  Points :  colour, 
5  ;  coat,  5  ;  symmetry,  5. 

The  temperament  must  be  cheerful,  courageous,  and 
docile.     Weight  from  3  5  lbs.  to  40  lbs. 

This  dog  is  not  mute  like  the  Clumber,  but  he  Is  not 
noisy  or  babbling,  seldom  throwing  his  tongue  after  he  is 
thoroughly  broken.  He  is  faster  and  more  enduring  than 
the  Clumber,  and  also  bears  water  better. 

The  Clumber  Spaniel  has  obtained  his  name  from 
the  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  M^iere  it  is  supposed 
the  breed  originated.  At  all  events,  it  was  confined  to 
that  family  until  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
This  dog  is  invariably  of  great  length,  low  on  the  leg, 
and  heavy  in  frame  ;  his  weight  varying  from  40  lbs.  to 
45  lbs.,  and  his  height  not  exceeding  20  inches.  He  is 
devoted  to  the  gun,  but  cares  little  for  his  master  without 
that  accompaniment.  Dogs  of  this  breed  never  throw 
their  tongue  when  at  work,  being  perfectly  mute  if  pure 
in  blood.  They  are  capable  of  very  high  training,  and  a 
team  of  them,  consisting  of  three  or  four  couples,  may  be 


i6 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


broken  to  do  anything  but  talk.  Hence,  where  dogs  are 
used  in  covert,  the  clumber  has  become  the  general 
favourite,  and  it  is  a  treat  to  shoot  over  a  perfect  team. 

The  head  is  large  and  long,  and  should  be  marked  with 
lemon  to  a  line  just  in  front  of  the  eyes,  with  a  blaze  up 


Clumber  Spaniel. 


-q. 


the  face.  Eyes  large  and  thoughtful ;  nose  and  lips  flesh 
or  liver-colour,  sometimes  cherry.  Ears  large,  but  not 
lobe-shaped  or  so  heavy  as  those  of  the  Sussex,  and  with 
less  feather.     Neck  strong  and  long.     Total  vahie,  40. 

Back  long  and  straight ;  chest  wide  and  deep,  showing 
scarcely  any  daylight  under  it.  Shoulders  thick  and  wide 
through  them ;  loin  straight  but  strong,  with  wide  couples ; 
back  ribs  very  deep.     Total  value,  50, 

The  legs  n'  st  be  straight,  very  stout,  and  very  strong. 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  v/ 

Fore-arm  immense  ;  shanks  and  hind  legs  well  developed 
in  bone,  and  clothed  with  strong  muscles.     Value,  lo. 

The  stern  should  be  set  low  (it  is  generally  docked,  but 
not  always  ;  if  docked,  it  is  left  fully  1 1  in.  long).  It  is 
carried  low  and  is  tufted  at  its  extremity,  but  not  to  the 
same  extent.     Value,  lo. 

The  colour  must  be  a  true  lemon,  the  paler  the  better. 
Orange  is  often  thrown,  but  is  objectionable.  Any  other 
colour  is  a  mark  of  impurity.  The  texture  of  coat  is  soft, 
shiny,  silky,  and  nearly  straight.     Value,  lo. 

These  dogs  last  many  years,  and  seldom  give  up  work 
till  incapacitated  by  old  age  or  disease. 

The  Norfolk  Spaniel  differs  chiefly  in  length  and 
colour  from  the  Clumber,  being  shorter  and  of  various 
shades  of  black,  liver,  and  yellow,  more  or  less  mixed 
with  white.  There  are  no  positive  signs  by  which  he 
may  be  distinguished  from  the  various  mixed  breeds  of 
springers  found  throughout  the  country. 

The  Oocker  is  a  much  smaller  dog  than  the  springer, 
seldom  exceeding  i8  lbs.  in  weight  for  bitches,  and  25  lbs. 
for  dogs.  He  is  much  more  active  than  the  springer,  and 
of  any  colour  more  or  less  marked  with  white.  The 
Devonshire  and  Welsh  cocker  are,  however,  of  a  deep 
liver-colour,  without  white,  and  closely  resemble  each 
other  in  other  respects.  They  are  nearly  mute,  but 
whimper  slightly  on  a  scent,  and  when  well  broken  they 
distinguish  each  kind  of  game  by  the  note  they  give  out, 
especially  the  woodcock,  of  which  they  are  particularly 
fond.  The  head  of  the  cocker  should  be  round  and  of  a 
medium  length.  It  should  not  be  square,  like  that  of  a 
Clumber  spaniel  or  Sussex  spaniel.  The  muzzle  should 
neither  be  snipy  nor  pointed.  It  should  be  wide  and 
well  developed,  and  should  taper  slightly  close  to  the  end. 
The  forehead  should  take  a  sudden  rise  from  the  top  end 
of  the  muzzle,  near  the  eye,  into  a  finely-arched  skull, 
with  a  somewhat  knotty  or  jutting  occiput,  resembling  the 
occiput  of  a  bloodhound.  The  eye  should  be  of  a  medium 
size,  not  too  full  (which  would  indicate  a  cross  with  the 
King  Charles  spaniel),  but  should  have  a  gentle,  and  at 
the  same  time  a  *'  knowing  "  expression.    The  ears  should 

2 


1 8  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

measure  22  in.  to  24  in.  across  the  head  from  tip  to  tip, 
including  the  hair,  which  should  be  soft  and  silky.  They 
should  lie  close  to  the  head,  and  be  set  well  back.  They 
should  not  be  fixed  on  the  top  of  the  head,  but  be  set 
rather  low.  The  neck  strong  and  muscular.  The 
shoulders  broad  and  prominent.  The  chest  of  medium 
depth,  broad,  well  developed,  and  muscular.  The  body 
and  loins  strong  and  powerful;  loins  slightly  drooping 
towards  root  of  tail.  The  legs  :  fore-legs  strong,  muscular, 
straight,  and  not  inclined  to  be  bandied ;  hind  legs  strong 
and  should  be  like  those  of  a  greyhound,  well  bent,  and 
very  short  from  hock  to  foot.  The  feet  strong  and  round, 
of  a  good  medium  size  (not  too  small),  and  they  should 
be  well  feathered  between  the  toes.  The  tail,  thin  and 
straight,  should  be  set  low,  and  always  carried  below  the 
level  of  the  back,  with  a  downward  tendency.  The  coat 
waved  and  silky,  but  never  wiry  or  woolly ;  it  should  be 
3  in.  to  4  in.  in  length.  The  feathering  on  the  legs,  hams, 
and  tail,  and  the  frill  on  the  breast,  should  be  4  in.  to  5  in. 
in  length.  The  colours,  black,  brown,  liver,  black  and 
white,  liver  and  white,  and  lemon  and  white.  The  points 
are:  head,  neck,  and  ears,  30;  chest  and  shoulders,  10; 
back  and  ribs,  10  ;  legs  and  feet,  10  ;  low  carriage  of  tail, 
ID  ;  symmetry,  10  ;  colour  and  coat,  5. 

Water  Spaniels  may  be  classed  as  English  or  Irish, 
besides  which  there  is  the  Tweedside  breed,  which  re- 
sembles a  good  deal  in  appearance  a  small  ordinary 
English  retriever  of  a  liver-colour. 

The  Old  English  Water  Spaniel  is  now  seldom 
or  never  seen  in  any  degree  of  purity,  and  it  is  scarcely 
necessary,  or  even  possible,  to  describe  it  with  any  degree 
of  certainty  as  to  the  truth  of  the  particulars.  I  shall 
therefore  pass  on  to  the  Irish  breeds. 

The  North  of  Ireland  Water  Spaniel  resembles 
greatly  the  old  English  dog,  except  in  having  shorter  ears 
without  feather,  and  in  being  longer  on  the  legs,  which 
also  are  without  feather.  It  is  seldom  met  with  in  this 
countr}'. 

The  Southern  Irish  Water  Spaniel  is,  on  the 
contrary,  more  frequently  found  in  England  and  Ireland, 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  19 

and  is  highly  prized  since  it  was  brought  to  perfection  by 
Mr.  McCarthy.  He  is  a  very  intelHgent  companion^ 
capable  of  being  broke  to  retrieve  with  facility,  and  a 
most  useful  general  attendant  on  the  gunner,  though 
specially  good  at  his  own  vocation  in  the  water.  His 
height  is  about  21  in.  or  22  in.,  smd  his  weight  a  little 
above  40  lbs. 

The  head  is  capacious — forehead  high,  and  eyes  intel- 
ligent, though  rather  small.  The  face  is  clothed  with 
short  hair,  over  which  hangs  a  top-knot  of  considerable 
length,  coming  forward  to  a  peak ;  these  two  points  being 
indicative  of  true  breeding.  Ears  very  long,  measuring 
fully  26  in.  across  when  extended. 

Body  moderately  long  and  very  strong,  covered  with 
short  crisp  curls,  which  often  become  daggled  towards 
the  moulting  season.  Tail  round,  without  feather,  termi- 
nating in  a  sharp  point,  and  rather  short. 

Colour,  a  pure  deep  puce,  without  white.  In  other  par- 
ticulars these  dogs  should  resemble  the  ordinary  spaniel, 
so  that  it  is  needless  to  recapitulate  them. 

Points :  head  and  nose,  20 ;  top-knot  and  bareness  of 
face,  10  j  ears,  10;  feet  and  legs,  10;  back  and  quarters, 
10;  symmetry,  10;  coat  and  colour,  20;  tail  10. 

The  spaniel,  as  the  name  implies,  was  originally  a 
native  of  Spain,  his  class  forming  the  oldest,  and  possibly 
the  most  useful,  among  the  various  breeds  of  sporting 
dogs.  In  the  field  they  prove  most  intelligent,  persever- 
ing and  persistent ;  and  at  home  are  remarkable  for  their 
gentleness  and  loving  companionship,  besides  being 
exceedingly  graceful,  docile,  and  easily  trained  to  almost 
every  degree  of  house  refinement  within  the  compass 
of  canine  intelligence.  We  have  similar  experience.  A 
dog  of  this  breed  was  offered  to  us  as  a  gift,  on  account 
of  his  somewhat  "  warm  temper,"  which  proved  to  be  the 
result  of  ill-usage.  We  took  him  into  our  care  and  he 
became  exceedingly  clever,  a  most  faithful  guard  and 
amusing  companion.  One  day,  a  fiend  in  human  form 
struck  him  and  fractured  his  fore-leg,  when  he  returned 
home,  limping,  and  crying  piteously,  holding  the  injured 


20 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


member  for  inspection.  It  was  speedily  set  and  bound 
in  the  usual  manner,  and  he  was  put  to  rest.  Some 
hours  afterwards  we  heard  a  banging  at  the  door,  and 
on  opening  it  there  stood  our  maimed  friend  using  his  tail 
to  attract  attention.  We  found  the  member  unduly 
swollen  and  painful,  and  at  once  removed  the  appli- 
ances,   afterwards    replacing    them   with    greater    com- 


Irish  Water  Spaniel. 

fort  and  less  pressure.  He  then  barked  his  thanks, 
licked  our  hands,  and  returned  to  his  bed  rejoicingly. 
He  lived  some  years  and  endeared  himself  to  us  by  many 
acts  of  true  devotion. 

The  Scotch  Greyhound  is  now  seldom  met  with  in 
any  degree  of  purity  except  in  the  highland  districts  of 
Scotland  and  Wales,  where  his  rough  coat  is  supposed  to 
render  him  less  obnoxious  to  cold  than  the  smooth  dog. 
In  pubhc  coursing  he  has  for  some  years  been  invariably 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  2 1 

beaten  by  the  smooth  greyhound,  and  therefore  his  use  is 
confined  to  the  districts  I  have  mentioned,  where  the 
nature  of  the  country  forbids  anything  in  the  shape  of 
coursing  for  sport,  and  "fox-hunting"  is  the  order  of  the 
day.  For  this  purpose  he  is  well  qualified,  as  he  soon 
learns  to  stoop  to  a  scent.  In  appearance  he  exactly  re- 
sembles the  deerhound,  but  in  action  he  may  be  known 
from  that  dog  by  the  different  carriage  of  the  head.  With 
the  exception  of  his  rough  coat,  he  closely  resembles  the 
English  or  smooth  dog. 

The  Greyhound  is  the  thorough -bred  racer  among 
dogs,  and  the  points  which  give  the  faculty  are  easily 
recognized  by  the  eye,  though  all  dogs  which  have  them 
are  not  necessarily  fast.  These  points  are — first,  length 
from  the  hip-joint  to  the  hock,  when  extended ;  and  se- 
condly, powerful  and  flexible  shoulders. 

The  head  should  be  wide  behind,  and  should  be  con- 
siderably larger  in  circumference,  if  measured  over  the 
ears,  than  over  the  eyebrows.  For  dogs  of  good  size,  I 
believe  the  measure  over  the  ears  should  be  about  15  in,, 
and  for  bitches  from  14  to  14^  in,,  according  to  the  general 
size  of  the  head,  w^hich  is  sometimes  very  small  and  neat 
in  them  without  injury.  The  jaw  should  be  very  lean, 
with  a  good  muscular  development  on  the  cheek,  which 
gives  a  strong  hold,  and  enables  the  dog  to  bear  his  hare 
in  striking  at  her.  The  head  of  the  greyhound  is  com- 
pared to  that  of  the  snake,  but  it  is  a  far-fetched  com- 
parison, save  in  the  flatness  of  the  top,  and  the  width, 
which  certainly  are  points  of  resemblance  \  the  nose, 
however,  is  so  different  that  the  likeness  is  a  very  poor 
one.  The  teeth  should  be  good,  and  in  young  dogs 
white  and  free  from  tartar  ;  indeed,  in  a  Avell-reared  dog, 
the  whiteness  is  of  such  a  kind  as  to  excel  the  finest  ivory. 
This  is  a  strong  mark  of  good  rearing,  and  indicates  the 
habitual  use  of  bones,  the  gnawing  of  which  not  only 
cleans  the  teeth,  but  aids  in  their  formation,  and  also 
increases  the  general  health  of  the  whole  system.  The 
eye  should  be  bright  and  tolerably  full.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  satisfy  myself  as  to  the  general  possession  of 
any  one  kind  of  eye  by  good  public  greyhounds,     I  h?ve 


22  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

seen,  I  think,  as  many  of  any  one  colour  which  can  be 
mentioned,  as  of  others  common  in  the  greyhound.  So 
with  the  ears ;  different  breeds  are  so  very  variously  fur- 
nished with  this  appendage,  that  nothing  can  be  made  of 


Grej'hound. 

it  as  a  sign  of  good  or  bad  qualities.  Some  good  ones 
are  possessed  of  falling,  soft,  and  broad  ears ;  others  of 
sharp  and  screwed -up  ears  j  and  others  again  of  foxy, 
pricked  ears  ;  and  these  are  very  remarkable  in  tlie  de- 
scendants of  Heather -jock,  belonging  to  Dr.  Brown,  in 
Scotland,  who  often  inherit  this  peculiarity  to  the  third 
and  fourth  generation. 

The  neck  is  a  very  beautiful  part  of  the  high-bred  grey- 
hound, and  is  properly  compared  with  that  of  the  drake, 
though  not  quite  coming  up  to  the  elegance  of  that  bird. 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  23 

In  many  breeds,  however,  the  neck  is  extremely  long  and 
swan-like ;  and  this  point  gives  great  power  of  reaching 
the  hare  without  losing  the  stride,  which  would  be  a  fatal 
drawback  in  the  fiist  dog. 

The  chest  and  neck  together  constitute  the  body  or 
trunk.  The  chest  is  a  conical  cavity  adapted  to  contain 
the  lungs,  heart,  and  great  vessels,  to  protect  them  from 
injury,  and  to  inflate  the  lungs  by  enlarging  the  capacity 
of  the  chamber  which  contains  them.  Such  a  cavity  must 
therefore  be  of  sufhcient  volume  for  the  first  purpose,  of 
sufficient  strength  for  the  second,  and  of  sufficiently  vary- 
ing capacity  for  the  third ;  and  all  these  offices  the  chest 
of  the  greyhound  efficiently  performs.  But  not  only  must 
it  be  thus  formed,  but  it  must  also  be  so  flattened  on  the 
sides  that  the  shoulder-blades  shall  lie  smoothly  upon 
them,  and  have  free  play  to  extend  themselves.  In  order 
to  meet  all  these  requirements,  the  chest  of  the  greyhound 
is  deeper  than  in  most  animals,  so  as  to  give  increase  of 
volume  without  separating  the  shoulders  too  much,  or 
placing  their  blades  on  too  convex  a  surfoce.  But  if  the 
chest  is  prolonged  too  far  downwards,  it  strikes  the  ground 
in  the  efforts  made  to  stop  the  speed  at  the  turns,  and  in 
that  way  is  prejudicial  to  the  going  of  the  dog.  Thus  a 
happy  medium  is  required  in  this  department,  and  the 
chest  must  be  wide,  but  not  too  round,  and  deep,  without 
being  so  much  so  as  to  interfere  with  the  working  powers. 
Besides  these  two  points,  it  is  important  that  the  ribs  shall 
be  well  separated  from  each  other,  so  that  they  may  ex- 
pand the  cavity  properly,  othenvise  respiration  is  not  per- 
formed with  sufficient  power  and  velocity.  This  width  of 
the  spaces  is  known  to  exist  by  the  comparative  length 
between  the  breast  and  the  last  rib  at  the  loin  ;  but,  again, 
this  must  not  be  too  great,  or  the  back  is  rendered  weak, 
and  incapable  of  those  vigorous  and  quick  efforts  which 
the  gallop  requires. 

The  back  ought  to  be  well  let  into  the  shoulders — that 
is  to  say,  the  muscles  which  compose  it  ought  to  run  well 
forward  towards  the  shoulder-blades,  and  should  leave  a 
strong  ridge  of  muscle  standing  up  abo^•e  the  ribs  on  each 
side  of  the  spine.      This  is  a  very  important  point,  and 


24  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

one  which  ahnost  every  good  greyhound  exhibits.  Its 
absence  betokens  great  weakness  and  a  want  of  endurance ; 
for  though  the  dog  may  be  fast  without  it,  he  is  seldom 
capable  of  continuing  his  speed. 

The  hind  quarter  is  the  main  element  of  progression, 
and  upon  it  in  a  great  measure  depend  the  speed  and 
power  of  the  greyhound.  As  in  all  other  cases,  size  is 
power ;  and  the  greater  the  length  and  size  of  the  hind 
quarter,  so  will  be  the  power  of  propulsion.  This  length 
is  variously  displayed  :  sometimes  the  hind  leg  being  long, 
but  straight ;  whilst  in  others  it  is  more  or  less  bent  in  two 
places — the  stifle  and  hock.  It  will  generally  be  observed 
that  when  the  part  of  the  leg  below  the  hock  is  compara- 
tively short,  the  bones  above  that  part  are  bent  at  the 
stifle,  and  the  whole  hind  quarter  is  long,  without  raising 
the  back  from  the  ground,  as  would  be  the  case  with  the 
same  length  of  limb  in  a  more  straight  form.  As  far  as 
my  observation  goes,  the  bent  hind  quarter  is  the  more 
favourable  fomi ;  but  I  have  seen  many  good  dogs  with 
very  straight  stifles,  and  there  can  be  no  reason  why  these 
should  not  serve  the  purpose  of  propulsion  as  weU  as  the 
bent  ones.  But  though  they  can  propel  as  well,  and 
perhaps  even  better  under  some  circumstances,  they  are 
quite  useless  unless  they  are  accompanied  by  a  low  fore- 
quarter  ;  for  if  otherwise,  the  fore-leg  is  too  long  in  pro- 
portion, and  the  power  of  working  and  killing  is  at  a  very 
low  ebb. 

Two  essentials  are  required,  —  speed  and  working 
power.  Now,  speed  may  be  given  from  length  of  hind 
quarter,  whether  that  length  is  usually  in  an  extended  or 
in  a  bent  form,  because,  when  in  action,  they  both  assume 
the  same  condition,  and  are  then  precisely  similar  the  one 
to  the  other ;  but  the  working  power  is  deficient  if  there 
is  the  nstuil  accompaniment  of  the  straight  hind  quarter — 
viz.,  a  long  fore-leg.  It  will  be  evident  that  if  the  hind 
quarter  is  straight,  and  the  fore-leg  is  properly  propor- 
tioned—that is  to  say,  short  enough  for  the  working 
powers — the  fore-quarter  will  appear  very  low,  and  the 
hips  will  stand  up  far  above  the  shoulder. 

Now,  if  this  formation  co-exists  with  the  straight  hind 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  25 

leg,  all  may  be  in  good  proportion  ;  but  if  not,  it  seldom 
happens  that  the  dog  can  stoop  to  reach  his  hare  without 
spoiling  his  stride.  Nevertheless,  a  remarkable  exception 
is  sometimes  seen,  in  which  there  is  great  working  and 
killing  power  displayed,  with  a  high  shoulder  and  long 
fore-legs.  This,  however,  is  contrary  to  rule ;  and  in 
selecting  a  good  shape,  no  experienced  courser  would 
take  such  a  formation  without  a  practical  proof  of  its 
efficiency  in  that  particular  instance.  Next  to  the  length 
of  limb,  the  due  development  of  the  joints  is  of  great 
importance  ;  the  stifle-joints  ought  to  be  strong  and  broad, 
and  the  bony  processes  powerful  and  large.  The  hocks, 
also,  should  be  long  and  powerful,  and  well  separated 
from  the  leg-bone  by  that  thin  double  layer  of  skin  which 
may  be  felt,  and  almost  seen  through.  The  muscles  are 
divided  into  two  large  masses — the  upper  thigh,  which  is 
scarcely  to  be  made  out  without  the  touch,  being,  as  it 
were,  buried  in  the  body  and  flank ;  and  the  lower  thigh, 
which  is  mudn  more  distinct,  and  of  very  great  impor- 
tance to  the  powers  of  galloping.  This  lower  thigh  is  a 
very  desirable  point,  if  well  developed ;  and  in  making  a 
selection  for  breeding,  its  large  size  should  be  especially 
insisted  upon.  Good  hind  feet,  again,  are  necessary,  but 
I  do  not  like  them  too  round  and  cat-like ;  at  the  same 
time,  a  long  flat  foot  is  opposed  to  high  speed,  and  also 
prevents  a  due  hold  being  taken  of  the  ground.  Where- 
ever  there  is  this  long,  flat,  and  broken-down  foot,  I 
should  not  look  either  for  high  speed  or  for  the  power  of 
continuing  the  efforts  of  the  greyhound ;  there  is  a  want 
of  that  elasticity  and  springiness  which  characterize  the 
movements  of  this  graceful  animal,  and  he  goes  dull  and 
dead  instead  of  being  animated  and  ready  for  any  exer- 
tion. 

The  fore-quarter  is  the  complement  to  the  hind  quarter, 
and  can  do  nothing  until  set  in  motion  by  that  part  of  the 
animal  economy  ;  but,  in  spite  of  this  secondary  part  in 
the  locomotive  department,  it  is  not  less  important  than 
the  primary  cause  of  motion,  because,  though  not  origi- 
nating it,  it  can  and  does  neutralize  the  efforts  of  the  hind 
quarter,  if  not  calculated  to  carry  them  out.     The  great 


20  Varieties  of  the  Dog, 

purpose  of  the  fore-quarter  is  to  enable  the  animal  to  take 
advantage  of  the  propulsion  given  by  the  vigorous  con- 
traction  of  the  hind  one,  and  thus  to  carry  the  animal  on 
in  the  intervals  of  the  strokes.  If,  therefore,  the  fore- 
quarter  is  dull,  heavy,  and  incapable  of  extension,  the 
stroke  is  broken  and  suspended,  and  the  pace  is  reduced 
accordingly.  But  besides  this  purpose,  in  which  the  fore- 
quarter  of  the  race  horse  bears  a  similar  part,  that  of  the 
greyhound  is  also  used  in  stopping  the  speed,  and  turning 
the  body  to  the  right  or  left,  when  the  hare  makes  one  of 
those  turns  which  she  delights  in.  Here  the  shoulder 
requires  to  be  pliable  yet  strong,  and  there  must  be  con- 
siderable play  in  all  its  parts,  or  it  will  give  way  in  the 
violent  effort  made  to  change  the  direction  of  the  speed. 
The  outward  formation  for  these  purposes  is  well  known 
and  recognized  by  all  in  its  general  principles,  though  there 
may  be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  its  details.  Eveiy 
one  is  agi-eed  that  the  line  through  the  shoulder-blade 
should  be  oblique,  because  that  gives,  in  the  first  place, 
greater  absolute  length  of  blade ;  and,  in  the  second,  it 
gives  greater  power  over  the  arm,  so  that  it  may  be  pro- 
truded further  and  with  greater  force  than  is  the  case 
with  a  short  and  upright  blade.  It  is  acknowledged  as 
a  fact,  that  such  obHque  shoulders  conduce  to  that 
conjunction  of  speed  and  working  power  which  is  de- 
sired. At  the  same  time,  I  think  I  have  seen  so  many 
cases  of  upright  shoulders  united  with  great  pace  and 
cleverness,  that  the  rule  is  by  no  means  an  absolute 
one.  But  one  rule  is,  I  think,  of  that  nature — viz.,  that 
where  there  are  confined  shoulders  not  acting  with  any 
liberty,  but  glued  in  their  places,  then  the  speed  is  not 
good,  and  the  working  power  is  absolutely  null.  With 
good  sloping  shoulder-blades  there  is  almost  always  com- 
bined a  formation  which  is  of  the  greatest  consequence, 
and  that  is  a  long  upper  arm — that  is  to  say,  a  long  bone 
intervening  between  the  shoulder-blade  and  the  elbow. 
This  length  of  arm  generally  coincides  with  good  length 
from  the  hip  to  the  hock ;  and  when  that  quarter  is  bent 
as  I  have  already  described,  the  oblique  shoulder-blade, 
long  upper  arm,  and  low  elbov.-,  usually  accompany  it; 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  2/ 

in  most  cases,  also,  there  is  a  knee  close  to  the  ground, 
and  thus  the  fore  and  hind  quarters  agree  in  formation, 
and  will  assuredly  act  together.  When  these  points  are 
combined,  they  make  a  perfect  fore-quarter,  and  only 
want  a  strong  useful  foot,  with  a  thick  horny  sole,  to  com- 
plete the  requisites.  As  with  the  hind  foot,  so  with  this  : 
.  I  am  not  fond  of  the  very  upright,  small,  and  round  foot ; 
/  such  feet  are  always  drawing  their  nails,  though  they  are 
/  certainly  well  suited  for  fine  turf;  but  on  fallows,  or  rough 
ground  of  any  kind,  the  strong  and  moderately  flat  foot 
is  the  more  useful  kind.  The  knuckles  ought  to  be  strong 
and  well  up,  but  the  dog  should  not  be  too  much  on  his 
toes ;  a  spreading  foot,  however,  with  a  thin  sole  devoid 
of  horn,  will  never  stand  work,  and  should  on  that  account 
be  avoided. 

The  colour  is  one  of  those  points  in  the  greyhound 
which  has  been  most  disputed  by  different  judges  of  his 
merits  ;  one  party  considering  it  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance, while  the  other  decides  that  "  a  good  dog,  like  a 
good  horse,  cannot  be  of  a  bad  colour."  With  most 
people  there  is  more  or  less  of  prejudice  in  this  matter, 
and  I  am  not  perhaps  exempt  from  this  failing,  when  I 
own  my  leaning  is  to  blacks  and  reds.  This  leaning, 
however,  is  not  entirely  guided  by  the  eye,  because  it  will 
be  found  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  Avimiers  in  The 
Coursing  Calendar  are  of  one  or  other  of  those  colours. 
Indeed,  my  belief  is,  that  all  the  colours  exhibited  by  the 
greyhound  are  to  be  traced  to  them,  and  that  when  united 
with  w4iite  (the  result  of  domestication)  they  will  produce 
an/  of  the  many  other  shades  which  appear  in  the  lists. 
Thus,  by  ringing  the  changes  of  black,  red,  and  white,  every 
shade  will  be  produced,  as  shown  in  the  following  table  :— 
The  Mixture  of  Result. 

Black  and  red,  No.  I        Red,  with  black  muzzle. 

Do.  No.  2        Red-brindle. 

Do.  No.  3        Black  and  tan. 

Black  and  white     Bhie. 

Red  and  white        Fa-wn  or  cream. 

Black,  red,  and  vvliite,  No.  I        ...     Blue-fawn. 
Do.  do.  No.  2       ...     Fawn-brindle. 

Do.  do.  No.  3       ...     Blue-brindle. 


28  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

These  colours  only  result  when  they  are  mixed  together 
in  the  coat  generally ;  for  when  that  is  not  the  case,  the 
dog  is  patched  with  these  colours  in  blotches,  either  of 
colour  on  a  white  ground,  or  of  white  on  a  coloured 
ground. 

The  points  of  the  greyhound  are  as  follows  : — Head, 
lo;  neck,  5;  legs,  10;  feet,  10;  shoulders,  15  j  hind 
quarters,  20;  back,  10;  general  symmetry,  10;  tail,  51 
tolour  and  coat,  5. 


CHAPTER  III. 
VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG  (continued.) 

Hounds — The  Bloodhound— Staghound— Foxhound— Harrier— Beagle— Otter- 
hound—Fox  Terrier — Truffle  Dog— Retrievers — Deerhound — The  Borzoi. 

The  various  hounds  used  in  the  present  day  for  the 
pursuit  of  the  stag,  fox,  hare,  rabbit,  and  otter  are  no 
doubt  descended  from  one  common  ancestor,  the  nearest 
type  of  which  now  existing  is  the  bloodhound ;  and,  in- 
deed, it  is  supposed  by  many  high  authorities  that  this 
dog  is  identical  with  the  old  Southern  hound  in  all  re- 
spects but  colour.  The  latter  was  usually  white,  mottled 
with  blue  or  badger-colour,  whilst  the  bloodhound  has 
always  been  known  to  possess  the  deep  black  and  tan  by 
which  he  is  now  recognized. 

The  Bloodhound.  Gervase  Markham,  in  his  "  Mai- 
son  Rustique,''  speaking  of  hounds,  says :  *'  The  baie- 
coloured  ones  have  the  second  place  for  goodnesse,  and 
are  of  great  courage,  ventring  far,  and  of  a  quicke  scent, 
finding  out  very  well  the  turnes  and  windings  .... 
They  nmne  surely,  and  with  great  boldnesse,  loving  the 
stagge  more  than  any  other  beast;  but  they  make  no 
account  of  hares.  It  is  true  that  they  be  more  head- 
strong and  harde  to  reclaime  than  the  white,  and  put  men 
to  more  paine  and  travaill  about  the  same." 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


29 


The  exact  origin  of  the  bloodhound  has  not  been 
satisfactorily  defined.  As  we  see  him  to-day,  he  is  the 
evidence  of  careful  selection,  and  the  production  of  de- 
velopment of  the  highest  order.  He  is  the  perfect  com- 
bination of  dignity,  with  a  consciousness  of  inherent 
power,  yet  his  movements  as  a  massive  animal  are  really 
graceful.     In  temperament  he  is  docile,  obedient,  affec- 


ii'illuillli'v!!' 


Bloodhound. 


tionate,  faithful,  and  reliable,  and  on  this  account  proves 
the  perfect  companion  and  protector  to  child  or  adult, 
qualities  derived  only  under  careful  training,  as  the  lessons 
are  begun  in  puppyhood.  Even  in  this  he  is  apt  to 
become  self-willed  and  turbulent,  but  under  prompt  re- 
pression, good  lessons  are  carried  home,  and  at  length 
he  assumes  his  position  as  companion  and  protector,  his 
faithfulness  being  equal  if  not  superior  to  that  of  any 
other  breed.     His  proportions  are  large,  even  massive, 


30  Varieties  of  the  Dog, 

and  in  detail,  important  and  interesting.  The  head  is 
long,  expansive,  highly  arched,  and  crested  behind,  the 
width  not  being  in  proportion  to  the  length.  The  facial 
and  maxillary  bones  are  unusually  developed,  and,  exten- 
ding forwards,  secure  the  formation  of  spacious  nasal 
chambers  and  voluminous  turbinated  bones,  whereby  the 
sense  of  scent  or  smell  is  surprisingly  acute.  The  lower 
jaws  accommodate  large  and  powerful  muscles,  which 
are  covered  with  loose  and  pliant  skin,  forming  folds  or 
wrinkles  at  the  forehead,  and  descending  down  the 
cheeks  are  lost  in  the  flows  or  lips,  the  upper  covering 
the  lower,  and  in  the  dewlap,  which  confers  the  charac- 
teristic "  throaty "  appearance.  These  provisions  not 
only  confer  the  needful  power  to  seize,  but  also  to  retain 
the  hold  of  large  objects.  The  ears  are  set  on  low,  and 
descend  gracefully  to  the  shoulder.  The  eye  is  deeply 
set  in  the  orbit,  is  calm  and  impressive,  and  protected  by 
the  largely  developed  "haw";  the  neck  is  long,  but 
stoutly  muscular ;  shoulders  massive  and  sloping ;  fore- 
legs straight,  strong,  and  muscular,  firmly  standing  on 
round  and  well-padded  feet,  and  the  claws  are  very 
large,  strong,  and  black.  The  ribs  are  well  arched,  and, 
carried  backwards,  give  the  appearance  of  needful  width 
and  strength  to  the  back  loins  and  hind  quarters ;  the 
tail  well  set  on,  thick  at  the  base  and  tapering,  carried 
moderately  high  and  waving.  With  regard  to  colour, 
various  opinions  are  entertained.  "  Black-tan,  or  a 
reddish  fawn  "  was  the  favourite  with  "  Stonehenge,"  who 
admitted  no  white,  **  but  on  just  the  tip  of  the  stern." 
The  old  adage,  that  "  good  dogs  cannot  be  of  a  bad 
colour,"  holds  good  in  this  instance,  and  among  the 
varieties  white  spots,  and  the  flake  or  dapple  are  not 
uncommon.  The  coat  is  largely  influenced  by  method 
of  treatment  and  work,  as  well  as  by  breeding  and  rearing, 
but,  as  a  rule,  the  tendency  is  to  be  thickly  set,  but 
fine  and  short.  The  voice  is  deep-toned,  full,  and  loud, 
and  as  echoed  by  the  hills  in  the  stillness  of  night,  is 
peculiarly  impressive. 

The  critical  judges  of  this  breed  are  now  watching  with 
some  interest  the  result  of  the  introduction  of  a  cross  of  the 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  3 1 

old  southern  hound,  the  object  being  to  remedy  the  present 
defective  constitution.  This  has  resulted  in  all  proba- 
bility from  what  is  understood  to  be  "  close  breeding," 
which,  being  freely  translated,  signifies  breeding  from 
defective  animals.  Close  consanguinity  with  the  best  and 
healthiest  animals  gave  us  our  unparalleled  flocks  and 
herds,  and  the  same  will  hold  good  with  dogs  of  all 
breeds.  "Like  produces  like,"  was  the  watchword  of 
Bakewel],  and  as  he  followed  with  unerring  precision  the 
principles  embodied  in  the  phrase,  he  produced  the  best 
animals,  and,  conversely,  he  realised  that  unless  he  did 
so,  the  produce  would  be  anything  but  good.  It  is  not 
generally  understood  how  unerringly  the  defects  of  an 
animal  are  handed  down  from  parent  to  offspring,  and  it 
is  chiefly  to  this  that  the  incongruous  mating  of  animals 
is  due.  The  general  idea  is  that  if  a  sire  possesses  a 
quality  which  is  absent  in  the  dam,  the  offspring,  in 
accordance  with  lav/s  hitherto  unexplained,  will 
certainly  derive  that  quality.  We  shall  not  attempt  to 
argue  that  this  is  impossible,  but  feel  at  liberty  to  quote 
from  experience,  and  state  unhesitatingly  whether  the 
desirable  qualification  is,  or  is  not  handed  down,  it  is 
quite  certain,  if  there  are  serious  defects  they  will  be 
assuredly  transmitted  to  the  offspring.  All  men  of 
shrewd  character  and  experience  in  these  matters  are 
thoroughly  well  agreed  on  the  point  that  half  a  dozen 
excellent  qualities  in  the  sire  v/ill  not  dissipate  or  neu- 
tralise one  bad  one  in  the  dam.  Whatsoever,  therefore, 
we  desire  in  the  offspring,  we  must  assure  ourselves  are 
to  be  found  in  the  parents,  whether  it  be  soundness 
of  constitution,  perfection  in  form,  action,  etc.,  and  when 
these  are  present,  closeness  of  consanguinity  will  unerr- 
ingly perpetuate  them.  On  the  other  hand,  all  the 
desirable  qualifications  may  be  found  in  two  strange 
animals ;  if  so,  there  is  no  reason  why  they  should  not 
be  mated.     This  is  the  simple  law  of  the  question. 

The  most  celebrated  breeders  in  past  years  were  Lords 
Yarborough,  Fitzwilliara,  and  P'aversham  ;  the  Honour- 
able Grantley  Berkeley;  Mr.  Jennings,  of  Pickering, 
Yorkshire;  Mr.  Cowen,  ofBlaydon-on-Tyne;  Mr.  Harri- 


32  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

son,  of  Dudley  \  and  Mr.  Halford,  of  Ware,  Herts.  Of 
the  various  dogs  exhibited  from  the  above  kennels,  Mr. 
Jennings's  Druid,  to  Prince  Napoleon,  was  said  to  be  the 
best  specimen  of  the  breed.  Mr.  Cowen's  Druid  was 
also  a  grand  dog  in  his  prime ;  but  his  head  was  not 
equal  to  that  of  Mr.  Jennings'?  old  favourite.  Mr. 
Hallford's  Regent,  a  son  of  Cowen's  Druid,  was  also  a 
magnificent  animal,  and  almost,  if  not  quite,  equal  to 
Jennings's  Druid.  From  these  have  descended  the  best 
blood  of  the  present  day. 

The  Staghound  as  a  distinct  breed  is  completely  un- 
known in  this  country  :  all  those  packs  which  hunt  stag 
being  pure  foxhounds,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Nevill's, 
in  Hampshire,  which  he  calls  *' Black  St.  Huberts,"  but 
which  seem  to  be  relics  of  the  old  Southern  hound. 

The  modern  Foxhound  has  had  more  attention  paid 
to  his  shape,  and  has  been  kept  more  pure  than  any  other 
breed  of  dogs  in  existence.  Most  kennels  of  any  stand- 
ing possess  stud-books  going  back  from  80  to  100  years, 
and  can  trace  the  pedigree  of  every  hound  in  then:  packs 
for  that  time.  This  is  almost  equal  to  that  of  the  English 
thorough-bred  horse,  and  far  greater  than  that  of  the  grey- 
hound, few  pedigrees  of  which  go  back  in  all  their  lines 
more  than  ten  generations.  "Cecil"  has  lately  published 
the  "Hound  Stud-book,"  which  proves  this  statement 
without  a  doubt,  and  makes  the  study  of  the  various 
strains  of  the  foxhound  doubly  interesting.  His  points  are 
as  follows : — The  head  varies  a  good  deal,  from  the  com- 
paratively heavy  form  characterizing  the  Beaufort  Grasper, 
to  the  snipe-nosed  light  shape  of  the  Puckeridge.  It 
should,  however,  in  any  case  be  light,  airy,  and  sensible,  yet 
full  of  dignity.  There  should  be  a  slight  tendency  to  chop 
without  actual  flew,  and  the  forehead  should  be  a  little 
wrinkled.  Circumference  of  skull  in  front  of  the  ears,  16 
to  17  in.,  and  at  least  4I  in.  from  the  eye  to  the  point  o\ 
the  nose.  Neck  long  and  clean ;  the  least  looseness  or 
approach  to  throatiness  is  tabooed.  Where  it  joins  the 
head  it  must  be  fine,  and  gradually  deepen  towards  the 
shoulders.  Length  of  neck  is  necessary  to  allow  the 
hound  to  stoop  to  a  scent  without  losing  pace.     Ears  set 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


IZ 


on  low  down,  and  carried  close  to  the  head — of  course 
rounded.     Total  value,  20. 

The  back  must  be  straight,  wide,  and  muscular,  with 
an  equally  strong  and  square  loin,  very  slighdy  arched. 
Back  ribs  especially  deep  and  wide,  not  flat.  Chest  deep, 
and  at  the  same  time,  if  possible,  wide,  increasing  behind 


Foxhound. 


the  elbows  to  at  least  30  in.,  sometimes  31  in.  Shoulders 
long,  sloping,  and  powerful,  elbows  perfectly  straight  and 
well  let  down.  Value — back  and  loins,  20  ;  shoulders,  20. 
The  fore-legs,  it  is  insisted  by  huntsmen,  must  be  as 
straight  as  possible,  without  the  slightest  tendency  back- 
wards. This,  however,  I  believe  to  be  an  exaggerated 
conception  of  the  form  which  is  best  for  standing  work^ 
as  I  have  no  doubt  a  very  slight  angle  at  the  pastern  is 
advantageous.     The  bone  of  the  leg  must  be  as  large  as 


34  Varieties  of  the  Dog, 

possible,  and  the  muscle  of  the  fore-arm,  as  well  as  the 
rendons  of  the  pasterns  and  toes,  proportionably  strong. 
If  the  foot  is  not  perfectly  straight,  it  must  turn  in,  not 
out.  In  shape  it  should  be  round  and  cat-like,  but  very 
highly  arched  toes  are  apt  to  give  way.  Sole  hard  and 
thick.     Value  of  legs  and  feet,  20  points. 

The  hind  quarters  must  be  as  strong  as  possible,  wide 
as  well  as  deep.  Bone  of  pastern  strong  and  large;  hocks 
strong  and  straight.     Value,  10. 

The  stern  should  be  carried  gaily  upwards  without 
hooping;  it  should  be  slightly  rough  beneath  its  lower 
edge,  but  not  feathered;  point  straight.  The  coat  should 
be  dense,  smooth,  and  glossy.  Colour,  black,  white,  and 
tan,  black  and  white,  or  pied  with  hare,  badger,  red,  tan,  or 
yellow,  which  colours  are  preferred  in  the  order  I  have 
given.  Value,  10,  in  conjunction  with  the  general  symmetry. 
Height  from  22  to  25  in.  ;  the  best  average  is  22^  in.  for 
bitches,  and  24  in.  for  dogs ;  or  for  a  mixed  pack,  23  in. 

The  Harrier  comes  next  in  order.  His  head  is 
heavier  in  proportion  than  tliat  of  the  foxhound,  and  the 
ears  of  thinner  texture;  they  are  sometimes  slightly 
rounded,  but  the  general  practice  is  to  leave  them  in 
their  natural  state. 

In  other  respects  there  is  little  difference  between  the 
two  breeds,  though  the  eye  of  the  master  will  readily 
pick  out  a  true  harrier  from  a  foxhound  without  seeing 
the  head,     ^ht  points  are  the  same  as  in  the  foxhound. 

The  Beagle. — The  exact  origin  of  this  dog  is  not 
quite  clear.  He  has  been  described  as  a  dwarf  southern 
hound,  as  it  was  thought  the  resemblance  to  him  was 
closer  than  is  observed  in  the  foxhound  or  harrier.  Like 
the  southern  hound,  he  also  possesses  an  extraordinary 
power  of  scenting ;  his  inteUigence  is  acute,  and  when 
carefully  selected  with  respect  to  these  requirements,  as 
well  as  uniformity  in  size,  the  pack  works  evenly  and 
efficiently,  giving  forth  enspiriting  music.  The  Master 
of  the  Cockermouth  Beagles  gives  the  following  descrip- 
tion and  points  of  the  breed  :  "  Head  like  that  of  a  fox- 
hound, with  sweet,  intelligent  countenance ;  the  head 
long,  and  the  nose  should  not  come  to  a  sharp  point. 


Varieties  of  the  Dog. 


35 


£ars  long,  set  on  low  down,  and  carried  close  to  head  ; 
not  too  broad,  and  the  thinner  in  the  leather  the  better. 
Neck  and  throat  long  and  lean ;  but  some  of  the 
heavier  hounds  are  very  loose  in  throat,  and  have  a  deep 
voice.  Shoulders,  long  and  strong,  well  clothed  with 
muscle.     Chest,  deep  and  wide ;  ribs  also  deep.     Back, 


If 


Harrier. 


strong  and  wide,  and  especially  wide  across  loins.  Bitches 
are  generally  better  across  loins  than  dogs,  for  their  size. 
Hind-quarters,  the  stronger  the  better,  wide  and  deep  ; 
stern  strong  at  set  on,  and  tapering,  carried  high,  but 
not  curled.  Legs  straight,  although  for  work  they  are  no 
worse  standing  a  little  over  on  the  forelegs ;  strong  of 
bone  ;  feet  round,  like  those  of  the  cat.  Colour,  black, 
white,  and  tan  :  black  and  white.     I  had  a  heavy  dog 


36  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

the  latter  colour,  that  was  alv/ays  first  to  find  game,  and 
always  led.  He  was  well  known  among  the  Cumbrians, 
and  they  knew  his  voice,  and  said  :  '  'Dar,  that's  auld 
Duster ;  we'll  have  a  run  noo.'  Occasionally  beagles 
are  the  colour  of  bloodhounds.  The  beagle  should  be 
hard  in  condition,  with  plenty  of  muscle."  These  beagles 
hunt  the  hare  on  Skiddaw,  and  in  the  Lake  District, 
capital  runs  being  "  enjoyed  about  Buttermere,  where  it 
is  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  litde  hounds  on  the  breast  of 
a  mountain,  when  a  sheet  could  cover  them  sometimes, 
and  their  cry  is  melodious.  We  do  not  mount  our 
huntsmen."  The  height  of  the  dogs  at  the  shoulder 
varies  from  14  in.  to  15  in.,  and  the  weight  from  25  lbs. 
to  27 J  lbs.  Some  having  the  harrier  cross  are  higher. 
The  Royal  Rock  Pack,  said  to  be  pure  beagles,  stand 
16  inches  high.  The  rabbit  beagle,  so  called,  is  pro- 
bably a  cross  with  beagle  and  the  terrier. 

The  DachslLund,  or  German  Badger  Terrier  is  not 
a  hound  as  some  conclude.  The  terminal  "  hund,"  sig- 
nifies a  dog,  notwithstanding  many  of  his  characteristics 
are  those  of  a  hound ;  indeed,  it  is  said  he  comes  of  a 
cross  with  the  old  English  hound  and  the  beagle,  and, 
according  to  Bewick,  known  as  the  Kibblehound.  The 
dog  of  the  present  day  has  a  singularly  long  back,  and 
apparently  ill-formed  legs.  Our  friend  Punch  says  he 
is  "sold  by  the  yard."  Many  years  ago,  an  engineer 
seeing  one  of  the  early  specimens,  and  viewing  him  only 
in  the  light  of  mechanics,  said  thoughtfully,  "his  bearings 
are  too  wide  apart,"  and  suggested  taking  "a  piece  out 
of  his  middle  and  welding  him  together  again."  The 
breed  is  self-coloured,  excepting  a  stray  "  beauty  spot " 
on  the  breast  or  toes.  Black  and  tan,  or  fallow  red  are 
preferred,  though  good  dogs  have  shades  of  red,  and 
smutty,  or  tawny  markings.  The  Head  is  of  the  blood- 
hound type,  and  the  ears,  long  and  pendulous,  measure 
13  or  14  inches  across  the  head  from  tip  to  tip.  The 
Nose  is  square,  and  the  muzzle  about  8J  inches  in  girth. 
The  Eye^  which  is  lustrous  and  mild  in  expression,  has 
the  colour  of  the  coat.  The  Teeth  should  be  white,  sound, 
strong,  and  recurvate  for  grip ;  a  diseased  and  offensive 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  37 

mouth  being  fatal  for  any  purpose.  The  Neck  is  long  and 
muscular,  the  Chest  wide,  and  the  brisket  well  up  to  the 
throat.  The  Shoulders  are  muscular,  covered  with  loose 
skin,  and  the  chest  apparently  swings  between  them. 
The  limbs  are  very  large  and  bony,  and  the  elbows  turn 
widely  outwards,  while  the  knees  are  twisted  inwards. 
''Knuckling"  of  the  latter  is  a  serious  deformity.  The 
feet  are  large,  armed  with  powerful  claws,  and  are  turned 
outwards  for  making  way  in  the  burrow.  To  these  qualifi- 
cations must  be  added  a  good  nose  for  tracking,  length  of 
body  to  conform  to  the  windings  of  the  badger  earth,  and 
lion  courage  to  grapple  and  seize  the  quarry,  in  the  earth 
or  in  the  open.  In  Germany  the  dog  is  used  to  drive 
out  deer  from  the  thick  and  short  underwood,  and  to 
track  wounded  deer,  but  are  httle  used  for  badgering. 
In  Hanover  he  is  employed  to  kill  foxes,  for  which  pur- 
pose he  will  lie  at  the  hole  for  days,  being  fed  meanwhile, 
until  the  prisoner  ventures  forth  to  avoid  starvation,  but 
to  be  summarily  destroyed.  Dachshunds  are  remarkable 
travellers,  and  good  water  dogs,  extremely  affectionate 
with  themselves,  and  their  masters  especially,  but  re- 
markably jealous  of  his  favours  being  transferred  to 
another  dog. 

The  Otterliound  is  still  more  like  the  old  Southern 
hound  than  the  beagle,  being  of  the  same  size  as  the 
former,  and  only  differing  from  him  in  having  a  long  and 
rough  coat. 

His  head  is  heavier  in  mould  and  in  its  flews  than  that 
of  the  foxhound,  eyes  deeply  set  like  those  of  the  blood- 
hound, and  with  the  same  deep  expression,  often  amount- 
ing to  engaging  \  forehead  long  and  narrow,  but  less  so 
than  that  of  the  bloodhound  ;  nose  large  and  black,  with 
a  decidedly  wiry-haired  muzzle  ;  lips  ample  and  pendent; 
ears  large,  thin,  and  coated  with  strong  wiry  hair,  but  not 
feathered  at  the  edges  like  those  of  the  spaniel  or  setter ; 
forehead  wrinkled  deeply ;  neck  long  and  muscular,  with 
a  loose  skin  and  some  throatiness.  Value :  head,  15  • 
ears,  10 ;  neck,  5. 

Chest  deep  but  not  wide  ;  elbow  let  down  very  low ; 
back  ribs  very  deep ;  loins  strong  and  straight,  but  looser 


38 


Varieties  of  the  Dog, 


than  those  of  the  foxhound ;  shoulders  powerful  and 
sloping. 

Arms  very  large  and  powerful ;  ankles  short,  and  the 
feet  round,  but  more  open  than  those  of  the  foxhound  ; 
thighs  large  and  strong  ;  with  powerful  hocks. 

The  stern  should  be  coated  moderatel"  but  not  in- 


creasing, to  the  tip,  which  should  be  well  pointed,  whilst 
the  root  should  be  large  ;  carriage  like  that  of  all  hounds. 
Coat  hard,  wiry,  and  abundant ;  the  colours  may  be  black, 
white,  and/^/(?  tan ;  mixed,  or  black  pied,  with  the  colours 
strongly  linked  with  white. 

The  origin  of  this  hound  is  uncertain,  but  he  is  most 
probably  descended  from  the  old  Southern  hound  or 
Talbot. 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  39 

This  dog  is  sometimes  confounded  with  the  otter 
terrier.  The  otterhound  is  in  all  respects  what  the  name 
impUes,  a  dog  comprising  all  the  attributes  of  the  hound, 
combined  with  acute  scent,  great  endurance,  strength, 
and  remarkable  i:<itelligence.  He  is  not  so  large  as  the 
bloodhound,  but  greatly  resembles  him  in  symmetry, 
strength  of  limb,  formation  of  the  head,  with  long  droop- 
ing ears,  well-developed  nostrils,  and  eyes  deeply  set, 
over  which  the  haw  fully  protrudes.  Whatever  may 
be  his  true  origin,  one  thing  is  quite  certain,  the  pure 
bred  dog  is  always  ready  when  wanted.  Few  can  com- 
pare with  his  indomitable  pluck,  strength,  solid  wisdom 
and  cunning,  wonderful  sight  and  scent.  Unfortunately, 
however,  many  miserable  attempts  have  been  made  to 
improve  his  breed.  He  has  been  crossed  with  the  otter 
terrier,  and  the  issue  is  a  breed  far  too  small  for  the 
common  requirements,  besides  being  impudent  and 
tricky,  lacking  the  nobility  and  grace  of  the  true  hound. 
In  order  to  overcome  such  an  expert,  strong,  and  cunning 
animal  as  the  otter,  he  needs  the  highest  endowment  of 
sight,  scent,  and  sound.  The  first  enables  him  to  mark 
the  significant  sign  of  the  otter's  movement  by  the  smallest 
ascencling  bubble;  his  nose  will  scent  out  the  coldest 
trail,  and  he  follows  it  with  astonishing  pertinacity, 
and  his  sense  of  hearing  is  so  acute,  that  amid  a  very 
babel  of  voices,  he  is  obedient  to  that  of  the  huntsman 
alone. 

The  Tox  Terrier. — To  class  the  fox  terrier  with  the 
hounds  may  seem  a  misnom-cr,  but  as  'he  is  kept  specially 
for  the  purpose  of  being  used  in  their  aid  when  a  fox  is 
to  be  bolted,  he  is  certainly  not  out  of  place  in  this  sub- 
section. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  when  hunt- 
ing the  fox  was  considered  of  more  interest  than  gal- 
loping after  him,  one  or  two  terriers  were  added  to  the 
pack,  and  were  not  merely  kept  in  readiness  to  bolt  him 
from  his  earth  when  driven  to  ground  by  the  hounds,  but 
regularly  drew  each  covert  with  them,  and  throughout  the 
run  followed  the  line  as  well  as  they  could,  being  gene- 
rally in  at  the  death  before  tlie  breaking  up  M^as  over. 


40  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

When,  however,  the  fields  of  horsemen  increased  in  num- 
bers from  two  or  three  score  to  two  or  three  hundred — ■ 
when  their  riding  became  either  a  steeplechase  between 
those  who  went  straight,  or  a  flat  race  among  the  "  ma- 
cadamisers  ;" — and  when  hounds  were  bred  fast  enough  to 
get  away  from  all,  the  httle  terrier  stood  a  poor  chance  of 
escaping  with  life  and  limb,  and  his  services  were  confined 
to  underground  work,  for  which  he  is  now  kept  handy  to 
the  part  of  the  country  which  is  to  be  hunted,  his  absence 
being  supplied  by  the  nearest  rat  or  rabbit  terrier  that  can 
be  obtained.  In  the  cub-hunting  he  is  specially  service- 
able, and,  indeed,  it  is  for  this  purpose  that  he  is  chiefly 
kept  by  the  huntsmen  of  our  various  packs  ;  for  it  is  but 
seldom  that  a  regularly  entered  fox  terrier  attached  to  the 
pack  is  at  hand  when  a  fox  is  run  to  ground  during  the 
season. 

The  fox  terrier  is  a  clever,  strong  little  dog,  possessing 
great  endurance  and  remarkable  courage,  and  a  nose 
almost  as  sensitive  as  the  harrier  or  beagle.  He  derives 
his  pluck  from  the  bull-dog,  like  other  useful  vermin 
killers,  and  is  generally  kept  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 
those  vermin  which  prove  more  than  a  match  for  the 
harrier  or  beagle.  In  his  encounters  with  such,  the  fox 
terrier  is  rendered  more  determined,  and  his  natural 
prowess  is  encouraged,  as  with  superior  ability  he  brings 
his  antagonist  to  a  state  of  helplessness  or  destruction. 
Hence  he  becomes  the  attendant  and  companion  of  the 
ratcatcher,  gamekeeper,  or  farmer,  who  make  use  of  his 
attainments  in  clearing  the  barns,  stables,  kennels,  etc., 
of  rats  and  mice,  and  occasionally  other  vermin.  In 
former  days  it  was  the  practice  of  adding  a  couple  of  fox 
terriers  to  each  pack  of  fox  hounds,  for  the  purpose  of 
bolting  the  fox  when  he  takes  refuge  from  his  pursuers 
in  some  accessible  drain,  or  otherwise  goes  to  ground. 
The  pluck  and  endurance  of  the  fox  terrier  enables  him 
to  follow  steadily  in  the  track,  finally  coming  up  to  do 
the  required  unearthing  when  other  means  are  not  avail- 
able. In  later  years,  hounds  have  been  bred  to  greater 
speed,  and  the  terrier  has  been  dispensed  with,  but  re- 
tained as  a  companion  or  guard,  and  for  destroying  ground 


> 

. 

/ 

i 

i 

■     J 

* 

4. 

Varieties  of  the  Dog.  41 

vermin.     He  is  faithful  and  tractable,  and,  under  proper 
care  and  training,  is  rarely  surpassed. 

The  entering  and  breaking  of  the  fox  terrier  as  a  vermin 
killer  is  not  a  process  of  great  difficulty.  His  innate 
intelligence  rapidly  leads  him  to  look  upon  rats,  mice, 
etc.,  as  his  mortal  foes,  and  himself  as  their  especial 
exterminator.  When  he  is  to  be  used  with  ferrets,  he 
must  be  broken  to  leave  them  alone,  as  they  are  apt  to 
make  their  appearance  suddenly  at  one  hole,  from  which 
they  pass  to  another.  In  order  to  accomplish  this,  the 
ferret  and  the  terrier  should  be  allowed  to  be  in  the  com- 
pany of  each  other  within  a  yard,  stable,  etc.,  when  the 
terrier  must  be  carefully  watched  and  cautioned  not  to 
molest  his  companion.  After  a  few  such  lessons,  both 
animals  grow  friendly,  or  at  least  the  terrier  learns  not  to 
molest  the  ferret.  Some  terriers,  owing  to  their  breeding, 
prove  to  be  great  cowards,  and  will  not  bear  the  bites  of 
their  foes,  which  renders  them  perfectly  useless  as  vermin 
destroyers,  to  say  nothing  of  the  more  formidable  opera- 
tion of  unearthing  the  fox.  To  complete  their  necessary 
courage,  some  breeders  contend  they  should  have  the  evi- 
dent cross  of  the  bull-dog.  But  sometimes  young  dogs  of 
this  cross  may  prove  rather  timid  at  first,  when  they 
should  be  encouraged  by  first  trying  their  skill  on  young 
rats,  singly.  They  will  thus  gain  confidence,  and  rapidly 
increase  in  needful  courage.  This  precaution,  however, 
is  scarcely  called  for  with  respect  to  well-bred  terriers ; 
as  with  the  opportunity  for  practice  in  the  exercise  of 
the  allotted  vocation,  they  rapidly  acquire  the  proficiency 
for  which  the  breed  is  remarkable. 

There  has  been  a  good  deal  of  controversy  among  those 
interested  in  this  breed  on  the  subject  of  the  bull  cross, 
but  the  preponderance  of  evidence  is  certainly  against  it. 
The  chief  argument  is  that  this  cross  makes  the  dog  lie 
too  close  to  his  game,  and  punish  him  too  much  if  he  can 
reach  him,  often  absolutely  preventing  his  bolting  by  hang- 
ing on  to  him.  In  any  case  it  is  admitted  that  the  strain 
should  not  be  made  visible  in  the  moutli,  and  that  the 
teeth  should  be  therefore  quite  level.  What  is  really 
wanted  is  a  dog  small  enough  to  enter  any  drain  or  earth 
which  will  admit  a  fox,  and  consequently  not  above  16  lbs. 


42  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

weight ;  while,  to  give  him  strength  enough  for  the  task 
which  he  has  to  perform,  he  should  be  at  least  14  lbs. 

Tjie  head  should  be  flat  and  narrow  forward,  gradually 
ividening  towards  the  ears,  which  must  be  small  and  fold 
over,  so  as  to  keep  out  the  dirt  from  their  interior  in  dig- 
ging, being  also  set  on  forward  and  carried  close  to  the 
cheeks.  Jaw  strong  and  well  clothed  with  muscle ;  mouth 
level  and  well  furnished  with  teeth  ;  eyes  small,  keen,  and 
full  of  expression ;  nose  pointed,  long,  and  tipped  with 
black.  The  back  should  be  strong  ;  chest  deep  j  neck 
light  and  airy,  coming  nicely  out  of  oblique  but  powerful 
shoulders ;  loins  straightly  arched,  without  slackness ; 
ribs  carried  well  backwards  ;  quarters  and  thighs  mus- 
cular ;  hocks  well  let  down  ;  the  legs  and  feet  strong 
and  straight,  and  the  stifles  not  turned  outwards ;  the 
stern  set  high,  carried  gaily,  but  not  over  the  back. 
Traces  of  the  bull  breed  are  disqualifying,  likewise  a  long 
head  and  narrow  chest,  minus  the  needful  muscular 
shoulders,  which  are  serious  congenital  defects,  or  due  to 
want  of  development  under  suitable  care  and  exercise. 

The  symmetry  also  must  be  appreciated  on  the  same 
principle  as  that  of  the  foxhound,  but  it  is  important  as 
showing  breeding  and  general  fitness  for  work.  Value, 
ID  points. 

Colour,  for  which  5  points  are  allowed,  is  only  to  be  re- 
garded as  leading  to  the  dog  becoming  easily  seen  either 
underground  or  above ;  hence  there  must  be  a  prepon- 
derance of  white.  With  this  external  configuration  the 
fox  terrier  must  be  hardy  in  constitution,  so  as  to  with- 
stand cold,  wet,  and  fatigue,  and  he  must  have  that  de- 
gree of  courage  which  will  induce  him  to  face  any  amount 
of  punishment.  Possessed  of  all  these  qualifications,  this 
dog  becomes  an  excellent  companion  independently  of 
his  use  to  the  M.F.H.,  and  the  breed  has  been  in  high 
favour  for  this  purpose  since  the  introduction  of  dog 
shows ;  from  ;^2oo  to  ;^3oo  having  sometimes  been 
given  for  a  prize  winner. 

The  Trufae  Dog  is  little  known  out  of  the  districts 
which  furnish  that  esculent,  in  our  knowledge  of  which 
we  are  far  behind  the  Germans,  French,  and  Italians.  Our 
Continental  neighbours  are  far  more  skilled  both  in  its 


Varieties  of  the  Dog.  43 

preservation  and  production.  They  can  dry  it,  or  pre- 
serve it  in  oil,  vinegar,  or  brine ;  and  in  neither  case  does 
the  conserve  lose  much  of  its  aroma,  flavour,  or  nutritious 
quality.  One  Italian  species  is  produced  by  scattering  a 
shallow  layer  of  soil  upon  a  porous  slab  of  stone,  and 
occasionally  moistening  it  with  water  ;  another,  by  slightly 
burning,  and  subsequently  watering,  blocks  of  hazel-wood ; 
and  a  third  (a  species  of  Agaricus)  is  cultivated  by  placing 
the  grounds  of  coffee  in  places  favourable  for  its  growth. 
The  market  returns  of  Rome  show  that  as  much  as 
;2£"4,ooo  a  year  are  expended  on  these  productions ;  and 
that  the  peasantry  of  France,  Germany,  and  Italy  in  many 
places  subsist  to  a  great  extent  upon  them,  is  an  estab- 
lished fact. 

The  truffle — an  edible  underground  fungus — is  classed 
by  Berkeley  with  morel,  as  one  of  the  Ascimycetes,  because 
in  these,  "  spores,"  or  organs  of  reproduction,  are  arranged 
in  asci  (tubular  sacs,  or  vesicles).  The  best  writers  on 
fungi  have  arrived  at  this  learned  conclusion ;  but  in  spite 
of  all  their  discoveries,  and  their  elaborate  remarks  on 
"  spheroidal  cells,"  and  *'  spores,"  and  "  fructification 
taking  place  in  some  particular  membrane,"  we  believe 
attempts  to  cultivate  the  truffle  have  failed. 

Science  has  ascertained  that  it  forms  an  intermediate 
link  between  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdom,  for  it 
does  not  a.bsorb  carbonic  acid  from  the  air  and  give  out 
oxygen,  but,  like  animals,  it  absorbs  oxygen  and  gives  out 
carbonic  acid. 

The  truffle  is  found  in  many  districts  of  France,  Spain, 
and  Italy ;  and  in  other  parts  of  these  countries,  doubtless 
(as  in  England),  it  exists,  though  it  has  not  been  dis- 
covered. 

In  this  country  it  may  be  found  on  almost  every  chalky 
down,  especially  where  plantations  of  beech  flourish,  and 
in  many  gentlemen's  parks,  and  on  lawns.  Hampshire, 
Wilts,  Dorset,  and  Kent,  all  these  counties  produce  truffles 
of  rich  quality  and  in  great  abundance.  Beneath  the 
beech,  the  cedar,  the  lime,  the  oak,  the  hazel,  the  Scotch 
fir,  it  is  frequently  to  be  found  in  clusters,  one,  two,  or 
three  feet  apart.     It  is  known  to  be  in  Tedworth  (the  seat 


44  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

of  the  late  Mr.  T.  Assheton  Smith) ;  at  Charbro'  Park, 
Dorset  (the  seat  of  Mr.  Drax)  ;  at  Olantigh  Towers,  in 
Kent,  and  at  Holnest  House,  in  Dorset  (both  seats  be- 
longing to  the  same  gentleman) ;  whilst  Kingston  Lacey, 
in  Dorset  (the  property  of  the  Bankes  family),  produces 
both  morels  and  truffles.  Truffles  are  also  found  at  East- 
well  Park,  Kent;  at  Sir  J.  Sebright's,  in  BeechwoodPark; 
at  Lord  Barrington's ;  at  Lord  Jersey's ;  at  Longleat, 
Wilts ;  at  the  Countess  Bridgewater's ;  at  Lord  Winchil- 
sea's;  and,  we  believe,  at  the  Earl  of  Abingdon's  seat,  near 
Oxford. 

In  Italy,  this  fungus  is  hunted  with  a  pig  (a  fact  con- 
firmed by  Youatt) ;  in  France  (as  with  us)  the  truffle- 
hunter  depends  upon  his  dog.  The  breed  is  rare,  and 
the  men  dislike  to  sell  them.  It  is  said  that,  about  two 
hundred  years  ago,  an  old  Spaniard  brought  two  dogs  into 
Wiltshire,  and  made  a  great  deal  of  money  by  the  sale  of 
truffles  which  his  dogs  found  for  him  ;  that  at  his  death 
he  left  his  money  and  his  dogs  to  a  farmer  from  whom  he 
had  received  some  kindness,  and  that  the  hunters  derive 
their  dogs  from  those  he  left  that  farmer. 

The  truffle  dog  is  a  small  poodle  (nearly  a  pure  poodle), 
and  weighing  about  15  lbs.  He  is  white,  or  black  and 
white,  or  black,  with  the  black  mouth  and  under-lip  of  his 
race.  He  is  a  sharp,  intelligent,  quaint  companion,  and 
has  the  "  homeing  "  faculty  of  a  pigeon.  When  sold  to  a 
new  master,  he  has  been  known  to  find  his  way  home  for 
sixty  miles,  and  to  have  travelled  the  greater  part  of  the 
way  by  night. 

It  is  mute  in  its  quest,  and  should  be  thoroughly  broken 
from  all  game.  These  are  essential  qualities  in  a  dog 
whose  owner  frequently  hunts  truffles  at  night — in  the 
shrubberies  of  mansions  protected  by  keepers  and  watch- 
men, who  regard  him  with  suspicion.  In  order  to  dis- 
tinguish a  black  dog  on  these  occasions,  the  hunter  fur- 
nishes his  animal  with  a  white  shirt,  and  occasionally 
hunts  him  in  a  line. 

These  dogs  are  rather  longer  on  the  leg  than  the  tme 
poodle,  have  exquisite  noses,  and  hunt  close  to  the 
ground.      On  the  scent  of  a  truffle  (especially  in   the 


Varieties  of  the  Dog,  45 

morning  or  evening,  when  it  gives  out  most  smell),  they 
show  all  the  keenness  of  the  spaniel,  working  their  short- 
cropped  tails,  and  feathering  along  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  for  from  twenty  to  fifty  yards.  Arrived  at  the 
spot  where  the  fungus  lies  buried  some  two  or  three  inches 
beneath  the  surface,  they  dig  like  a  terrier  at  a  rat's  hole, 
and  the  best  of  them,  if  left  alone,  will  disinter  the  fungus 
and  carry  it  to  his  master.  It  is  not  usual,  however,  to 
allow  the  dog  to  exhaust  himself  in  this  way,  and  the 
owner  forks  up  the  truffle,  and  gives  the  dog  his  usual  re- 
ward, a  piece  of  bread  or  cheese  ;  for  this  he  looks,  from 
long  habit,  with  the  keen  glance  of  a  Spanish  gipsy. 

The  truffle-hunter  is  set  up  in  business  when  he  pos- 
sesses a  good  dog ;  all  he  requires  besides  will  be  a  short 
staff,  about  2  ft.  6  in.  long,  shod  with  a  strong  iron  point, 
and  at  the  other  end  furnished  with  a  two-fanged  iron 
fork.  With  this  implement  he  can  dig  the  largest  truffle, 
or  draw  aside  the  briars  or  boughs  in  copsewood,  to  give 
his  dog  free  scope  to  use  his  nose.  He  travels  frequently 
thirty  or  forty  miles  on  his  hunting  expeditions,  and  with 
this  (to  use  a  business  term)  inexpensive  "  plant,"  keeps  a 
wife  and  children  easily.  I  know  personally  one  blue 
grizzled  dog  of  the  old  truffle  breed  which  supports  a 
family  of  ten  children. 

The  truffle  dog  is  a  delicate  animal  to  rear,  and  a  choice 
feeder.  Being  continually  propagated  from  one  stock,  he 
has  become  peculiarly  susceptible  of  all  dog  diseases,  and 
when  that  fatal  year  comes  round  which  desolates  the 
kennel  in  his  quarter,  many  truffle-hunters  are  left  desti- 
tute of  dogs,  and  consequently  short  of  bread ;  for  they 
will  not  believe  (as  I  believe)  that  any  dog  with  a  keen 
nose  and  lively  temper  may  be  taught  to  hunt  and  find 
truffles. 

The  education  of  the  dog  commences  when  he  is  about 
three  months  old.  At  first  he  is  taught  to  fetch  a  truffle, 
and  when  he  does  this  well  and  cheerfully,  his  master 
places  it  on  the  ground,  and  slightly  covers  it  with  earth, 
selecting  one  of  peculiar  fragrance  for  the  purpose.  As 
the  dog  becomes  more  expert  and  keen  for  the  amuse- 
ment, he  buries  the  truffle  deeper,  and  rewards  him  in 


4^  Varieties  of  the  Dog. 

proportion  to  his  progress.  He  then  takes  him  where  he 
knows  truffles  to  be  abundant,  or  where  they  have  been 
previously  found  by  a  well-broken  animal,  and  marked. 
Thus  he  gradually  learns  his  trade,  and  becomes  (as  his 


Curly-coated  Retriever. 


forefathers  have  been  for  many  generations)  the  bread- 
winner for  his  master  and  all  his  master's  family ;  unless 
he  is  so  fortunate  as  to  become  attache  to  some  lordly 
mansion,  or  possibly  to  a  Royal  palace,  in  which  case  he 
is  a  fortunate  dog  indeed.  With  regard  to  poitits,  as  he  is 
never  shown,  none  can  be  laid  down. 

The  dogs  which  retrieve  game  previously  wounded  by 
man  are  very  useful,  and  in  the  present  day,  when  driving 
and  walking  up  game  are  practised  extensively  without 


Varieties  of  the  Dog;. 


47 


pointers  or  setters,  the  retriever  is  an  indispensable  ac- 
comj)animent  to  every  shooter  who  indulges  in  this  kind 
of  sport.  There  is  no  distinct  breed  recognized,  though 
the  cross  of  the  spaniel  or  setter  with  the  small  New- 
foundland has  become  now  quite  as  much   so   as  the 


/'>^,\H 


Wavy-coated  Keiriuvcr, 


modern  Leicester  or  Southdown  sheep.  Indeed,  the  re- 
currence to  this  cross  is  seldom  employed  in  breeding 
retrievers,  males  and  females  of  that  strain  being  chosen 
on  each  side.  I  have  a  great  fancy  that  the  modern 
rough  St.  Bernard,  of  which  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Macdona  has 
some  magnificent  specimens,  will,  if  crossed  with  good 
setter  blood,  produce  an  excellent  result,  and  I  intended 
to  try  the  experiment,  that  gentleman  having  kindly  given 
me  a  daughter  of  his  celebrated  Tell  and  Hedwig  for  the 


48  Varieties  of  iJie  Dog. 

purpose,  but  unfortunately  the  puppy  died  of  abscess  in 
the  head.  Intelligence  and  docility  are  the  qualities 
which  must  be  looked  for,  and  these  are  possessed  by 
the  St.  Bernard  in  the  highest  degree,  while  the  setter 
must  furnish  nose  and  the  desire  to  hunt  game. 

The  modern  Retriever  is  now  almost  always  a  cross 
of  the  setter  and  Newfoundland  (showing  the  smooth  or 
wavy  coat),  or  of  the  water  spaniel  (generally  Irish)  with 
the  same  dog,  in  which  case  the  coat  is  curly.  Very  often 
the  two  kinds  are  intermixed,  the  result  of  which  is  a  coat 
showing  more  or  less  of  each  texture.  There  has  been  a 
good  deal  of  discussion  on  the  relative  value  of  these 
strains,  and  the  question  is  by  no  means  settled.  My 
own  impression  is  in  favour  of  the  smooth,  wavy  coat, 
indicative  of  the  setter  origin  rather  than  the  spaniel,  as  I 
believe  this  cross  is  more  docile  and  better  fitted  to  be 
broken  to  the  extent  of  implicit  obedience  which  is  re- 
quired. It  is  a  great  nuisance  to  have  to  work  a  retriever 
in  a  slip,  but  there  are  very  few  curly-coated  dogs  with 
which  it  can  be  dispensed  with,  whereas  it  is  compara- 
tively easy  to  do  so  with  the  smooth  kind. 

The  Norfolk  Retriever  is  a  breed  introduced  within 
recent  years.  The  colour  of  the  coat  is  sandy-brown, 
though  this  may  run  so  dark  as  to  be  called  black,  and 
curls  somewhat  loosely,  being  open,  short,  woolly,  coarse 
and  harsh  under  the  fingers.  The  head  is  massive,  and 
has  the  appearance  of  intelligence  j  the  ears  are  large,  the 
hair  upon  them  being  thick  and  curly,  and  the  muzzle  is 
broad  and  square  or  deep.  Along  the  back  the  hair  lies 
short  and  straight.  The  limbs  are  strong,  stout,  well-set, 
and  terminate  in  feet  which  are  largely  developed,  and 
fully  webbed.  It  is  stated  by  "  Saxon  "  to  be  the  usual 
custom  to  dock  the  tail,  the  utility  of  which  seems 
questionable  in  the  opinion  of  sportsmen  outside  the 
county.  The  dogs  of  this  breed  run  somewhat  above  the 
medium  size,  being  also  strong  and  well  set.  They 
exhibit  a  remarkable  degree  of  intelligence  and  tracta- 
biHty,  which  under  efficient  training  renders  them  exceed- 
ingly clever  under  the  gun,  or  as  the  amusing  companion 
in  leisure  hours.     Uncertainty  of  temper  is  somewhat 


-^J^^-. 

i 

^^  mMul^ 

^^^ 

.,^'-  •                ...^ 

Varieties  of  the  Dog.  49 

rare  among  them,  and  any  appearance  of  impatience 
under  restraint,  or  other  defects  in  the  field  may  as  a 
rule  be  attributed  to  imperfect  training,  or  such  may  be 
the  result  of  impure  descent.  They  are  excellent  swim- 
mers, not  in  smooth  water  alone,  but  prove  themselves 
invaluable  on  the  sea  shore,  when  against  surf  and  swell 
they  resolutely  search  for  the  dead  or  maimed  bird. 

The  retriever  proper  should  have  a  long  head,  wide 
and  fiat,  and  a  UioUerately  laij^e  e)c,  luii  oi  iiucnigence 
and  docility ;  mouth  capacious ;  ears  small,  lying  close  to 
the  face,  and  set  low,  with  short  hair  only  on  them  ;  nose 
large ;  neck  long ;  and  face  covered  with  short  hair  only. 
Head,  to;  nose,  10;  ears,  z;  neck,  8 — total,  30. 

The  loins  and  back  must  be  strong  and  firmly  coupled, 
without  which  this  big  heavy  dog  soon  tires,  and  as  he 
sometimes  has  to  carry  a  hare  for  half  a  mile,  and  to 
jump  gates  and  brooks  with  her  in  his  mouth,  this  point 
is  of  great  importance.  Quarters  also  must  be  thick,  and 
clothed  strongly  with  muscle.  Shoulders  strong  and 
oblique ;  chest  broad  and  also  deep.  Loins  and  back, 
10;  hindquarters,  10;  shoulders,  6  ;  chest,  4. 

Legs  long,  straight,  and  muscular;  feet  round  -and 
compact ;  toes*  well  arched  and  not  spreading ;  hocks 
powerful ;  stifles  strong  and  wide.  Value  :  feet,  6 ;  legs, 
6;  hocks,  6;  stifles,  2  — total,  20. 

Coat  either  flat  and  wavy,  or  short,  curly,  and  crisp  \ 
the  former  being  m  my  opinion  the  best,  but  in  dog 
shows  there  is  generally  now  a  prize  for  each  kind. 
Colour  either  jet  black  without  white,  or  liver,  also  with- 
out white,  or  black  and  tan,  or  black  with  brindled  leg=;, 
or,  lastly,  whole  brindled  Stern  well  feathered,  rather 
short,  but  tapering  to  a  point,  and  carried  gaily  but  not 
over  the  back.  Colour  and  coat,  15;  stern,  5.  The 
height  should  be  at  least  24  in.,  weight  from  70  lbs.  to 
80  lbs. 

The  Irish  Water  Spaniel,  and  the  English  dog  of  the 
same  breed,  are  often  used  as  retrievers  proper,  but  I  have 
classed  them  with  the  other  spaniels,  since  they  are  gene- 
rally used  for  seeking  live  as  well  as  dead  game. 

Crosses  of  the  terrier  and  spaniel,  and  true  terriers,  are 

4 


50  Vanettes  of  the  Dog. 

also  sometimes  employed  as  retrievers ;  and,  indeed,  ^^'^- 
hounds,  bloodhounds,  and  pure  setters  are  occasionally 
broken  to  this  trade. 

The  Deerliound  is  a  distinct  breed,  having  been  for 
many  years  employed  to  hunt  down  wounded  deer,  and, 
if  necessary,  bring  them  to  bay  till  the  deerstalker  comes 
up  to  give  the  coup  de  grace  with  bullet  or  knife.  In  the 
present  day  he  closely  resembles  in  appearance  the  rough 
Scotch  greyhound,  but  having  each  been  kept  to  its 
separate  work,  they  show  their  specific  natures  distinctly 
when  taken  to  their  respective  game. 

The  points  of  this  dog  are  the  same  as  those  of  the 
rough  greyhound,  except  that  he  is  at  least  28  in.  high, 
with  a  girth  of  32  in.  In  colour  he  must  be  fawn,  yellow, 
brindled,  or  grey,  with  a  rough  coat,  especially  about  the 
face. 

The  Borzoi. — Under  this  name  are  included  several 
breeds  of  the  deerhound  type,  especially  used  in  their 
native  wilds  for  hunting  the  wolf.  The  most  familiar  are 
the  Siberian,  or  Russian,  Pyrenean,  and  Circassian  wolf- 
hounds. The  Siberian  wolfhound  is  of  the  type  and  size 
of  the  Scotch  deerhound,  the  grisly  hue  of  the  coat  being 
replaced  by  white,  with  markings  of  yellow,  or  fawn,  and 
in  a  few  dark  grey.  These  dogs  are  singularly  handsome, 
and  in  movement  majestic,  good  specimens  exhibiting  the 
build  of  our  best  deerhounds,  having  a  remarkably  deep 
chest,  well-shaped  and  sloping  shoulder,  and  airy  neck 
even  with  the  back.  The  head  is  clean  throughout,  the 
skull  flat,  and  somewhat  narrow,  separated  by  a  slight 
indentation  from  the  long  and  tapering  snout.  The  nose 
is  black,  eyes  dark,  expressive  and  almond  shape,  ears 
small,  somewhat  rounded  at  the  tip,  set  high  and  almost 
meet  when  thrown  over  the  head.  The  back  is  strong, 
and  arched  in  the  dog,  but  level  in  the  bitch ;  ribs  flat, 
elongated,  and  extending  to  the  elbows  or  lower ;  groin 
capacious  in  the  bitch,  and  short  in  the  dog.  The  fore- 
legs are  lean  and  straight,  and,  as  seen  from  the  front,  are 
narrow  and  tapering  to  the  feet.  The  hind  legs  are 
slightly  beneath  the  body  when  standing,  free  from  dew- 
claws,  and  not  wide  apart,  the  stifle  is  slightly  flexed  j 


Useful  Covipanions  of  Man.  §1 

pasterns  short,  toes  long  and  close  together ;  nails  strong, 
short,  and  mainly  supporting  the  weight  of  the  animal : 
tail  long  and  shaped  like  a  sickle ;  coat  long,  wavy  and 
silky,  curly  only  in  places.  The  muscles  of  the  shoulders, 
chest,  and  hind  quarters  are  long  and  flat,  roundness  or 
convexity  being  objectionable.  Average  height  of  the 
dog  28  to  33  inches  ;  of  the  bitch  24  to  28  inches.  The 
frill  on  the  neck  is  long  and  rather  curly,  and  the  fore- 
legs are  well-feathered.  The  hair  on  the  hind  quarters 
and  tail  is  long ;  curling  is  objectionable. 

The  Circassian  or  Orloff  Wolfhound,  is  said  to  be 
derived  from  the  Siberian,  chmatic  and  other  influences 
combining  to  produce  variations  in  form  and  colour. 
He  is  swifter  than  the  Siberian,  and  said  to  be  more 
intelligent. 

As  ornamental  dogs  these  wolfhounds  are  graceful 
and  dignified,  and  as  companions,  gentle,  faithful,  watch- 
full  and  obedient. 

The  Pyrenean  Wolfhound  is  a  dog  of  stronger 
build,  and  somewhat  shorter,  suggesting  a  cross  with  the 
collie  and  deerhound.  The  breed  is  well  adapted  for 
the  tending  of  mountain  sheep,  being  employed  with 
especial  reference  to  warfare  with  wolves  and  foxes,  the 
enemies  of  the  flock. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
USEFUL  COMPANIONS  OF  MAN. 

Old  English  Mastiff— The  Great  Dane— Newfoundland— St.  Bernard— Bulldog 
— Bull  Terrier— Smooth  English  Terrier — Black  and  Tan  English  Terrier- 
Rough  or  Broken  Haired  Terrier- Skye  Terrier— Dandie  Dinmont— Bed- 
lington  Terrier — Irish  Terrier— Welsh  Terrier— Whippet— Bob-tailed  Sheep 
Dog— Scotch  Collie — Pomeranian  or  Spitz. 

Under  this  division  are  included  those  dogs  which 
serve  some  purpose  in  their  companionship,  either  as 
guards  of  man  or  his  herds  or  flocks ;  thus,  the  New- 
foundland, the  mastiff,  the  St.  Bernard,  the  bulldog,  the 


52  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

bull  terrier,  and  other  large  terriers,  the  collie,  and  the 
drover's  dog,  all  come  under  the  designation. 

The  Old  English  Mastiff,  as  being  a  native  of  this 
country,  should  stand  at  the  head  of  this  section,  though 
by  no  means  so  generally  met  with  as  the  Newfoundland. 
Like  the  bulldog,  he  is  peculiar  to  this  country,  though  a 
near  approach  to  him,  the  Cuban  mastiff,  is  met  with  in 
the  West  Indies  and  America.  Whether  any  of  the 
modern  strains  can  be  shown  to  be  really  indigenous 
in  their  origin  it  would  be  difficult  to  say,  as  their  pedi- 
grees cannot  be  traced  for  many  generations, 

Mr.  Edgar  Hanbury,  of  Eastrop  Grange,  Wilts,  and 
Mr.  Lukey,  of  Lock's  Bottom,  Bromley,  Kent,  have  bred 
the  best  specimens  of  the  English  mastiff  of  late  years, 
and  neither  of  these  gentlemen  can  trace  back  their 
blood  far  enough  to  enable  us  to  decide  whether  they 
are  purely  English  or  not.  Mr.  Hanbury  commenced 
with  a  bitch  without  pedigree,  but  a  beautiful  animal. 
This  bitch  was  put  to  a  dog  from  Wales,  also  without 
pedigree,  so  that  his  kennel  dates  from  his  own  knowledge. 
Mr.  Lukey  began  with  a  brindled  bitch  bred  by  the  Duke 
of  Devonshire,  which  he  crossed  Avith  Lord  Waldegrave's 
celebrated  dog  "  Turk,"  a  black-muzzled  fawn,  of  great 
courage  and  symmetry.  The  produce  consisted  of  two 
brindled  bitches,  which  he  put  to  the  IMarquis  of  Hertford's 
Pluto,  since  which,  for  a  long  time,  he  bred  in-and-in 
from  their  descendants.  Seven  or  eight  years  ago,  how- 
ever, he  obtained  possession  of  his  magnificent  stud  dog 
Governor,  by  Lieut.  Garniefs  Lion  out  of  Countess,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Bruce's  Duchess,  and  this  dog  has 
proved  a  most  valuable  sire,  having  been  extensively  used 
by  Mr.  Hanbury  and  other  breeders.  Mr.  Hanbuiy's 
Prince,  descended  from  Governor  and  Duchess,  is  a 
magnificent  specimen,  and  quite  as  good  as,  or  better 
than,  his  celebrated  sire. 

The  remarkable  power  and  courage  of  the  mastiff"  ren- 
der him  peculiarly  fit  to  be  the  dog  of  the  keeper,  when 
associated  with  the  fine  temper  which  ought  never  to  be 
dispensed  wdth,  since  a  savage  mastiff  is  a  dangerous 
brute,  and  should  never  be  unloosed  from  his  kennel.     A 


Vsejul  Companions  of  Man.  53 

well-broken  one  of  good  temper  may  be  taken  anywhere, 
and  is  far  more  trustworthy  than  the  Newfoundland,  and 
quite  equal  to  the  St.  Bernard.  The  sense  of  smell  is 
acute,  and  the  mastiff  has  been  known  to  draw  up  to  a 
covey  of  partridges  like  a  pointer. 

The  mastiff  is  remarkable  for  the  combination  of  his 
general  development.  The  conformation  of  the  head 
bespeaks  an  unusual  brain  power,  which  is  under  ad- 
mirable control.  He  is  a  creature  of  strong  and  sincere 
attachment  to  man,  endowed  with  a  wonderful  power  of 
discrimination  and  true  nobility  of  character,  all  of 
which  he  freely  exercises  in  the  interests  of  those  for 
whom  alone  he  seems  to  live.  He  is  by  nature  docile 
and  gentle  to  a  fault.  He  lays  aside  his  giant  strength 
to  unite  in  the  gambols  of  the  child  with  the  same  spirit 
of  tenderness  and  grace.  If  his  conduct  be  otherwise 
it  bespeaks  his  origin  in  the  mongrel  or  nondescript  races, 
and  his  general  conformation  does  not,  as  a  rule, 
correspond  to  the  portrait  we  have  so  feelDly  outlined. 
It  is  possible  for  apparently  well  bred  animals  to  inherit 
the  "bad  blood  of  their  forefathers;"  but  as  greater 
attention  is  now  paid  to  a  careful  system  of  selection  and 
in-breeding,  this  dangerous  element  in  the  character  may 
be  kept  in  abeyance,  in  common  with  other  serious 
defects.  The  well-bred  mastiff  allies  himself  to  man  as 
his  friend,  to  whom  he  becomes  the  closest  companion, 
and  serves  him  with  the  truest  devotion  and  sincerity. 
This  animal  should  not  be  subjected  to  the  restraint  of 
the  chain ;  if  he  is,  whether  young  or  old,  he  will  be 
inevitably  spoiled  in  outward  form  as  well  as  temper. 

The  points  of  this  breed  are  as  follows : — The  head 
should  be  massive,  with  a  broad  and  flat  forehead ;  ears 
small  and  wholly  pendent,  lying  close  to  the  cheek, 
though  set  on  farther  back  than  in  the  hound,  pointer,  and 
setter;  eyes  small,  but  mild  and  intelligent  in  expression; 
face  short,  with  a  square  muzzle,  not  tapering  towards  the 
point  of  the  noise ;  teeth  level,  but  sometimes  there  is  a 
slight  projection  of  the  lower;  flews  deep ;  neck  muscular, 
with  the  head  well  set  into  it,  showing  a  slight  prominence 
at  the  upper  point  of  junction ;  body  very  large,  with 


54  Useful  Companions  of  Man, 

deep  and  wide  chest,  well  ribbed  up,  and  a  powerful  loin ; 
legs  straight,  with  great  bone  (this  point  is  not  generally 
well  displayed,  owing  to  confinement,  as  is  also  the  case 
with  all  large  breeds) ;  feet  round  and  close ;  coat  short, 
and  tail  fine,  but  with  a  very  slight  indication  of  roughness : 
it  should  be  carried  high  when  the  dog  is  excited  \  colour 
most  to  be  desired  is  fallow  (fawn),  with  black  muzzle, 
and  the  richer  the  black  the  better ;  next  to  this  comes 
brindle,  then  red  with  black  muzzle,  or  black ;  some- 
times there  is  a  considerable  admixture  of  white, 
but  this  is  not  desirable.  Height,  from  29  to  31  in. 
in  the  dog,  and  even  more  if  a  fine  symmetry  can  be 
obtained,  but  his  good  shape  is  seldom  met  with  in  so 
large  an  animal ;  bitches  are  2  or  3  in.  lower.  A  dog 
standing  29  in.  high  ought  to  weigh,  in  good  condition 
(not  fat),  from  120  lbs.  to  130  lbs. 

The  Great  Dane. — This  champion  among  canine 
athletes  has  rapidly  advanced  to  prominent  favour.  The 
best  specimens  stand  over  34  inches,  and  in  the  scale 
raise  180  pounds  or  thereabouts.  He  is  powerful,  and 
elegant  in  carriage,  his  enormous  size  combining  to  render 
his  general  appearance  exceptionally  grand.  In  detail 
he  is  also  remarkable  for  strict  proportion.  His  faith- 
fulness  and  intelligence  are  equally  acute,  and  his  courage 
unfailing.  He  is  minus  the  repellant  ferocity  of  the  bull- 
dog, but  when  occasion  demands,  his  qualities  as  a 
mighty  defender  are  never  absent.  He  is  a  dog  of 
wonderful  mould,  especial  temperament  and  capabilities, 
as  the  close  companion  of  man.  The  following  are  the 
various  points  adopted  by  the  Great  Dane  Club :  The 
Head  is  long,  the  forehead  being  slightly  elevated  and 
indented  between  the  eyes.  Skull  not  too  broad. 
Muzzle  strong  and  obtuse ;  nose  large  and  arched ;  cheek 
muscles  large  and  firm  ;  lips  blunted  perpendicularly  in 
front,  not  hanging  too  loose  at  the  sides,  but  with  well 
defined  folds  at  the  angles  of  the  mouth.  The  lower  jaw 
slightly  projects.  Eyes  small,  deeply  set  and  expressive, 
Ears  very  small,  and  carried  erect.  Fashion,  however, 
calls  in  the  aid  of  cropping.  The  Neck  is  strong,  muscular, 
well-arched.     No  dewlap  or  loose  skin  about  the  throat. 


"^^flfl^Hb 


^it 


Useful  Covipmiions  of  Man.  55 

Junction  of  head  and  neck  sharply  defined.  Chest  very 
deep  at  the  brisket,  but  not  too  wide.  Back  of  medium 
length  j  Lohis  arched  and  falling  in  beautiful  curve  to  the 
insertion  of  the  tail.  The  latter  should  reach  to  the 
hocks,  be  strong  at  the  insertion,  tapering  and  ending  in 
a  fine  curve.  During  carriage  it  is  elevated,  and  more 
curved,  but  not  carried  over  the  back.  The  belly  is  well 
drawn  up.  Shoulders  'i\o'^\wg\  Elboivs\^€i\  under,  neither 
turned  inwards  nor  outwards.  Foreann  muscular,  ample 
bone  development  throughout,  and  leg  straight.  Thighs 
muscular;  second  thighs  long  and  strong  as  in  the 
Greyhound ;  hocks  well  let  down,  and  turning  neither  in 
nor  out.  Feet  large,  round  and  parallel  to  the  front. 
Toes  well- arched  and  closed.  Nails  very  strong  and 
curved.  Hair  very  short,  hard,  and  dense,  and  not  much 
longer  on  the  under  part  of  the  tail.  The  recognised 
colours  are  the  various  shades  of  grey  (commonly  termed 
"  blue"),  red,  black,  or  pure  white,  or  white  with  patches 
of  the  before-mentioned  colours.  These  colours  are 
sometimes  accompanied  with  markings  of  a  darker  tint 
about  the  eyes  and  muzzle,  and  with  a  line  of  the  same 
tint  (called  a  "trace")  along  the  course  of  the  spine. 
The  above  ground  colours  also  appear  in  the  brindles, 
and  are  also  the  ground  colours  of  the  mottled  specimens. 
In  the  whole  coloured  specimens  the  china  or  wall  eye 
rarely  appears,  and  the  nose  more  or  less  approaches 
black,  according  to  the  prevailing  tint  of  the  dog,  and 
the  eyes  vary  in  colour  also.  The  motded  specimens 
have  irregular  patches  or  "clouds"  upon  the  above 
named  ground  colours,  in  some  instances  the  clouds  or 
markings  being  of  two  or  more  tints.  With  the  mottled 
specimens  the  wall  or  china  eye  is  not  uncommon,  and 
the  nose  is  often  parti-coloured  or  v/holly  flesh-coloured. 
The  whole  coloured  reddish-yellow,  with  black  muzzle 
and  ears,  is  the  colour  least  cared  for,  as  indicative  of 
the  mastiff  cross. 

The  Newfoundland  Dog  is  of  two  distinct  breeds, 
the  large  and  the  small,  the  latter  being  also  called  the 
St.  John  or  Lesser  Labrador.  The  former — subdivided 
into  the  Newfoundland  proper  and  the  Larger  Labrador — 


56  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

is  the  most  common  in  this  country,  and  is  a  dog  of 
massive  form,  possessing  great  character  and  intelHgence. 
My  own  opinion,  however,  is  that  these  breeds  are  so 
intermixed  that  they  cannot  be  called  distinct,  and  that 
though  without  doubt  these  several  varieties  are  met  with, 
they  occur  indiscriminately,  and  often  two  are  met  with 
in  the  same  litter.     "  Index,"  who  has  studied  the  sub- 
ject a  good  deal,  lays  it  down  in  the  Field  that  the  three 
breeds  may  be  known  by  the  coat,  as  follows  : — "  The 
dog  with  long  shaggy  hair  is  the  Newfoundland  pure  and 
simple,  and  recognized  as  such  in  both  countries;  the 
dog  with  the  completely  curly  coat  is  the  Labrador;  and 
the  dog  with  the  close  smooth  coat  is  the  lesser  or  smaller 
Labrador."     In  Newfoundland  he  is  used  as  a  beast  of 
draught,  being  harnessed  to  sledges,  which  his  great  form, 
large  feet,  and  endurance  enable  him  to  draw  over  the 
snow,  while  his  thick  coat  and  hardy  constitution  render 
him  little  amenable  to  the  effects  of  cold  :^w(\  we*-.     Asa 
water  dog  he  has  no  equal,  and  he  floats  or  swims  for 
hours  without  suffering  from  the  immersion.    His  patron- 
age of  children,  especially  when  in  danger  of  drowning, 
is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  features  in  the  canine 
race,  and  the  way  in  which  he  suffers  himself  to  be  pulled 
about  by  them  makes  him,  when  not  exceptionally  ill- 
tempered,  the  pet   of  many  a  family.     Still  it  will  not 
always  do  to  trust  him,  and  I  have  known  many  examples 
which  were  absolutely  dangerous  even  to  their  masters 
when  excited  by  deprivation  of  food  or  anger  against 
some  offender  of  their  own  species. 

In  dealing  with  the  merits  of  the  Newfoundlander, 
as  he  was  originally  named,  we  are  in  company  with 
the  aristocracy  of  the  canine  race.  Faithful  and  gentle 
to  a  degree,  sagacious  above  his  fellows  of  indi- 
genous breeds,  grand  in  appearance,  firm  in  his  attach- 
ment, and  noble  in  his  behaviour,  he  becomes  at  once 
the  general  favourite  with  every  child,  and  the  intimate 
companion  of  man.  Since  his  introduction  to  this  land 
his  breeding  has  been  considerably  improved,  and  a  more 
graceful  or  noble  creature  can  scarcely  be  conceived,  as  a 
glance  at  the  picture  of  Landseer,  "A  Member  of  the 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  57 

Royal  Humane  Society,"  will  bear  out.  Formerly  his 
colours  were  red,  brown,  brown  and  white,  bronze,  red 
and  white,  or  black  and  white,  but  thanks  to  the  interest 
developed  by  periodical  shows,  and  the  earnest  care  of 
the  fanciers,  the  too  common  degeneration  of  breed  by 
indiscriminate  crossing  has  been  greatly  avoided.  The 
true  Newfoundland  dog  is  very  large,  certainly  larger 
than  many  now  commonly  called  after  him.  His  coat  is 
jet  black,  long,  and  straight,  and  the  tail  bushy.  His 
countenance  is  especially  expressive,  and  the  eyes 
indicate  deep  intelligence.  The  Landseer  dog  is  black 
and  white  as  already  referred  to,  but  he  is  the  animal  of 
the  same  mould,  the  markings  being  somewhat  prettily 
dispersed.  Like  all  dogs  of  his  class,  he  is  apt  to  become 
leggy,  with  increase  of  size,  and  probably  cow-hocked, 
which  militates  against  beauty  and  action  alike. 

In  all  three  varieties  the  head  is  remarkable,  grand, 
and  full  of  character,  with  an  expression  of  mildness  and 
benevolence  which  is  shared  with  this  breed  by  the  St. 
Lernard.  Across  the  eyes  the  breadth  is  great,  with  a 
llatness  behind  them,  before  which  the  skin  is  wrinkled, 
but  without  any  perceptible  forehead.  Eyes  small,  bright, 
jtud  intelligent,  deeply  set,  but  not  showing  the  haws, 
which  gives  the  appearance  of  being  bloodshot,  so  re* 
markable  in  the  bloodhound.  Ears  small  and  set  low, 
hanging  close  to  the  face,  and  with  little  hair  on  them. 
Nose  large,  muzzle  long  and  smooth  ;  mouth  capacious, 
with  level  teeth.  Neck  shorter  than  in  most  breeds. 
Points:  head,  30;  temper,  20;  neck,  10. 

Back  often  weak  and  slack  in  the  loin,  but  this  is  a 
fault  which,  though  common,  is  not  universal.  There  is 
also  very  often  a  want  of  depth  in  the  back  ribs  which 
ought  not  to  be  passed  over.     Back  and  loin,  10. 

Feet  and  legs  large  and  muscular ;  the  former  being 
too  flat  for  much  work  over  hard  ground,  and  are  more 
adapted  for  the  snow  of  his  native  land,  or  for  swimming. 
Peet  and  legs,  10. 

Colour  black,  or  black  and  white,  the  former  greatly 
for  choice,  with  as  little  white  as  possible.  Sometimes 
the  black  has  brindled  legs,  or  of  a  rufous  dun-colour, 


58  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

and  occasionally  fully-bred  dogs  are  met  with  brindled, 
or  rufous  dun  mixed  with  white.  There  are  several 
varieties  in  texture  of  coat.  The  smooth  dog  is  almost 
as  free  from  any  approach  to  feather  as  a  mastiff.  If 
this  dog  has  any  tendency  to  feather,  it  will  declare  itself 
in  profile  just  below  the  set  on  of  the  head.  His  coat,  if 
well  examined,  will  be  found  more  dense  than  a  mastiff's, 
and  of  greater  volume.  The  shaggy-coated  Newfoundland 
has  a  smooth  face,  but  within  two  inches  of  the  skull  the 
coat  suddenly  elongates,  and  except  that  he  is  very  clean 
to  the  angle  of  his  neck,  he  is  thoroughly  feathered  in  his 
outline.  His  coat  generally  parts  down  the  back,  and 
this  parting  is  continued  to  the  end  of  his  tail.  His  hind 
legs  are  close-coated  from  the  hock,  and  his  feet  all 
round  are  nearly  as  free  of  feather  as  a  cat's.  Colour 
and  coats,  lo  points. 

The  stern  is  long  and  bushy,  usually  slightly  turned  on 
one  side,  and  carried  in  a  trailing  fashion.  The  gait  is 
rather  loose  and  waddhng,  but  this  is  a  defect  owing  to 
the  slackness  of  loin.  Carriage,  5  ;  stern,  5.  In  height 
this  dog  is  sometimes  33  or  34  in.,  averaging  29  or  30. 

The  St.  Bernard  Dog  has  been  so  well  described 
by  an  experienced  hand  in  the  Field  newspaper,  that  I 
extract  his  account  verbatim : — 

"  About  the  year  962,  Bernard  de  Meuthon  built  two 
*  Jiospitia^  one  on  Mont  Joux,  where  a  temple  of  Jupiter 
stood — constructing  his  hospice  from  the  ruins  of  the 
temple ;  the  other  on  the  road  that  leads  over  the  Grison 
Alps  at  Colonne  Joux,  so  named  from  a  column  dedicated 
to  the  same  heathen  deity.  The  benevolent  builder 
presided  over  both  hospitia  for  forty  years,  and  left  to  his 
monks  the  duty  of  affording  refuge  to  travellers,  and 
searching  for  those  who  were  lost  in  the  snow.  St. 
Bernard's  portrait,  and  that  of  his  dog  on  the  same  panel, 
is  still  in  existence,  and  the  dog  appears  to  be  a  blood- 
hound. The  Hospice  of  St.  Bernard  Pass  stands  7,668 
feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  is  undoubtedly  the  highest 
inhabited  spot  in  Europe.  Nine  months  in  the  year  the 
snow  is  thick  on  the  ground,  and  in  the  very  worst  part 
of  winter  from  1,500  to  2,000  of  the  poor  inhabitants  of 


Useful  Companions  of  Man. 


59 


the  low  countries  pass  over  the  mountains.  During  this 
inclement  season  all  travellers  from  Martigny  are  desired 
to  pass  the  night  at  the  first  house  of  refuge.  Every 
morning  a  servant,  accompanied  by  a  St.  Bernard  dog, 
descends  from  the  hospice  to  take  all  the  travellers  under 
his  direction.  The  dog  leads  the  way,  for  he  can  not 
only  discover  the   buried   traveller  by  his  marvellous 


illiPj.Hil!finiu> 


St.  Bernard. 


powers  of  scent,  but  he  can  also  to  a  certainty  keep  the 
track,  in  spite  of  snowstorms  and  bewildering  drifts. 
The  dogs  have  been  used  by  the  monks  in  these  ways, 
and  in  no  other,  for  years,  and  they  have  acquired  a  well- 
deserved  high  reputation  for  perseverance,  sagacity,  and 
power  of  scent. 

"  The  old  breed  died  out  many  years  ago,  and  we 
doubt  whether  the  monks  have  possessed  the  present 
race  of  dogs  more  than  forty  or  fifty  years. 


6o  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

"  About  forty  years  ago,  or  a  little  more,  all  their  dogs 
and  several  servants  were  swept  away  by  an  avalanche ; 
but  two  the  monks  had  given  away  were  returned  to  them, 
and  the  breed  was  thus  preserved.  One  of  the  St.  Ber- 
nard dogs,  Barry,  a  brindled  and  white  one,  saved  the 
lives  of  forty-two  persons,  and  was  vigorous  and  active  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  although  they  generally  succumb 
to  rheumatism  in  their  tenth  year.  He  is  preserved  in 
the  Berne  Museum,  wearing  an  iron  collar  with  large 
spikes,  which  had  often  protected  him  from  the  wolves. 
We  are  told  he  had  discovered  a  man  lost  in  a  snow-drift, 
and,  being  mistaken  for  a  wolf,  the  poor  fellow  received 
a  blow  on  the  head,  and  *  //  etait  oblige  de  tnourir.^ 

"  At  the  time  we  were  the  guests  of  the  monks,  they 
possessed  but  three  dogs,  Barry,  Pluto,  and  Pallas.  The 
finest  specimen  had  goitre  or  bronchocele,  and  wore  a 
muzzle,  as  he  was  of  an  uncertain  disposition ;  and  a  very 
fine  bitch  was  expected  soon  to  add  to  the  strength  of  the 
company.  Two  dogs  were  placed  out  at  some  neigh- 
bouring hospice.  We  purchased  a  young  dog  at  the 
Hotel  des  Alpes  (on  our  way  home),  from  the  proprietor : 
the  mother  had  been  procured  from  the  hospice;  the 
father  was  the  fine  specimen  we  have  seen  there.  Subse- 
quently we  found  him  very  intelligent  and  good  tempered; 
he  was  very  pleased  to  caiTy  and  fetch,  and  he  appeared 
to  have  an  excellent  nose  :  but,  alas  !  when  nearly  twelve 
months  old,  like  Barry,  *  //  etai^  oblige  de  mourir.'  All  of 
these  dogs  were  orange  tawny ;  they  had  white  legs, 
flecked  slightly  with  orange,  white  belly,  white  collar 
round  the  neck;  the  head  remarkably  fine,  majestic,  and 
full  of  character ;  the  ears  small  and  set  low ;  the  eyes 
deeply  set,  a  crease  between  them  giving  a  mastiff  cha- 
racter to  the  whole  animal ;  from  the  eyes  half-way  down 
the  face  black,  then  suddenly  white  to  the  nose  (which  is 
black) ;  the  lips,  which  are  pendulous,  spotted  with  orange 
and  black ;  the  white  above  the  nose  is  continued  in  a 
blaze  or  streak  up  the  forehead,  and  extends  in  a  narrow 
line  down  the  poll,  meeting  the  white  collar  roimd  the  neck. 

"  The  monks  begged  us  to  observe  this  peculiar  mark, 
and  compared  it  to  the  badge  of  their  order — a  white 


cm'^^^: 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  6 1 

band  or  tape,  single  behind,  slit  to  pass  over  the  neck, 
and  the  two  ends  tucked  into  the  black  dress  in  front  at 
the  waist.  Some  very  fine  specimens,  however,  are 
brindled  instead  of  orange  tawny,  and  many  have  no 
white  in  the  face  at  all,  nor  down  the  poll.  The  coat, 
which  appears  to  the  casual  observer  hard  and  smooth, 
when  closely  examined  proves  to  be  very  thick  and  fleecy, 
and  it  is  well  suited  to  repel  cold  by  retaining  the  animal 
heat.  The  tail  is  bushy,  but  carried  generally  down  be- 
tween the  hocks,  and  the  gait  or  carriage  of  the  dog  much 
resembles  the  march  of  the  lion. 

"The  character  of  the  dog  is  majestic  and  important. 
He  has  that  true  nobility  possessed  by  the  highest  type 
of  Newfoundland.  The  same  thoughtful,  observant  eye, 
the  wide  brow,  the  muscular  neck,  the  enormous  loin,  and 
sinewy  arms  and  thighs,  and  the  large  round  arched  feet 
and  toes  {^ pattes  cnormes,'  the  monks  called  them),  and 
that  general  intimation  of  power,  and  sense,  and  benevo- 
lence which  no  other  domesticated  animal  possesses  in  the 
same  compass. 

"  Tell,  the  noble  specimen  we  have  engraved,  has  the 
true  form  of  the  St.  Bernard  dog,  and  we  believe  him  to 
be  the  best  dog  of  his  class  in  England.  His  owner,  Mr. 
Macdona,  proceeded  to  Switzerland,  in  the  winter  of 
1864,  to  obtain,  at  any  cost,  the  best  specimen  to  be  had 
for  money,  and,  after  rejecting  many  fine  examples,  at 
length  bought  the  only  one  that  came  up  to  his  ideal. 

"  The  following  are  the  measurements  and  weight  of 
Tell :- 


Height  at  shoulder          

Length  from  nose  to  tip  of  tail  ... 
Girth  of  chest       

ft.     in. 
...     0     30i 
...     7      0 
...     0    36 

,,        arm         

,,        head        

Length  of  head 

...     0     13 
...     0    22 
...    0     13 

Weight,  147  lbs. 

"  He  is  a  red  or  tawny  brindle,  flie  muzzle  black,  as  far 
as  the  lower  line  of  the  eyes.  Chest  white.  The  two 
fore-paws  white;  the  ankles  white;  belly  white.     Tail 


6i  Use/ill  Companions  of  Man. 

heavily  feathered,  and  sometimes  carried  gaily.  Hind 
quarters  beautifully  furnished  with  coat.  Head  massive, 
eyes  quick  and  intelligent,  ears  small  and  well  set.  He 
has  the  peculiar  slinging  gait  of  his  tribe.  He  has  the 
retriever  instinct,  and  is  very  fond  of  carrying  or  retrieving 
from  water.  He  is  of  the  rough  or  shaggy-coated  breed. 
There  is,  we  are  credibly  informed,  a  smooth  variety  now 
existing. 

"  Captain  Tyler's  Thiin  answers  this  description.  He 
is  very  large,  and  of  the  orange  tawny  colour,  with  little 
white,  and  is  by  Leo — Leo  by  Turk,  who  came  from  the 
monastery. 

"  The  description  we  have  given  of  the  St.  Bernard  dog 
is  a  repetition  of  the  information  afforded  us  personally 
by  the  monks,  and  we  have  formed  an  opinion  of  the 
class  from  the  specimens  the  hospice  contained." 

The  double  dewclaw  is  considered  to  be  a  mark  of  the 
true  breed. 

I  should  give  ihepoiJits  of  the  St.  Bernard  as  follows  : 
—  Head,  20;  line  down  the  poll,  10;  frame,  10 ;  feet 
and  legs,  10;  symmetry,  10;  size,  20;  dewclaws,  10; 
coat,  10. 

It  is  a  disputed  point  whether  the  smooth-coated  va- 
riety or  the  rough-coated  is  the  real  breed.  Mr.  Macdona 
has  both  in  his  kennels.  Except  in  coat,  there  is  no 
difference  between  them. 

Since  the  preceding  paragraph  was  penned,  authorities 
are  pretty  v/ell  agreed  as  to  the  identity  of  the  two.  In 
numerous  litters  of  the  rough  St.  Bernards,  there  are  one 
or  more  puppies  having  smooth  coats,  which  are  retained 
as  such  throughout  their  life.  Nevertheless  the  distinction 
is  still  observed  at  the  various  dog  shows,  for  which 
separate  classes  are  provided.  The  modern  dog  is  a  fine, 
commanding  fellow,  with  a  beautifully  formed  head, 
affording  ample  space  for  his  largely  developed  brain ;  his 
eyes  are  large  and  full,  beaming  with  intelligence,  and 
the  movements  of  his  massive  body  and  limbs  are  pleasing 
and  graceful.  In  him  are  blended  the  power  of  the  British 
mastiff,  with  the  alertness  of  the  true  Newfoundland.  In 
point  of  size  and  build  the  St.  Bernard  proves  himself  a 
perfect  Goliath  among  other  breeds.     Careful  attention 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  63 

to  breeding  has  developed  both  size  and  weight.  "  Sir 
Redvers,"  when  he  was  exported  to  America,  stood  34^ 
inches  at  the  shoulder,  and  his  weight  was  upwards  of 
200  pounds ;  and  "  Lord  Bute,"  stood  36  inches  high, 
and  weighed  220  pounds  when  he  was  just  turned  two 
years  old.  The  leading  animal  of  recent  days  is  the 
rough  coated  bitch  "  Lady  Mignon,"  the  property  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Jagger,  of  Honley,  near  Huddersfield.  Her 
career  has  been  unexceptional,  having  secured  no  less  than 
fifty-four  first  prizes,  specials,  and  championship  Birming- 
ham, in  one  year,  the  winner  being  under  two  years  old. 
The  Bulldog  is  indisputably  of  British  origin,  and 
has  never  been  permanently  introduced  into  any  other 
country.  His  courage  is  so  great  that  it  has  become 
proverbial,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  game  cock, 
there  is  no  other  domestic  animal  at  all  coming  up  to 
him.  Independently  of  this  quality,  there  is  much  dif- 
ference of  opinion  as  to  the  mental  peculiarities  of  this 
breed.  By  some  authorities  the  bulldog  is  stated  to  be 
quarrelsome  and  v/antonly  savage,  so  that  he  can  never 
be  made  a  safe  companion ;  while  others  allege  that  he  is 
mild  and  gentle  in  disposition,  never  showing  his  teeth 
until  he  is  induced  to  do  so  by  some  special  cause.  As 
usual  in  such  cases,  the  truth  lies  between  two  extremes. 
The  bulldog  is  no  doubt  dangerous  when  his  blood  is 
up,  and  even  his  master  runs  some  risk  in  meddHng  with 
him  then,  but  he  may  generally  be  controlled  Avith  perfect 
facility,  and  he  is  mild,  fondHng,  and  gentle  in  his  manner 
as  a  general  rule.  Still,  he  is  not  capable  of  strong  at- 
tachment, and  he  cannot  be  taught  more  than  the  com- 
monest forms  of  obedience.  He  is  silent  in  his  attacks, 
so  that  he  does  not  make  a  good  watch-dog.  Formerly 
the  breed  was  kept  pure  with  great  care,  for  the  purpose 
of  baiting  the  bull,  in  which  his  tendency  to  pin  the  most 
vulnerable  point  (the  nose)  made  him  invaluable,  no  other 
dog  having  either  the  same  desire  to  go  at  the  head  in 
preference  to  all  other  parts,  or  the  same  unflinching  hold 
of  the  grasp  when  once  obtained.  Bulldogs  have  had 
their  legs  cut  off  after  pinning  a  bull,  without  letting  go, 
and  other  equally  horrible  cruelties  have  been  practised 
to  show  this  peculiarity.     In  the  present  day,  when  bull- 


64  Useful  Compa7iions  of  Man. 

baiting  is  interdicted  by  act  of  parliament,  the  use  of  the 
bulldog  is  confined  to  the  improvement  in  courage  of 
other  breeds,  by  crossing  with  them,  and  in  this  way  the 
greyhound  is  supposed  to  have  been  brought  to  perfection 
by  Lord  Orford  and  Mr.  Etwall  in  England,  and  by  Mr. 
Raimes  in  Scotland,  but  a  later  experiment  made  by  Mr. 
Hanly  has  been  entirely  unsuccessful.  The  cross  with 
the  terrier  is  an  excellent  one  for  general  purposes,  as  I 
shall  presently  show. 

The  points  of  the  bulldog  are  as  follows,  though  there 
is  some  difference  of  opinion  upon  certain  of  them.  The 
skull  should  be  large,  and  high,  and  broad,  the  cheeks 
extending  prominently  beyond  tiie  eyes,  and  the  forehead 
should  be  well  creased  or  wrinkled,  and  fiat.  The  eyes 
should  be  black  and  round,  not  very  large,  situated  in 
front  of  the  head,  wide  apart,  and  neither  prominent  nor 
deeply  set,  the  corners  at  right  angles  with  a  line  drawn 
down  the  centre  of  the  face.  The  stop  (which  is  an  in- 
dentation between  the  eyes)  should  extend  up  the  face 
for  a  considerable  length.  The  face  as  short  as  possible 
from  the  front  of  the  cheek-bone  to  the  end  of  the  nose — 
deeply  wrinkled.  The  muzzle  should  turn  up.  The 
chop— that  is,  the  fleshy  part  of  the  muzzle — should  be 
broad  and  deep,  and  should  perfectly  cover  the  teeth. 
The  nose  should  be  large  and  black.  The  lower  jaw 
should  project,  and  the  nose  should  be  set  well  back,  and 
the  lower  jaw  should  turn  upwards.  The  neck  moderately 
long,  well  arched,  with  a  good  dewlap.  The  ears  should 
be  small  and  on  the  top  of  the  head.  Three  descriptions 
of  ear  are  permitted,  called  "rose,"  "button,"  and  "tulip." 
The  rose  ears  fold  at  the  back  ;  the  tip  laps  over  outwards, 
exposing  part  of  the  inside ;  the  button  ear  falls  in  front, 
hiding  the  interior  completely;  the  tulip  ear  is  quite  erect, 
and  is  allowed  to  be  an  undesirable  form.  Skull,  25  ; 
ears,  5  ;  eyes,  5  ;  "  stop,"  5  ;  shortness  of  face,  5  ;  chop, 
5  ;  nose  and  jaws,  5  ;  neck,  5. 

The  chest  should  be  wide  and  deep,  the  back  short, 
wide  across  the  shoulders,  and  not  so  wide  across  the 
loins ;  ribs  round.  There  should  be  a  slight  fall  behind 
the  shoulders,  and  the  spine  should  rise  at  the  loins, 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  65 

falling  rapidly  to  the  stern,  and  well  arched.  The  stern 
should  be  moderately  thick  where  it  joins  the  body,  and 
be  fine  to  the  point.  It  should  have  a  decided  down- 
ward carriage.  I  prefer  a  tail  of  a  moderate  length,  de- 
cidedly objecting  to  a  long  tail  having  a  curve  at  the  end, 
commonly  called  the  "  ring-tail."  The  tail  should  be  low 
in  its  setting  on  also.     Chest,  5  ;  body,  5  ;  stern,  5. 

The  fore-legs  should  be  strong,  muscular,  and  straight; 
they  should  be  short,  the  elbow  well  let  down.  The  hind 
legs  should  be  rather  longer  in  proportion  than  the  fore- 
legs, so  as  to  raise  the  loins ;  and,  in  direct  opposition  to 
the  established  opinion  of  connoisseurs,  I  prefer  the  hocks 
to  be  straight,  and  that  the  stifles  should  not  turn  out, 
which  must  be  the  case  if  the  hocks  approach  each  other. 
The  fore-feet  should  be  well  arched,  they  should  be  mode- 
rately round,  and  the  toes  should  be  well  split  up.  The 
feet  should  turn  neither  in  nor  out ;  they  should  be 
small,  and  the  hind  feet  should  be  of  the  same  character. 
Legs  and  feet,  15. 

The  coat  should  be  fine  and  smooth.  The  colour  should 
be  whole  or  unmixed,  and  may  be  red,  red- smut,  fawn, 
fawn-smut,  fallow,  fallow-smut,  or  blue-fawn,  or  white,  the 
last  being  preferred.  With  all  these  points  and  properties 
he  must  be  symmetrical.  His  action  is  rather  slovenly, 
his  hind  legs  not  being  lifted  high  as  he  runs.  He  varies 
in  weight  from  15  lbs.  to  60  lbs.     Coat,  5;  colour,  5. 

The  Bull  Terrier  is,  like  the  bulldog,  almost  peculiar 
to  this  country,  and  indeed  in  the  whole  family  of  terriers 
he  is  pre-eminent.  This  breed  is  known  in  the  hardware 
and  pottery  districts,  where  it  is  carried  to  high  perfection 
as  the  ''half-bred  ''par  excellence,  and  Mr.  Hinks,  of  Bir- 
mingham, may  lay  claim  to  having  carried  off  the  highest 
honours  from  his  competitors  with  his  succession  of  Mad- 
men, his  Puss,  Tartar,  &c.  This  dog  is  used  solely  foi 
fighting,  which  is  still  privately  carried  on  by  his  patrons, 
but  the  breed  is  equally  good  for  attacking  the  badger, 
and  other  hard-biting  vermin,  requiring  high  courage  and 
more  quickness  and  docility  than  are  possessed  by  the 
pure  bulldog.  Hence  he  is  a  great  favourite  as  the  com- 
panion  of  young  men,  whether  military  or  civilian,  and  as 

5 


66  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

he  can  make  himself  generally  useful,  he  is  popular  also 
with  the  groom  and  the  workman.  The  first  cross  is 
generally  too  much  like  the  bulldog,  but  the  second  shows 
in  perfection  all  the  attributes  required  for  the  purpose  I 
am  alluding  to.  In  weight  he  varies  from  9  lbs.  up  to 
35  lbs.,  or  more.  In  general  appearance  he  resembles 
the  terrier,  except  that  he  is  wider  across  his  skull, 
and  possesses  more  strength  and  stamina. 

His  head  should  be  long,  the  muzzle  sharp,  the  jaw 
level — not  underhung,  which  is  a  disfigurement,  and  also 
prevents  a  dog  punishing  his  adversary.  The  iindcr-jaiu 
should  display  great  power,  and  the  neck  should  be  long. 
Head,  25  points;  neck  and  ears,  10, 

The  chest  is  wide,  the  shoulders  sloping  and  powerful, 
the  loin  and  back  strong,  the  hind  quarters  and  thighs 
muscular.  The  tail  should  be  fine  and  sting-like,  but  not 
bare;  carried  gaily,  but  not  "hooped."  Chest,  10; 
shoulders,  10;  loin,  10;  tail,  5. 

The  feet  and  legs  should  resemble  those  of  the  hound 
in  shape.     Value,  10. 

The  coat  throughout  is  fine  and  short,  and  it  should  lie 
smoothly,  as  in  a  well-dressed  race  horse.  Pure  white, 
with  a  black  nose  and  eye,  is  the  most  approved  colour. 
Next  in  merit  I  should  place  white  with  coloured  ears,  or 
a  patch  on  the  eyes.  I  believe  all  the  best  judges  enter- 
tain a  strong  preference  for  the  white  dog  ;  but  in  any 
case  the  colour  should  be  ''  whole,"  that  is,  unmixed  with 
white,  unless  the  dog  be  all  white,  which  is,  in  that  case, 
considered  a  "  wdiole  "  colour.  If  coloured,  it  should  be 
either  red,  red-smut  (that  is,  red  with  black  muzzle),  fawn 
or  fawn-smut,  fallow  or  fallow-smut,  brindled,  w^iite,  blue- 
fawn  (that  is,  fawn  with  blue  muzzle),  or  pied  Avith  any  of 
those  colours.     Coat  and  colour,  10;  symmetry,  10. 

A  loving  and  gentle  temperament  is  of  great  importance. 

The  family  of  Pure  Terriers  is  a  large  one,  and  includes 
besides  the  "  toys,"  the  Scotch,  Skye,  and  Dandie  Din- 
mont  in  Scotland,  the  BedHngton  in  the  north,  and  the 
various  strains  of  smooth  terriers  in  England.  Of  late 
years  the  Scotch  broken-haired  dog  has  been  by  selection 
converted  into  an  animal  possessing  a  silky  and  compara- 


Useful  Coinpanions  of  Man.  6'/ 

tively  long  and  wavy  coat,  utterly  unlike  his  ancestry. 
The  subdivisions  are  now  almost  endless,  but  the  above- 
mentioned  breeds  are  the  leading  ones. 

The  Smooth  English  Terrier  (not  black  and  tan) 
IS  a  very  old  breeds  probably  as  old  as  any  we  have. 
Possessed  of  a  merry  and  active  temperament,  and  gifted 
with  a  good  nose,  he  is  the  model  of  a  vermin  dog,  where 
there  is  no  badger  or  otter  to  attack ;  but  for  these  he  is 
scarcely  fitted  in  power,  and  as  a  rule  he  will  not  face 
them  at  close  quarters.  Elegant  and  graceful  in  his  out- 
line, he  shares  with  the  bull  terrier  the  patronage  of  young 
men,  with  whom  his  companionable  qualities  make  him  a 
favourite  indoors  as  well  as  out.  He  may  weigh  from 
6  lbs.  to  lolbs.,  or  even  20  lbs. ;  but,  provided  he  is  large 
enough  for  his  calling,  he  cannot  be  too  small.  It  is  an 
advantage  to  keep  down  the  size  of  certain  dogs  as  much 
as  possible,  and  we  ought  to  consider  that  two  small 
terriers  will  do  more  than  double  the  work  of  one  large 
dog,  whilst  they  consume  no  more 

The  head  is  narrow,  long,  and  flat.  The  muzzle  must 
be  fine,  tapering,  sharp,  and  fox-like;  but  the  jaw  must 
be  muscular,  and  the  mouth  must  Jieve?'  be  underhung. 
It  is  better  that  the  upper  jaw  should  be  slightly  in  excess, 
if  there  is  the  least  deviation  from  a  level  mouth.  The 
"  stop,"  or  indent  between  the  eyes,  must  be  evident  and 
"pronounced."  The  eye  must  be  sparkling,  bright,  but 
not  large.  The  ears  round,  flat  to  the  head  in  repose, 
but  raised,  although  falling  over,  when  the  dog  is  roused. 
A  tulip  or  prick-ear  is  a  great  deformity,  and  betokens 
mongrel  family.  It  has  been  the  fashion  to  crop  the  ears 
of  terriers  for  many  years,  and  the  eye  has  become  so  ac- 
customed to  it  that  many  good  judges  will  scarcely  look 
at  a  terrier  unless  he  has  been  scientifically  cropped.  In 
large  towns  it  is  not  the  fashion  to  shorten  the  tail  at  all 
when  the  ears  are  cut,  whilst  country  sportsmen  leave  the 
ears,  but  shorten  the  tail.  The  neck  should  be  long,  taper- 
ing, and  muscular,  and  clean  where  it  joins  the  lower  jaw. 
Head,  25 ;  neck,  10. 

The  ribs  must  be  round,  the  shoulders  deep  and  well 
set  back,  and  as  Dowerful  as  possible,  enabling  the  dog  to 


68 


Useful  Companions  of  Man. 


grapple  with  his  foe  or  to  dig  him.  The  loins  must  be 
strong  and  the  back  ribs  deep.  In  conformation,  his  body 
must  be  neither  high  nor  wide,  but  well  knit  together, 
midtum  in parvo.     Chest,  lo;  shoulders,  lo;  loin,  lo. 

The  fore-legs  should  be  straight   as  arrows;  the  feet 
strong,  the  toes  moderately  arched  and  well  split,  and  the 


iiiiglish  Terrier. 


form  of  the  foot  should  be  round  and  fox-like.  The  thighs 
should  be  large  and  muscular,  the  hocks  in  a  straight  line, 
and  the  hind  legs  should  be  moderately  straight  also. 
Value  of  legs  and  feet,  lo. 

The  tail  must  be  \txy  fine,  with  a  low  carriage,  but  not 
bare  ;  and  when  a  dog  is  excited  it  is  carried  gaily;  5. 

The  best  colour  is  white,  when  used  for  ratting,  as  it  is 
more  easily  distinguishable  than  any  other,  and  there  is 


O   ec 


I  U 


en 

PI 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  6g 

the  same  advantage  as  to  colour  when  the  dog's  services 
are  required  for  rabbit-hunting.  Smooth  terriers  may  be 
found  of  other  colours— yellow,  yellow  and  white,  hound- 
pied,  black,  or  fawn.  A  beautiful  blue  or  blue-fawn 
variety  exists,  said  to  be  crossed  with  the  Italian  grey- 
hound. Brindle  colour  is  a  sign  of  bulldog  cross.  Coat 
and  colour,  to;  symmetry,  as  in  the  bull  terrier,  lo. 
Whether  coloured  or  white,  his  coat  should  be  smooth  yet 
hard,  and  he  should  be  perfectly  free  from  the  very  least 
roughness,  or  anything  approaching  coarseness  of  coat, 
about  his  muzzle,  eyebrows,  thighs,  or  any  part  of  his 
profile. 

The  Black  and  Tan  English  Terrier  should 
have  a  long  fine  muzzle,  not  underhung,  but,  if  anything, 
the  upper  jaw  projecting  over  the  lower.  The  skull  should 
be  flat  and  narrow  between  the  ears  ;  the  eye  must  be  small 
and  black  ;  the  nose  black ;  the  ears,  if  not  left  on,  must 
be  well  cropped,  erect,  and  long ;  if  entire,  they  should 
be  small,  not  tuliped,  and  free  from  any  tan  behind.  The 
neck  tapering,  muscular,  and  well  cut  under  the  lower  jaw. 
The  shoulders  deep  and  well  set  back.  The' loins  strong, 
ribs  round,  and  the  back  ribs  deep,  the  body  well  knit  to- 
gether. The  legs  straight,  the  feet  round  and  small.  The 
tail  must  be  fine,  carried  straight,  and  not  curled.  The 
colour,  which  is  a  principal  point,  must  be  raven  black, 
with  rich  mahogany  tan,  well  pencilled  on  each  toe  ;  the 
tan  should  be  clear,  and  free  from  any  admixture  of  black. 
Above  the  eyes  there  should  be  a  distinct  spot  of  tan. 
The  body  should  be  black,  with  a  rich  tan  on  the  fore-legs 
half-way  up  them.  The  breast  should  have  two  distinct 
marks  of  tan.  The  jaw  should  also  be  well  tanned  up  the 
gullet,  and  the  cheek  divided,  having  a  small  tan  spot  a 
little  less  than  that  over  the  eyes.  The  upper  jaw  should 
also  be  nicely  tanned,  and  run  in  conformity  with  the  tan- 
ning on  the  lower  jaw.  The  hind  legs  should  be  perfectly 
free  from  tan  on  the  outside,  but  on  the  inside  there  should 
be  some  tan.  The  vent  should  have  a  small  tan  spot,  and 
there  should  also  be  tan  half-way  up  the  tail. 

The  weight  varies  from  lolbs.  to  25  lbs. 

The  points :  Colour,  coat,  and  correct  markmgs,  40 ; 


70  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

head,  25  \  eye,  5 ;  neck,  5  ;  chest,  5  ;  shoulders,  5;  feet, 
5  ;  loins,  5  ;  tail,  5. 

Rough  or  Broken-haired  Terriers  are  no  doubt 
all  descended  from  the  broken-haired  Scotch  dog,  with 
which  all  must  be  familiar,  but  whether  the  modern  silken 
hair  has  been  developed  by  crossing  with  the  Maltese, 
or  by  selection,  is  a  moot  question.  In  general  shape 
this  dog  resembles  the  smooth  variety,  but  he  is  slightly 
longer  in  frame,  and  not  so  elegant  in  his  proportions. 
The  chief  peculiarity,  as  I  before  remarked,  is  in  coat 
and  colour.  The  roughness  of  coat  about  the  muzzle 
and  face  makes  the  head  look  larger,  and  takes  oft"  a 
good  deal  from  the  lively  look  so  remarkable  in  the 
smooth  dog. 

The  old-fashioned  hard  and  wiry-coated  dog  is,  I 
believe,  more  game  than  the  silky-haired  dog  now  in 
fashion ;  but  no  doubt  the  latter  is  a  very  elegant  animal, 
and  well  suited  for  the  bar-parlour,  where  he  is  exten- 
sively patronized.  The  modern  favourite  is  of  a  blue 
colour,  wuth  rich  fawn  (approaching  to  a  tan)  legs,  the 
under-parts  being  all  of  the  latter  colour.  The  tail  is 
carried  higher  than  that  of  the  smooth  dog.  In  the  old- 
fashioned  strain  the  colours  are  either  grizzled,  black, 
with  pale  tan  spots,  or  generally  of  a  grizzled  black-brown, 
sometimes  quite  grey  and  constituting  the  pepper-and- 
salt  colour.  Sometimes  the  broken-haired  dog  is  white, 
more  or  less  marked  with  blue,  or  some  other  colour,  but 
the  less  the  better. 

There  is  a  great  difference  of  opinion  as  regards  the 
points  of  a  broken-haired  terrier;  we  will  therefore  describe 
the  points  of  the  two  varieties  in  most  esteem,  beginning 
with  those  chiefly  bred  in  Lancashire  and  Yorkshire,  as 
these,  up  to  the  present  time,  have  distanced  the  Scotch 
terrier  at  our  great  shows  on  account  of  their  taking 
appearance  to  the  eyes  of  the  general  public.  In  our 
opinion,  however,  the  Scotch  terrier  proper  is  superior  in 
point  of  usefulness  at  home  and  abroad,  and  when  the 
two  are  shown  together  it  should  be  preferred — shape, 
make,  and  colour  being  equal 

The  points  of  the  Yorkshire  dog  are  the  same  as  re- 


Useful  Compa7iions  of  Mmz.  yi 

gards  shape  and  make  as  the  smooth  EngUsh  terrier;  but 
the  coat  differs  in  being  long,  and  of  three  different 
shades — that  on  the  back  being  a  blue  slate  ;  the  face, 
head,  and  legs  a  silky  silvery  fawn  ;  the  whole  under- 
mined by  short  tanned  hair.  The  older  the  dog  the 
more  silvery  he  gets. 

The  Scotch  dog  is  also  the  same  in  shape.  His 
colour  may  be  pepper  or  mustard,  or  pepper  and  mustard, 
in  each  case  more  or  less  mixed  with  salt. 

The  toy  dog  of  these  strains  is  the  same  in  all  but 
weight,  which  should  not  exceed  7  lbs. ;  the  smaller  the 
better. 

The  estimated  value  of  their  points  is  as  follows  : — 
Head,  15;  neck  and  ears,  10;  shoulders,  chest,  and  loins, 
20;  feet  and  legs,  10 ;  colour  and  coat,  30;  symmetry, 
10 ;  tail,  5. 

The  Skye  Terrier.  This  dog  is,  with  the  exception 
of  the  turnspit,  and  his  foreign  representative,  the  barbet, 
the  longest  of  all  dogs  in  proportion  to  his  height.  From 
the  nose  to  the  tip  of  his  tail,  when  extended,  the  Skye 
should  measure  at  least  three  times  its  height,  and  some- 
times it  is  met  with  three  and  a  half  times  as  long.  At 
the  same  time  its  coat  is  so  developed  that  its  shape  is 
really  very  like  the  door-mat  to  which  it  is  so  often 
compared — ears,  legs,  and  tail  all  merging  in  one  mass, 
with  the  exception  of  the  tip  of  the  latter,  and  of  the  feet. 
In  a  well-coated  specimen  the  eyes  are  only  to  be  guessed 
at,  and  even  the  nose  is  often  obscured  ;  but  generally 
they  are  each  more  or  less  visible  on  a  close  inspection. 

The  head  looks  large,  from  the  profusion  of  hair  with 
which  it  is  invested,  but  it  is  not  really  so.  Its  shape  is 
not  easily  got  at,  but  it  is  somewhat  wide,  while  the  neck 
is  unusually  long.  The  eyes,  which  are  from  the  same 
cause  scarcely  visible,  are  found,  on  separating  the  over- 
hanging hair,  to  be  keen,  expressive,  small,  and  generally 
of  a  dark  colour,  either  black  or  brown,  as  are  the  nose 
and  palate.  The  ears  are  of  good  size,  that  is,  about 
3  in.  long,  clothed  thickly  with  hair,  which  should  mingle 
with  that  of  the  face  and  neck,  and  decidedly,  in  my 
opinion,  should  fall,  but  not  quite  close  to  the  cheek, 


72 


Useful  Companions  of  Man. 


Qvnng  to  the  quantity  of  hair  by  which  they  are  sur- 
rounded. Many  breeders,  however,  prefer  the  prick-ear, 
asserting  that  the  strains  possessing  it  are  harder  and 
better  at  vermin.  The  mouth  must  be  level,  with  a  large 
and  black  nose.     The  body  is  too  much  coated  to  show 


^xl 


,.rf- '- 


Dandie  Dinmont  Terrier. 


its  shape,  and  the  form  of  the  shoulder  and  back  ribs 
can  only  be  ascertained  by  handling. 

The  fore-legs  are  generally  more  or  less  bandy ;  there 
are  no  dewclaws,  and  the  feet  are  not  very  strong,  having 
a  tendency  to  flatness,  and  thinness  of  the  soles.  Tail 
long,  and  carried  horizontally,  but  with  a  sweep,  so  that 
the"  tip  is  a  little  below  the  level  of  the  back.     Weight 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  73 

from  10  lbs.  to  18  lbs.,  the  bitches  being  nearly  as  heavy 
as  the  dogs — perhaps  about  2  lbs.  less. 

The  colours  most  fancied  are  steel  with  black  tips, 
fawn  with  dark  brown  tips  to  the  ears  and  tail,  dark  slaty 
blue  (slightly  grizzled,  but  without  any  absolute  admix- 
ture of  white),  black,  and  pure  fawn — the  order  we  have 
named  being  in  accordance  with  the  value  of  each.  The 
hair  should  be  long,  straight,  and  shining  like  that  of  the 
tail  of  the  horse,  any  appearance  of  silkiness,  woollmess, 
or  curl  being  to  be  avoided,  excepting  on  the  top  of  the 
head,  where  it  may  have  a  slight  tendency  to  the  first- 
named  condition. 

The /^<^/>//i"  are  :  Coat,  25;  colour,  20;  head,  10;  ears, 
10;  length  of  body,  10;  carriage  of  tail,  10;  symmetry,  15. 

The  Dandie  Dinmont  resembles  the  Skye  terrier  in 
general  appearance,  but  there  are  several  points  of  great 
importance  by  which  the  two  may  be  distinguished.  As 
stated  in  the  Field,  and  not  contradicted.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
was  the  first  to  draw  attention  to  this  breed  in  the  second 
of  the  Waverley  series  of  novels,  in  which  Dandie  Din- 
mont, of  Charlieshope,  is  introduced  as  the  owner  of 
"  auld  Pepper  and  auld  Mustard,  and  young  Pepper  and 
young  Mustard,  and  little  Pepper  and  little  Mustard," 
which  he  had  "a'  regularly  entered,  first  wi'  rottens,  then 
wi'  stots  or  weazels,  and  then  wi'  the  tods  and  brocks, 
and  now,"  as  he  said,  "  they  fear  naething  that  ever  cans' 
wi'  a  hairy  skin  on't."  According  to  this  high  authority 
in  matters  canine,  therefore,  the  dog  of  his  day  was  a  good 
vermin-killer,  and  so  he  remains  to  this  day.  The  original 
of  this  strongly-marked  character  was  a  Mr.  James  David- 
son of  Hindlee,  holding  from  Lord  Douglas  a  wild  farm 
on  the  edge  of  the  Teviotdale  mountains,  bordering  closely 
on  Liddesdale.  He  was  an  ardent  fox-hunter,  according 
to  the  fashion  of  the  district,  which  is  detailed  at  length 
in  the  twenty-fifth  chapter  of  "Guy  Mannering,"  and 
which,  as  Sir  Walter  remarks,  was  conducted  in  a  manner 
to  "  shock  a  member  of  the  Pytchley  Hunt " — the  fox 
(tod)  being  coursed  by  an  indefinite  number  of  "  large 
and  fierce  greyhounds,^'  when  driven  from  his  earth  by 
the  "  terriers,  including  the  whole  generation  of  Peppei 


74  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

and  Mustard,"  together  with  "  mongrel,  whelp,  and  cur 
of  low  degree."  Excepting,  therefore,  by  tradition,  the 
Dandie  Dinmont  terrier  can  only  be  traced  back  about 
three-quarters  of  a  century.  Mr.  Macdona  (of  St.  Bernard 
fame)  has  obtained  access  to  a  curious  document  in  Mr. 
James  Davidson's  handwriting,  which  was  sent  to  the 
Hon.  George  H.  Baillie,  of  Millerstown,  as  follows  :— 

"  1800. — Tuggin,  from  A.  Armstrong,  reddish  and  wiry; 
Tarr,  reddish  and  wire  haired,  a  bitch  ;  Pepper,  shaggy 
and  light,  from  Dr.  Brown,  of  Borjenwood.  The  race  of 
Dandies  are  bred  from  the  two  last. — J.  D." 

Mr.  Macdona,  in  a  letter  to  the  Field,  dated  November 
2,  1869,  concludes  "from  this,  that  Dr.  Brown,  of  Bor- 
jenwood, gave  Mr.  Davidson,  in  the  year  1800,  Pepper 
and  Tarr,  and  that  this  couple  were,  without  doubt,  the 
first  parents  of  all  true-bred  Dandie  Dinmonts,  being  the 
original  stock  from  whence  all  Mr.  Davidson's  genera- 
tions of  Mustards  and  Peppers  sprang."  And  in  this 
conclusion  I  think  him  perfectly  right.  Of  late  years 
the  most  celebrated  strains  have  been  those  of  the  Duke 
of  Buccleuch,  obtained  direct  from  James  Davidson;  Sir 
G.  Douglas,  of  Springwood  Park;  Mr.  Stoddart,  of  Selkirk; 
Mr.  Frain,  of  The  Trews;  Mr.  M'Dougall,  of  Cessford; 
Mr.  Somners,  of  Kelso  ;  Dr.  Brown,  of  Melrose ;  Mr. 
Aitken,  of  Edinburgh;  Mr.  Hugh  Purvis,  of  Leaderfoot; 
Mr.  Nicol  Milne,  of  Faldonside ;  and  Mr.  Bradshav/ 
Smith,  of  Ecclefechan. 

The  poifits  of  the  Dandie  are  as  follows  : — 

Head — Large  and  long,  with  immensely  strong  jaws 
and  teeth,  which  are  quite  level,  and  the  nose  cut  short 
like  a  pointer's.  The  head  of  the  bitch  is  generally  much 
smaller  than  that  of  the  dog,  so  that  they  may  be  distin- 
guished by  a  glance. 

Ears — Pendant,  from  3  to  4  in.  long,  and  hanging  close 
to  the  cheek,  as  the  hound's  or  beagle's,  but  not  so  broad 
or  round  at  the  point — more  in  the  shape  of  an  almond 
or  filbert. 

Eyes — Full,  bright,  and  very  intelligent. 

Neck — Well  developed  and  rather  short. 

Body — Long,  but  not  quite  so  long  as  that  of  a  good 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  75 

Skye,  being  about  2\  times  the  height,  with  low  shoulders, 
and  the  back  slightly  curved  down  behind  them,  with  a 
corresponding  arch  of  the  loin. 

Legs — Short,  particularly  in  front,  with  extraordinary 
bone  and  muscle  in  proportion  to  the  size. 

Tail — Slightly  curved,  and  carried  over  the  back  in  a 
hound-like  manner,  with  litde  or  no  feather  on  it. 

Height — From  10  to  12  in.  to  top  of  shoulders;  it  may 
be  less,  but  it  should  not  be  more. 

Coat — A  mixture  of  hardish  and  soft  (but  not  silky) 
short  hair — what  old  John  Stoddort  used  to  term  a  "  pily 
coat " — with  the  head  more  or  less  covered  with  soft  and 
silky  hair  (which  is  generally  of  a  lighter  colour  than  that 
on  the  body) ;  and  the  legs  and  feet  partake  to  a  slight 
extent  of  the  same  soft  silky  hair. 

Colour — Either  "  mustard  "  (reddish-brown)  or  "  pep- 
per" (bluish-grey),  or  a  combination  of  both,  in  which 
case  the  back  is  of  the  latter  colour,  while  the  legs,  inside 
of  ears,  chest,  and  under-side  of  tail  are  "  mustard," 
verging  ork  a  pale  tan  or  fawn-colour. 

Weight — From  13  to  18  lbs. 

Thtpoi72ts  are  :  Head,  15  ;  ears,  10  ;  eyes,  5  ;  colour, 
20;  coat,  20;  symmetry,  10;  feet  and  legs,  10;  carriage 
of  tail,  10. 

Bedlington  Terrier. — This  is  probably  one  of  the 
most  active,  plucky,  and  thoroughly  game  members  of 
the  terrier  breed.  His  origin  is  involved  in  some  doubt, 
though  it  is  averred  that  he  is  descended  from  the  same 
source  as  the  Dandie  Dinmont.  The  following  are  the 
points  claimed  for  him  by  the  first  breeders  of  the  day, 
and  also  laid  down  by  the  Bedlington  Club.  The  Head 
is  not  quite  ferrety,  but  wedge-shaped.  The  Skull  \s  high 
and  peaked  ;  the  jaws  are  long  and  lean,  and  punishing, 
with  large  strong  teeth.  Many  dogs  are  pig-jawed,  but 
preference  should  be  given  to  level,  strong  teeth.  The 
nose  is  well  developed,  standing  out  prominently  from  the 
jaws.  The  nose  is  black  in  the  blue,  or  blue  and  tan 
breeds,  and  flesh-coloured  in  the  light-coloured  dogs. 
1\iQEars  resemble  those  of  the  Dandy  Dinmont,  not  being 
set  on  low,  lying  easily  on  the  cheek,  being  shaped  like 


7^ 


Useful  Companions  of  Man. 


the  filbert,  and  feathered  at  the  tips.  The  Eyes  are  small, 
well  placed^  singularly  bright,  and  piercing  during  anima- 
tion. The  Colour  varies  with  that  of  the  coat  generally, 
but  too  much  stress  should  not  be  laid  on  this  point. 


Bedlington  'ierncr. 


The  Neck  is  long  and  strong,  and  well  set  on  the  body, 
being  especially  wide  at  the  base.  The  Body  is  compact, 
well  knit  together,  somewhat  long,  and  having  the  appear- 
ance of  strength,  combined  with  speed.  The  Ribs  are 
somewhat  flat,  the  Back  short,  Loiiis  strong  and  slightly 
arched,  the  hind-quarters  being  slightly  elevated  above 
the  fore.  The  Legs  are  straight,  rather  long,  and  the 
muscles  hard  and  well  defined.     The  Feet  are  large,  a 


Useful  Companions  oj  Man.  yy 

point  of  singular  distinction.  The  Coai  is  "  woolly,"  or, 
according  to  some,  "  linty,"  having  a  "  sprinkling  of  wiry 
hairs  through  it."  The  Colour  is  blue  and  tan,  red,  liver, 
liver  and  tan,  or  sandy.  The  blue  is  decided,  without 
inclining  to  black,  and  the  tan  is  light.  The  Weight 
varies  from  i8  to  25  lbs.;  good  specimens  stand  well  and 
firm  on  apparently  long  legs,  which  undoubtedly  enhance 
the  general  appearance. 

The  dog  which  may  be  cited  as  an  illustration  or  type 
of  the  Bedlington  terrier,  is  "  Orme,"  the  property  of 
Mr.  John  Smith,  of  Montrose.  He  has  gained  upwards 
of  thirty  First  Prizes,  also  a  Cup,  Gold  Medals,  and  two 
Championships.  At  home  he  is  a  house  companion,  but 
away,  he  is  liable  to  resist  handling  by  strangers.  For 
this  fault  he  on  two  occasions  was  put  back  to  a  second 
position.     His  colour  is  liver,  and  show-weight  23  lbs. 

The  Irish  Terrier  has  been  known  as  a  distinct 
breed  for  many  years,  and  is  now  brought  to  great  per- 
fection in  all  the  desired  points.  As  an  ordinary  country 
sportsman's  dog  he  is  probably  not  to  be  surpassed.  His 
general  appearance  is  that  of  a  complete  terrier,  larger 
than  the  rough  Scotch  terrier,  having  a  shorter  body  but 
longer  legs  than  the  Skye.  He  is  rough,  wild,  and  bold 
as  a  lion,  of  quick  perception,  and  his  unkempt  coat 
completes  his  character  as  a  truly  Irish  dog.  The 
following  description  is  the  standard  laid  down  by  the 
Irish  Terrier  Club.  The  Head  is  long ;  the  skull  flat  and 
rather  narrow  between  ears,  getting  slightly  narrower 
towards  the  eye ;  free  from  wrinkle ;  stop  hardly  visible, 
except  in  profile.  Tht/aiv  must  be  strong  and  muscular, 
but  not  too  full  in  the  cheek,  and  of  a  good  punishing 
length,  but  not  so  fine  as  a  white  English  terrier's. 
There  should  be  a  slight  falling  away  below  the  eye,  so  as 
not  to  have  a  greyhound  appearance.  Hair  on  face  of 
same  description  as  on  body,  but  short  (about  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  long),  in  appearance  almost  smooth  and  straight; 
a  slight  beard  is  the  only  longish  hair  (and  it  is  only  long 
in  comparison  with  the  rest)  that  is  permissible,  and  that 
is  characteristic.  The  Teeth  should  be  strong  and  level, 
the  LiJ>s  not  so  tight  as  a  Bull  terrier's,  but  well  fitting. 


78  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

showing  through  the  hair  their  black  lining.  The  Nose 
must  be  black ;  the  Eyes  a  dark  hazel  colour,  small,  not 
prominent,  and  full  of  life,  fire,  and  intelligence;  the 
Ears,  when  uncut,  V-shaped,  of  moderate  thickness,  set 
well  up  on  the  head,  and  dropping  forward  closely  to  the 
cheek.  The  ear  must  be  free  of  fringe,  and  the  haii 
thereon  shorter  and  generally  darker  in  colour  than  on 
the  body.  The  Neck  should  be  of  a  fair  length,  and 
gradually  widening  towards  the  shoulders,  well  carried 
and  free  of  throatiness.  There  is  generally  a  sort  of  frill 
visible  at  each  side  of  the  neck,  running  nearly  to  the 
corner  of  the  ear,  which  is  looked  on  as  very  characteristic. 
The  Shoulders  must  be  fine,  long,  and  sloping  well  into  the 
back  ;  the  Chest  deep  and  muscular,  but  neither  full  nor 
wide ;  the  Body  moderately  long.  The  Back  should  be 
strong  and  straight,  with  no  appearance  of  slackness 
behind  the  shoulders ;  the  Loifts  broad  and  powerful, 
and  slightly  arched ;  Ribs  fairly  sprung,  rather  deep  than 
round,  and  well  ribbed  back.  Hind-qiia7'ters  well  under 
the  dog,  shoirid  be  strong  and  muscular,  the  Thighs 
powerful,  Hocks  near  the  ground ;  Stifles  not  much  bent. 
Stem,  generally  docked,  should  be  free  of  fringe  or 
feather,  set  on  pretty  high,  carried  gaily,  but  not  over  the 
back  or  curled.  The  Feet  should  be  strong,  tolerably 
round,  and  moderately  small ;  Toes  arched,  and  neither 
turned  out  nor  in ;  black  toe-nails  are  preferable  and 
most  desirable ;  Legs  moderately  long,  well  set  from  the 
Shoulders,  perfectly  straight,  with  plenty  of  bone  and 
muscle;  the  Elbow  working  freely  clear  of  the  sides; 
Pasterns  short  and  straight,  hardly  noticeable.  Both  fore 
and  hind  legs  should  be  moved  straight  forward  when 
travelUng ;  the  stifles  not  turned  outwardly,  the  legs  free 
of  feather,  and  covered,  like  the  head,  with  as  hard  a 
texture  of  coat  as  body,  but  not  so  long.  The  Coat  is 
hard  and  wiry,  free  of  softness  or  silkiness,  not  so  long 
as  to  hide  the  outlines  of  the  body,  particularly  in  the 
hind-quarters,  straight  and  flat,  no  shagginess,  and  free  of 
lock  or  curl.  Colour:  Should  be  "whole  coloured,"  the 
most  preferable  being  bright  red ;  next  wheaten  yellow, 


Vsefnl  CoDipaiiions  of  Ulan.  79 

and  grey,  brindle  disqualifying.  White  sometimes  appears 
on  chest  and  feet ;  it  is  more  objectionable  on  the  latter 
than  on  the  chest,  as  a  speck  of  white  on  chest  is  fre- 
quently to  be  seen  in  all  self-coloured  breeds.  Size  and 
Symmetry:  Weight  in  show  condition,  from  i6  lbs.  to 
24  lbs. — say  16  lbs.  to  24  lbs.  for  bitches,  and  18  lbs.  to 
24  lbs.  for  dogs.  The  most  desirable  weight  is  22  lbs.  or 
under,  which  is  a  nice  stylish  and  useful  size.  The  dog 
must  present  an  active,  lively,  lithe,  and  wiry  appearance, 
lots  of  substance,  at  the  same  time  free  of  clumsiness  ;  as 
speed  and  endurance,  as  well  as  power,  are  very  essential. 
They  must  be  neither  "cloddy"  nor  "cobby,"  but  should 
be  framed  on  the  "lines  of  speed,"  showing  a  graceful 
"racing  oudine."  Temperament :  Dogs  that  are  very 
game  are  usually  surly  or  snappish.  The  Irish  terrier, 
as  a  breed,  is  an  exception,  being  remarkably  good- 
tempered,  notably  so  with  mankind,  it  being  admitted, 
however,  that  he  is  perhaps,  a  little  too  ready  to  resent 
interference  on  the  part  of  other  dogs.  There  is  a 
heedless,  listless  pluck  about  the  Irish  terrier  w^hich  is 
characteristic,  and  coupled  with  the  headlong  dash,  blind 
to  all  consequences,  with  which  he  rushes  at  his  adversary, 
has  earned  for  the  breed  the  proud  epithet  of  "The 
Dare-Devils."  When  "  off  duty  "  they  are  characterised 
by  a  quiet,  caress-inviting  appearance,  and  when  one 
sees  them  endearingly,  timidly  pushing  their  heads  in 
their  master's  hands  it  is  difficult  to  realise  that  on 
occasion,  at  the  "  set  on,"  they  can  prove  they  have  the 
courage  of  a  lion,  and  will  fight  on  to  the  last  breath  in 
their  bodies.  They  develop  an  extraordinary  devotion 
to,  and  have  been  known  to  track  their  masters  almost 
incredible  distances. 

Disqualificatio7i. — Brindled  in  colour,  nose  cherry  or 
llesh  coloured;  white  anywhere  is  highly  objectionable. 
A  grizzly  appearance  about  the  muzzle  at  four  and  five 
years  old  is  not  considered  to  be  detrimental. 

The  Welsh.  Terrier. — This  dog  has  been  known  for 
several  generations  as  a  distinct  breed,  and  his  peculiar 
adaptation  for  rabbiting,  getting  foxes  out  of  the  rocks, 


So  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

destroying  lesser  vermin,  etc.,  has  led  to  a  careful  system 
of  breeding,  as  well  as  training  for  efficiency.  Special 
strains  are  carefully  preserved,  of  which  full  pedigrees  are 
also  compiled.  Successful  shows  were  first  held  in 
Bangor  and  Carnarvon,  since  which  the  breed  has  sprang 
into  high  favour.  The  following  are  the  points  agreed 
upon  by  the  Welsh  Terrier  Club.  Head:  The  skull 
should  be  flat,  and  rather  wider  between  the  ears  than  the 
wire-haired  fox  terrier.  The  jaw  should  be  powerful, 
clean  cut,  rather  deeper,  and  more  punishing — giving  the 
head  a  more  muscular  appearance  than  that  usually  seen 
on  a  fox  terrier ;  stop  not  too  defined  ;  fair  length  from 
stop  to  the  end  of  nose,  the  latter  being  of  a  black  colour. 
The  Ear  should  be  V-shaped,  small,  not  too  thin,  set  on 
fairly  high,  carried  forward  and  close  to  the  cheek.  The 
Eye  should  be  small,  not  being  deeply  set  in  or  protruding 
out  of  the  skull,  of  a  dark  hazel  colour,  expressive  and 
indicating  abundant  pluck.  The  Neck  should  be  of  a 
moderate  length  and  thickness,  slightly  arched,  and 
sloping  gracefiilly  into  the  shoulders.  The  Back  should 
be  short,  and  well  ribbed  up,  the  loin  strong,  good  depth, 
and  moderate  width  of  chest.  The  Shoulders  should  be 
long,  sloping,  and  well  set  back.  The  Hind-quarters 
should  be  strong,  thighs  muscular,  and  of  good  length, 
with  the  hocks  moderately  straight,  well  let  down,  and 
fair  amount  of  bone.  The  Stern  should  be  set  on 
moderately  high,  but  not  too  gaily  carried.  The  Legs 
should  be  straight  and  muscular,  possessing  fair  amount 
of  bone,  with  upright  and  powerful  pasterns.  The  Feet 
should  be  small,  round,  and  cat-like.  The  Coat  should 
be  wiry,  hard,  very  close  and  abundant.  The  Colour 
should  be  black,  or  grizzle,  and  tan,  free  from  black 
pencilling  on  toes.  The  height  at  shoulder  should  be 
15  inches  for  dogs,  bitches  proportionately  less.  Twenty 
pounds  is  considered  a  fair  average  weight  in  working 
condition,  but  this  may  vary  a  pound  or  so  either 
way. 

The  Whippet. — The  origin  of  this  dog  is  given 
in  the  closing  lines  concerning  the  Italian  greyhound 
at  page  93.     The  whippet  is  comparatively  a  recent  in- 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  8 1 

troduction,  being  the  result  of  a  cross  with  the  terrier 
and  Itah'an  greyhound.  Earlier  crosses,  twenty-five  or 
thirty  years  ago,  were,  doubtless,  intended  to  perfect  the 
breeding  of  the  "snap-dog,"  by  adding  speed  to  his 
qualification  of  killing  the  greatest  number  of  rabbits. 
The  later  development  is  evident  in  the  former.  He  is, 
therefore,  a  greyhound  in  miniature,  possessing  the 
elegance  and  grace  of  the  original  ancestry,  combined 
with  the  pluck,  and  determination  to  "  hold  on,"  which 
characterises  the  typical  terrier.  The  whippet  is  now  a 
pure  bred  dog,  having  secured  a  place  in  the  "  Kennel 
Stud  Book,"  and  is  essentially  a  racing  dog.  As  such  he 
is  rapidly  coming  into  increased  prominence.  He  is  no 
less  a  show  dog,  sporting  dog,  or  constant  companion, 
and  runs  in  all  colours,  as  black,  blue,  brindle,  or  fawn, 
with  a  dash  of  white  in  some  instances.  The  points  are 
those  of  a  good  greyhound,  with  the  exception  that  the 
head,  comparatively  speaking,  is  not  so  long  or  so  fine, 
the  prominence  of  the  frontal  bones,  immediately  above 
the  eyes,  being  the  stamp  of  the  terrier  breed. 

The  Old  English  or  Bob-tailed.  Sheep  Dog. — This 
dog  is  justly  entitled  to  greater  consideration  than  he  has 
hitherto  received  among  the  numerous  exhibits  at  the 
various  dog  shows  throughout  England.  His  services 
have  been  mostly  confined  to  the  southern  counties,  by 
drovers  of  sheep  and  cattle ;  he  is  not,  therefore,  so  well 
known  as  he  should  be.  Many  specimens  do  not  present 
an  inviting  appearance,  being  ill-fed  and  otherwise  badly 
treated,  which  severely  operate  upon  all  animals,  to  the 
prejudice  of  their  intelligence  and  cleverness.  There  are, 
however,  among  the  members  of  the  breed,  not  only  well- 
shaped,  active,  and  intelligent  dogs,  but  some  are  really 
clever,  and  even  beautiful  creatures,  and  it  may  be 
inferred  that  if  as  much  care  were  bestowed  upon  him  as 
is  given  to  the  Scotch  collie,  the  former  would  become 
a  close  rival  for  the  honours  now  carried  off  by  the  latter. 

The  Welsh  origin  of  this  dog  has  been  strongly  main- 
tained, the  contending  parties  having  omitted  to  master 
the  details  of  their  family  history.  Others  have  taken  up 
the   task,   and  rescued  from    oblivion    the    interesting 


82  Useful  Companions  of  Man. 

information  that  so  near  a  relation  as  the  Grandfather 
originally  introduced  the  breed  from  Sussex. 

This  animal  has  been  long  known  in  Suffolk  as  the 
"  cow-dog,"  a  service  in  which  he  proves  himself  singularly 
clever  and  useful.  At  milking  time  he  may  be  seen 
taking  his  rest  near  the  farm-steading,  and  as  the  cows 
are  turned  out  singly  he  ensures  their  return  to  the 
pasture,  and  selecting  another — always  one  that  needs 
milking — returns  with  her  to  the  farm,  where  he  remains 
as  before.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  this  service  the 
"  bobtail "  never  makes  a  mistake  from  first  to  last  in  the 
daily  routine. 

The  query  of  "  tail,"  or  "  no  tail "  has  proved  a  difiiciilty 
to  many.  It  is,  however,  fairly  understood  that  the 
peculiarity  of  the  breed  consists  in  the  production  of 
puppies  in  the  same  litter  with  and  without  tails,  others 
being  considered  short.  In  some  instances  docking  is 
resorted  to  at  an  early  period,  by  which  even  some  of  the 
knowing  ones  have  been  deceived. 

The  colour  is  steel  grey,  or  black  and  tan,  the  first  being 
considered  the  hardier  of  the  two.  There  are  animals 
which  exhibit  various^  shades  of  blue,  blue  merle,  or 
grizzle,  having  wdiite  on  the  face  or  legs.  The  Head  is 
large,  wdde  across  the  forehead,  the  muzzle  heavy  and 
somewhat  short.  The  Eyes  are  small,  being  dark  or 
smutty  grey ;  the  wall,  or  china  eye  being  common  to 
light  haired  dogs.  The  Body  is  square,  and  of  large 
proportions,  hind-quarters  heavy  and  round,  sloping 
forwards.  The  Coat  is  broken,  harsh,  wavy,  and  dense 
throughout.  The  Ears  are  small,  well-set,  and  covered 
with  wavy  hair.  The  Limbs  are  strong,  bony,  well 
furnished  with  muscle,  flat  from  side  to  side,  and  covered 
with  hair  to  the  bottom.  The  Feet  are  large  and  round, 
pads  thick  and  horny,  and  the  claws  large  and  firm.  The 
powers  of  digestion  and  assimilation  are  good,  and  he  is 
able  to  subsist  on  common  or  coarse  food  ;  the  constitu- 
tion is  also  hardy,  bearing  exposure  to  the  vicissitudes  of 
weather  without  serious  inconvenience. 

Disqualifications. — Soft,  and  curly  coat  of  a  poodle-like 
character  j  black  and  tan,  as  well  as  brindled  colours. 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  83 

Noted  examples  of  the  class  are  "  Sir  Hereward,"  a 
winner  of  numerous  first  prizes,  and  liis  descendants 
"Sir  Tatton,"  ''Sir  Coventry,"  "Sir  Peveril,"  "Dame 
Rachel,"  etc. 

The  Scotch  Collie,  or  Highland  Sheep  Dog,  is  a  far 
more  graceful  animal,  and  his  sense  and  intelligence  are 
equal  to  any  breed  of  dogs  in  the  world.  Two  races  are 
to  be  found  in  Scotland — the  rough  and  the  smooth.  The 
rough  or  shaggy-coated  collie  is  the  most  choice  descrip- 
tion; for  his  impenetrable  warm  thick  coat  is  a  good 
protection  to  him  when  his  duty  calls  him  to  face  the 
storms  and  mists  and  snows  of  the  wild  mountains,  espe- 
cially when  the  stragglers  of  the  flock  have  been  covered 
by  the  snow-drifts,  and  he  goes  in  search  of  them  with 
his  master.  He  has  a  fine  fox-like  muzzle ;  full,  expres- 
sive, but  rather  crafty  eyes ;  small  ears  dropping  forward, 
and  the  mask  of  his  face  is  smooth.  From  the  base  of 
the  skull  the  whole  of  the  neck  and  the  entire  body  are 
protected  by  a  deep,  warm,  long  coat  of  various  colours — 
sometimes  black  with  tan  points ;  sometimes  sandy,  or 
of  various  mixed  greys,  some  of  which  are  singularly 
beautiful  and  picturesque.  There  is  generally  a  very 
fine  white  line  down  the  forehead,  not  amounting  to  a 
blaze,  as  in  the  spaniels.  His  legs  (especially  the  hind 
legs,  from  the  hocks)  are  bare,  that  is,  not  feathered ;  and 
for  many  years  authorities  on  the  dog  have  described  the 
collie  as  having  one,  or  even  two,  dewclaws  on  each  hind 
leg,  which  is  indeed  generally  the  case.  His  neck  is  long 
and  rather  arched ;  his  shoulders  are  set  well  back,  and 
are  very  powerful ;  the  elbow  is  well  let  down  ;  the  fore- 
arm is  short ;  the  ankles  or  pasterns  are  long,  and  rather 
small  for  his  size ;  and  the  feet  are  round,  arched,  and 
have  excellent  thick  hard  soles ;  the  chest  is  deep,  but 
rather  narrow ;  he  is  broad  over  his  back ;  his  loins  are 
well  arched ;  the  hips  are  wide ;  his  thighs  are  muscular, 
and  he  is  inclined  to  go  rather  wide  behind ;  the  tail  is 
very  bushy  7.nd  large,  and  carried  up  when  he  is  in 
motion,  ar.d  when  he  is  controlling  his  excitement  it  is 
turned  over  his  back. 

The  Collie  Club  have  arranged  the  standard  of  points 


84  Useful  Compaiiions  of  Man. 

as  follows:  The  Skull  Q>i  the  collie  should  be  quite  flat 
and  rather  broad,  with  fine  tapering  muzzle  of  fair  length, 
and  mouth  the  least  bit  overshot,  the  Eyes  widely  apart, 
almond-shaped,  and  obliquely  set  in  the  head ;  the  skin 
of  the  head  tightly  drawn,  with  no  folds  at  the  corners  of 
the  mouth ;  the  Ears  as  small  as  possible,  semi-erect  when 
surprised  or  listening,  at  other  times  thrown  back  and 
buried  in  the  ruff.  The  Neck  should  be  long,  arched,  and 
muscular,  the  Shoulders  also  long,  sloping,  and  fine  at  the 
withers  ;  the  Chest  to  be  deep  and  narrow  in  front,  but  of 
fair  breadth  behind  the  shoulders  \  the  Back  to  be  short 
and  level,  and  the  loin  rather  long,  somewhat  arched,  and 
powerful ;  Brush  long,  "  wi'  upward  swnrl "  at  the  end, 
and  normally  carried  low.  The  Fore-legs  should  be 
perfectly  straight,  with  a  fair  amount  of  flat  bone,  the 
pasterns  rather  long,  springy,  and  slightly  lighter  of  bone 
than  the  rest  of  the  leg ;  the  foot,  with  toes  well  arched 
and  compact  soles,  very  thick.  The  Hitid-quarters  droop- 
ing shghtly,  should  be  very  long  from  the  hip-bones  to 
the  hocks,  which  should  be  neither  turned  inwards  nor 
outwards,  with  stifles  well  bent.  Tht  Hip-bones  should  be 
wide  and  rather  rugged.  The  Coat,  except  on  legs  and 
head,  should  be  as  abundant  as  possible ;  the  outer  coat 
straight,  hard,  and  rather  stiff,  the  under  coat  furry  and 
so  dense  that  it  should  be  difficult  to  find  the  skin.  The 
Euf  and  Frill  especially  should  be  very  full.  There 
should  be  but  little  feather  on  the  fore-legs,  and  none 
below  the  hocks  on  the  hind-legs.  Colour  immaterial. 
The  dog  should  be  a  fair  length  on  the  leg,  and  his 
movements  wiry  and  graceful ;  he  should  not  be  too 
small ;  height  of  dogs  from  22  to  24  inches,  bitches  from 
20  to  22  inches.  The  greyhound  type  is  objectionable, 
as  there  is  no  brain  room  in  the  skull,  and  with  this  there 
is  to  be  found  a  fatuous  expression,  and  a  long  powerful 
jaw.  The  selter  type  is  also  to  be  avoided,  with  a 
pendulous  ear,  full  soft  eye,  heavily  feathered  legs,  and 
straight  short  flag.  The  smooth  collie  only  differs  from 
the  rough  in  its  coat,  which  should  be  hard,  dense,  and 
quite  smooth. 

Disqualif  cations. — Domed  skull,  high  peaked  occipital 


m 


I  ri 


T  llli^e'i  ■? 


Useful  Companions  of  Man.  85 

bone,  heavy  pendulous  ears,  full  soft  eyes,  heavy  feathered 
legs,  short  tail. 

Competent  judges  of  the  collie  will  scarcely  be  satisfied 
with  some  of  the  foregoing  statements,  notably  those  with 
reference  to  the  eyes  being  "widely  apart,"  and  "almond 
shape."  Surely  the  dog  with  such  points  would  be  an 
oddity,  and  useless  for  his  calling.  For  other  useful 
strictures,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  monograph  by 
Dalziel.* 

The  Smooth  Collie  is  believed  to  be  a  separate 
breed  by  many  fanciers,  who  fail  to  see  that  he  is  the 
facsimile  of  the  rough-coated  dog.  His  points  except  the 
coat  are  the  same,  and  he  therefore  needs  no  special 
comment.  Puppies  of  the  smooth  variety  are  not 
infrequently  met  with  in  the  litters  of  rough-coated 
collies,  over  which  every  care  has  been  exercised.  There 
are,  however,  two  varieties  of  this  dog,  which  are  as 
widely  different  in  their  capabilities  as  in  their  outward 
conformation.  In  his  natural  place  the  former  is  trained 
for  work  among  the  sheep  of  the  bleak  Highland  regions, 
about  which  he  proceeds  with  a  dignity  and  grace 
unknown  in  the  other.  The  Lowland  dog  finds  his 
service  commonly  among  cows,  and  he  lacks  the  energy 
and  experience  of  his  aristocratic  rival  of  the  Highlands. 
The  head  of  the  Highland  collie,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  a 
perfect  study  \  the  set  of  the  ears,  and  the  intelligent 
gaze  of  his  eyes  combine  in  assuring  you  "  the  dog  kens 
what  ye  are  talkin'  aboot,  and  what  ye  are  thinkin'  aboot 
tae."  The  slightest  utterance,  or  movement  of  the  hand 
is  ample  for  his  quick  intelligence,  and  he  bounds  away 
with  the  speed  of  the  antelope.  His  attachment  to  his 
master  is  based  on  his  special  intelligence,  for  in  this 
respect  he  is  above  all  other  dogs.  We  have  known  a 
collie  to  follow  his  master  hundreds  of  miles,  taking  his 
place  on  the  steamboats,  visiting  the  usual  places  of  call, 
and  after  an  unsuccessful  search  in  distant  towns,  return 
home  by  the  same  route,  tired,  hungry,  and  almost 
prostrate ;  and  on  meeting  the  object  of  his  solicitude, 

*  "  The  Collie."     London  :  E.  Upcott  Gill. 


86  Ladies'  Toy  Dogs. 

throw  himself  at  his  feet,  and  yell  with  delight.  A 
little  later  he  rests  on  the  rug  before  the  blazing  fire,  his 
huge  paws  covering  his  beloved  master's  feet,  and  as  he 
steadily  gazes  you  read  in  those  starlit  eyes  the  petition 
"Ye'll  gang  awa  nae  main" 

The  Pomeranian  or  Spitz,  like  the  St.  Bernard,  can 
scarcely  be  called  a  dog  of  the  British  Islands,  but,  hke 
that  dog,  it  is  now  so  common  as  to  be  almost  naturalized 
among  us.  It  resembles,  in  shape  of  body  and  head,  the 
Scotch  coUie,  but  is  a  size  smaller,  carries  the  tail  over  the 
back,  and  is  generally  of  a  pure  white  colour.  The  ears 
also  are  more  pricked,  being  quite  fox  or  wolf-like  in 
their  character.  Hence  it  is  often  called  in  France  by 
the  name  Imilou.  No  points  have  been  assigned  to  this 
breed  as  yet. 


CHAPTER  V. 
LADIES'  TOY  DOGS. 

King  Charles  Spaniel — Blenheim  Spaniel — Italian  Greyhound — Pug- 
Maltese  Dog— Toy  Terrier — Poodle. 

Fashion  changes  her  toy  dogs  just  as  often  as  her 
costumes,  and  the  favourite  of  one  year  is  turned  into  the 
streets  (metaphorically)  the  next.  Poodles,  spaniels, 
terriers,  Italian  greyhounds,  and  pugs,  have  each  had 
their  reign,  but  at  present  it  would  be  difficult  to  deter- 
mine which  has  the  pre-eminence.  As  a  rule,  the  short- 
haired  dog  makes  a  better  drawing-room  pet  than  his 
long-coated  rival,  and  especially  Avhen  his  skin  is  pecu- 
liarly free  from  smell,  as  is  the  case  with  the  pug  dog  and 
Italian  greyhound.  Hence  it  is  no  wonder  that  these 
little  animals  fetch  ^^30  apiece,  though  we  have  known 
;^5o  paid  for  a  King  Charles  spaniel ;  and  this  being  the 
highest  sum  I  ever  heard  of  as  paid  for  a  toy  dog,  I  shall 
commence  with  that  breed. 


Ladies  Toy  Dogs,  87 

The  King  Charles  Spaniel  is  now  always  either 
black  and  tan  without  white,  or  a  mixture  of  these  colours 
in  handsome  patches,  the  tan  spot  over  the  eye  in  the 
latter  case  being  always  an  important  feature.  In  the 
time  of  Charles  II.,  from  whom  the  dog  gets  his  name, 
the  colour,  as  shown  by  Vandyck,  was  liver  and  white, 
which  colour  was  in  vogue  until  the  present  century,  when 
the  black  and  tan  superseded  it,  and  is  now  considered  the 
speciality  of  the  breed.  Nor  is  the  modern  shortness  of 
fLice  of  old  standing  when  carried  to  the  extreme  which 
now  prevails.  Vandyck's  dogs  are  quite  sharp-nosed, 
and  those  which  I  remember  early  in  the  present  century 
were  at  least  only  halfway  on  the  road  to  the  state  in 
which  they  arc  now  exhibited,  with  faces  like  those  of 
the  bulldog.  At  present  the  dog  should  weigh  about  7  lbs. 
(not  more  than  10  lbs.)  Perfection  in  shape  is  seldom 
attained  below  7  lbs.,  but  if  it  can  be  obtained  in  smaller 
compass,  so  much  the  belter 

He  should  have  a  round  skull  and  large  round  promi- 
nent eyes,  with  a  deep  indentation  or  "stop"  between  them. 
The  lower  jaw  should  project  beyond  the  upper,  and 
turnup.  Large  ears  "  touching  the  ground"  are  highly 
esteemed,  but  this  is  a  figurative  expression.  They  must 
droop  close  to  the  head  and  be  thickly  coated.  The  back 
of  all  the  legs  must  be  densely  feathered,  and  the  feet  must 
be  almost  lost  in  the  feather,  which  ought  to  project 
beyond  the  nails. 

The  tail  should  be  carried  low,  the  dog  should  stand 
on  short  legs,  and  appear  compact.  Any  protrusion  of 
the  tongue  is  most  objectionable. 

His  coat  should  be  silky,  straight,  very  abundant,  and 
of  the  richest  colour.  The  black  should  be  intense,  the 
tan  vivid  and  rich.  The  dog  should  be  altogether  free 
from  white.  He  should  have  tan  of  this  rich  red  quality 
on  his  cheeks  and  the  inner  margin  of  the  ear.  His  lips 
should  be  tan,  and  he  should  have  a  spot  of  the  same 
colour  over  each  eye ;  the  larger  this  spot  is  the  better. 
His  cheeks  should  be  well  tanned,  also  his  chest  or 
"  mane,"  all  his  legs,  his  belly,  the  feather  of  his  haunches, 
his  vent,  and  the  under  plumage  of  his  taiL 


88  Ladies^  Toy  Dogs. 

The  following  scale  oi  pomfs  is  in  general  acceptation  : 
— Form  of  head,  lo  ;  nose  and  formation  of  jaw,  to  ; 
eyes,  lo ;  ears,  lo  ;  coat  and  texture,  lo ;  form  and  com- 
pactness, lo;  brilliancy  of  colour,  lo  ;  feather  of  legs 
and  feet,  lo  ;  size  and  weight,  lo  ;  carriage  of  tail,  lo — 
total,  ICO. 

The  Blenheim  Spaniel  was  thus  described  in  the 
Fie!d  of  Sept.  15,  1866  :— 

"  This  drawing-room  favourite  derives  his  name  from 
the  celebrated  seat  of  the  Dukes  of  Marlborough,  where 
he  used  to  be  carefully  bred  ;  the  town  of  Woodstock 
being  some  years  ago  the  fountain-head  for  pure  Blenheim 
spaniels,  which  could  also  be  purchased  wonderfully 
small  and  well  marked  at  Oxford  about  twenty-five  years 
since. 

"  It  is  very  difficult  indeed  to  trace  the  origin  of  this  dog, 
which  judging  from  Vandyck's  pictures,  was  cherished  at 
Courts  in  the  days  of  Charles  I.  Sir  Godfrey  Kneller, 
we  have  heard,  has  painted  small  red  and  white  spaniels 
at  the  feet  of  several  Court  beauties,  or  nestling  in  their 
laps.  We  are  also  informed  that  portraits  from  his  hand 
are  to  be  seen  at  Blenheim  Palace  and  Arundel  Castle, 
and  that  the  small  'comforter'  of  this  colour  was  in 
favour  in  the  reigns  of  Charles  II.,  James  II.,  and  up  to 
the  end  of  the  time  of  Queen  Anne. 

"  It  has  been  called  the  *  Marlborough  spaniel  *  by 
some  authors,  who  assert  that  it  was  first  crossed  with 
the  King  Charles,  otherwise  known  as  the  King  James 
spaniel,  by  a  former  Duke  of  Norfolk,  who  had  a  large 
number  of  them  at  Worksop. 

"  It  has  been  asserted  that  the  same  description  of  dog 
was  a  favourite  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIIL,  that  it  was 
much  esteemed  by  Elizabeth,  and  that  the  small  '  dogg ' 
which  was  found  under  the  clothes  of  Mary  Queen  of 
Scots  after  her  execution  was  of  this  breed.  As  we  have 
before  stated,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  give  positive  in- 
formation as  to  the  first  origin  of  the  Blenheim  ;  and  we 
incline  to  the  opinion  that  it  sprang  from  a  race  of 
cockers  of  that  colour,  for  which  the  first  owner  of  Blen- 
heim was  celebrated,  and  that  the  small  race  known  by 


Ladies'  Toy  Dogs.  89 

that  name  derived  their  origin  from  in-and-in  breeding, 
and  jealousy  to  preserve  the  breed. 

"Good  specimens  were  the  great  exception;  and  about 
the  year  1841  perhaps  but  two  or  three  good  specimens 
existed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Blenheim,  and  of  these 
we  can  call  to  mind  but  one  of  surpassing  excellence,  a 
bitch  named  Rose,  belonging  to  A.  R.  Reingle,  Esq.,  of 
Oxford.  This  bitch  would  at  the  present  time  bear  com- 
parison with  anything  to  be  purchased  in  London,  and 
she  quite  came  up  to  the  description  we  shall  give  of  a 
true  '  Blenheim.' 

'•This  charming  spaniel  did  not  weigh  more  than  4I  lbs. 
or  5  lbs.  Her  head  (exquisitely  modelled  and  full  of  cha- 
racter and  intelh'gence)  was  in  exact  proportion  to  her 
size.  Her  coat  was  soft,  silky,  shining,  luxuriant,  and  of 
transparent  wiutcuess,  except  where  it  was  stained  in 
patches  with  the  genuine  rich  '  Blenheim  orange,'  whilst 
her  feet  and  legs  were  almost  lost  in  the  exuberant  feather 
of  her  *■  mane,'  body,  and  thighs. 

"At  the  time  Rose  was  in  her  glory  we  were  receiving 
instructions  from  her  owner,  and  possessed  many  oppor- 
tunities of  marking  her  beauty  and  intelligence — two 
properties  which  are  not  always  found  together  in  pet 
spaniels. 

"The  Blenheim  is  at  the  present  time  rare,. but,  com- 
pared with  the  King  Charles,  it  does  not  conmiand  a 
large  price.  About  a  year  ago  it  was  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  we  procured  one;  although  of  perfect  form  and 
exceedingly  diminutive,  only  ^^15  was  asked  for  it,  whilst 
a  King  Charles  of  equal  excellence  would  have  been 
cheap  at  double  the  money. 

(.  "  The  points  of  the  Blenheim  do  not  differ  from  those 
of  the  King  Charles.  The  main  difference  consists  in 
the  colour  and  markings,  and  in  the  texture  of  the  hair, 
which  may  be  more  waved  in  the  Blenheim  than  in  the 
other  breed.  He  should  have  the  same  round  skull,  the 
same  prominent,  large,  round  eyes,  weeping  and  wet  at 
the  corner,  and  leaving  a  wet  trace  down  the  cheek.  He 
must  also  have  the  deep  stop,  the  projecting  lower  jaw,' 
and  the  short  black  nose.      He  should  have  large,  well- 


(jO  Ladies  Toy  Dogs. 

coated  ears ;  but  we  must  not  expect  to  find  them  so 
dense  or  so  deep  and  large  as  in  the  King  Charles.  He 
must  be  compact,  well  coated,  and  the  feather  of  his  legs 
and  thighs  must  be  profuse.  His  tail  should  be  bushy, 
'  well  flagged,'  and  carried  low.  He  should  not  exceed 
5  lbs.  in  weight;  and  if  he  weighs  8  lbs.  or  9  lbs.  he  is  of 
very  little  value. 

"  His  head  sliould  be  well  marked,  a  white  streak 
should  run  down  his  skull,  and  his  lips  and  chin  should 
be  white,  freckled  with  red.  In  the  centre  of  this  white 
blaze,  or  rather  in  the  centre  of  his  forehead,  he  should 
have  the  '  spot '  about  the  size  of  and  as  round  as  a  six- 
pence. His  chest  must  be  exceedingly  well  coated ;  and 
to  this  point  of  beauty  great  attention  should  be  directed 
by  any  judge,  as  the  *  mane '  has  always  been  a  great 
point  in  Blenheims. 

"The  markings  of  the  body  are  not  of  very  great  im- 
portance, provided  there  is  no  preponderance  of  either 
colour,  and  that  both  are  distinct  or  clear.  Freckled  legs 
are  not  in  favour;  and  although  a  few  spots  would  not 
prejudice  a  judge,  the  fewer  of  these  spots  the  better. 

"  The  '  red '  should  be  brilliant,  and  of  a  yellow  or 
golden  hue,  by  no  means  approaching  the  deep  sienna 
stain  of  the  black-tan  spaniel  or  Gordon  setter;  and  many 
admirable  specimens  of  breeding  are  of  a  positively  sandy 
tone.  This  colour  is  not,  however,  Blenheim  colour,  which 
ought  to  be  rich,  pure,  and  defined.  Tlie  well-bred  animal 
is  lively  in  temperament,  but  is  more  capricious  and  snap- 
pish than  the  King  Ciiarles  ;  and  occasionally  it  forms 
deep  and  lasting  attachments  to  those  with  whom  it  as- 
sociates." 

I  give  \ht. po'mts  oi x\\t  Blenheim  thus:— Form  of  head, 
15  ;  eyes  and  ears,  15  ;  coat,  10 ;  compactness  and  form, 
10;  brilliant  colour  and  spots,  20;  feather  of  legs  and 
feet,  10;  size  and  weight,  10;  and  tail  and  its  position,  10 
— total,  100. 

The  Italian  Greyhound. — All  authorities  unite  in 
the  opinion  that  this  beautiful  little  dog  nmst  be  an 
English  smooth  greyhound  in  everything  but  size,  which 
is  tantamount  to  stating  that  it  must  be  one  of  the  most 


Ladies'  Tov  Dogs.  gi 

graceful,  or,  perhaps,  the  most  graceful  and  racing-looking 
creature  on  the  face  of  tlie  earth. 

Bewick  gives  no  engraving  of  the  Italian  greyhound, 
which  is  to  be  regretted  ;  and  without  doubt  he  would 
have  given  one  if  a  specimen  could  have  been  procured. 
In  Italy  it  has  always  been  a  favourite,  and  we  gather 
from  the  pictures  of  Antoine  Watteau,  the  celebrated 
French  painter,  that  it  was  much  esteemed  by  the  lords 
and  ladies  of  his  country  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
or  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century ;  but  they 
were  known  and  in  the  hands  of  the  rich— as  graceful 
and  perhaps  as  small  as  at  the  present  time — in  Milan  in 
the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  rentuvies. 

Hogarth  has  represented  a  pair  of  dogs,  somewhat  of 
the  breed,  in  one  of  his  pictures  of  "  Marriage  a  la  Mode," 
and  this  dog  occasionally  appears  in  the  portraits  of  our 
old  English  families ;  but  as  we  have  before  observed,  it 
has  always  been  scarce,  and  it  is  exceedingly  delicate  and 
hard  to  rear. 

It  is  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  small  greyhound,  for 
which  Italy  was  celebrated,  and  which  perhaps  was  origi- 
nally bred  as  a  distinct  breed.  It  must  have  become 
dwarfed  from  climate  or  constant  "in-breeding,"  but  it 
has  never  been  in  any  way  deformed  by  the  means 
adopted  to  decrease  its  size. 

The  externaT  form  of  the  Italian  exactly  corresponds 
with  that  of  the  smooth  English  greyhound.  I  will  ob- 
serve that  the  head  should  be  wide  behind,  and  larger 
in  circumference  if  measured  over  the  ears  than  over  the 
eyebrows.  The  jaw  should  be  very  lean,  with  a  good 
muscular  development  of  the  cheek.  The  eye  of  the 
Italian  variety,  however,  shoul  1  not  be  so  large  or  full  as 
that  of  the  English  dog. 

It  has  been  settled  that  the  ear  of  the  Italian  should  be 
exceedingly  small,  and  falling  flat,  except  when  the  animal 
is  animated.  It  may  then  be  slightly  raised,  but  never 
pricked. 

Blue  and  fawn  are  the  favourite  colours;  the  latter 
should  be  of  an  auburn  hue.  Various  colours,  however, 
are  fashionable  for  a  time,  and  then  fancy  changes.      At 


92  Ladies  Toy  Dogs. 

one  time  cream-coloured  dogs  commanded  the  highest 
price,  then  white  with  black  nose.  At  one  time  black 
muzzles  were  in  vogue,  and  we  believe  they  are  preferred 
at  the  present  time,  and  party-coloured  dogs  are  not 
thought  much  of.  When  these  dogs  are  self-coloured, 
they  should  be  free  from  any  white,  and  this  may  be  pre- 
dicated of  every  description  of  dog  or  hound.  Fawn 
dogs  should  have  black  toe-nails.  All  of  the  breed  should 
have  very  glossy  coats  and  a  compact  form.  The  tail 
should  be  very  fine,  and  though  coated,  and  not  bare  or 
showing  the  caudal  vertebras,  it  should  be  void  of  all 
roughness. 

The  weight  mu.*':  not  exceed  8  lbs.  or  9  lbs.,  and  the  dog 
is  valuable  in  proportion  as  he  weigiis  icbs  man  thib. 
Specimens  have  been  bred,  which,  at  maturity,  did  not 
reach  5  lbs.,  but  they  were  very  delicate  and  shy.  Some 
of  the  best  shaped  and  most  perfect  greyhounds  of  this 
description  have  reached  from  14  lbs.  to  18  lbs.,  and  at 
this  weight  they  are  certainly  more  robust  than  the  more 
valuable  dwarfs,  occasionally  becoming  fat  and  losing  the 
beautiful  lines  of  their  kind.  The  bitches  are  much  less 
than  the  dogs. 

Some  very  charming  specimens  have  been  shown  in 
London.  We  have  a  lively  recollection  of  Mrs.  Burke's 
Silver,  Dr.  Palmer's  Garibaldi,  and  Mr.  Hugh  Hanly's 
Psycne.  Some  very  good  ones  have  also  appeared  at  all 
our  metropolitan  exhibitions.  But  at  the  present  moment 
it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  obtain  a  first-class 
specimen,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  it  is  the 
rarest  dog  of  the  day. 

It  has  been  crossed  in  Staffordshire  with  the  small  bull 
terrier  with  advantage,  and  the  produce  displayed  no 
delicacy  and  lost  none  of  its  courage.  I  have  seen  many 
of  these  in  "  the  black  country."  They  were  slate-coloured 
or  blue-tanned,  and  very  like  the  blue  terrier  known  in 
London  as  the  "  Blue  Peter,"  which  I  suspect  is  bred  in  a 
similar  manner. 

Although  the  pure  Italian  greyhound  is  generally  deli- 
cate and  nervous,  it  now  and  then  displaj-s  wonderful 
affection  and  fidelity,  and  we  remember  hearing  that  a 


Ladies'  Toy  Dogs.  93 

celebrated  bitch  of  the  breed,  named  Fly,  the  property  of 
the  same  gentleman  who  possessed  the  Blenheim  Rose, 
once  jumped  from  a  third-story  window  into  tlie  street  to 
follow  her  master,  and  alighted  without  injury. 

)  This  dog  was  used  as  a  model  by  more  than  one  sculp- 
tor, and  we  believe  that  she  was  the  original  of  the  cele- 
brated and  artistic  model  in  parian  published  by  the  artist 
potter  of  the  day.  The  points  of  this  animal  are  of  course 
identical  with  those  of  the  smooth  English  greyhound, 
but  some  preference  in  marks  must  be  given  for  the 
fashionable  colour  at  the  time  when  the  aw^ard  is  made. 
They  are,  therefore,  as  follows:  —  Head,  15;  neck,  5; 
legs  and  feet,  15;  shoulders,  10;  hind  quarters,  15; 
back,  10;  symmetry,  10;  tail,  5;  colour  and  coat,  10; 
size,  5. 

The  Pug  Dog  is  now  again  in  fashion,  but  between 
the  years  1836-46  it  was  the  rarest  breed  in  Great  Britain. 
About  the  year  1843  one  or  two  specimens  were  obtained 
by  a  member  of  the  Willoughly  family,  and,  under  his 
fostering  care,  admirable  examples  were  produced.  The 
old  and  absurd  system  of  cropping  off  the  whole  of  the 
ears  prevailed,  and  this  cruelty  was  excused  because  it 
occasioned  that  wrinkling  and  puckering  of  the  forehead 
considered  essential  in  a  pug  dog.  The  barbarous  fashion 
was  continued  simply  because  it  had  been  followed  in  the 
days  of  our  grandfathers  and  great-grandfathers,  at  any 
rate  up  to  the  year  1804,  when  the  dog  was  the  rage;  and 
very  beautiful  specimens  thus  mutilated  have  been  ex- 
hibited at  our  modern  dog  shows.  Within  the  last 
few  years  this  unhappy  custom  has  been  on  the  wane, 
and  where  expediency  cannot  be  pleaded,  owing  to 
the  dog's  occupation,  we  trust  such  torture  will  be  aban- 
doned. 

The  pug,  it  is  said,  derives  his  name  from  a  Greek 
word  which  forms  the  root  of  the  Latin  pugnus^  a  fist,  as 
his  profile  closely  resembles  a  man's  hand  when  tightly 
clenched.  This  is  open  to  question.  It  is  more  likely 
to  have  arisen  from  a  study  of  the  countenance,  as  well 
as  general   appearance   of  the   animal.     The  jet-black 


94  Ladies   Toy  Dogs. 

muzzle,  or  mask,  secured  for  him  the  term  "  carHn," 
from  the  resemblance  to  a  harlequin  who  was  famous  in 
France  during  the  middle  of  last  century.  Previously  the 
breed  was  known  in  that  country  as  "  doguins "  and 
"  roquets,"  names  still  retained  in  various  parts.  The 
breed  was  carefully  propagated,  and  highly  esteemed 
during  many  years,  exclusively  as  parlour  pets,  many 
wealthy  families  having  their  specially  pure  and  cele- 
brated "  pugs."  Such  was  the  rage  of  fashion  that  no 
lady  was  seen  abroad  without  her  pet,  and  when  the 
owner  sat  for  his  or  her  portrait,  that  of  the  pug  occu- 
pied a  prominent  place  in  the  foreground.  The  old 
English  breed  was  distinguished  by  a  black  patch  on  the 
head,  known  as  the  "  black  velvet,"  but  the  best  breeds 
of  to-day  are  destitute  of  the  mark.  In  Holland,  and 
Italy  also,  the  breed  has  been  highly  prized,  but  in  sym- 
metry, colour,  and  special  marking,  the  dogs  are  entirely 
behind  in  all  points  of  excellence.  The  Dutch  dogs  are 
large,  coarse,  dull,  and  heavy,  with  crooked  legs,  those  of 
Italy  being  spoiled  by  impure  crosses.  The  pug  is  a 
perfect  aristocrat  in  all  his  ways,  especially  in  the  pre- 
sence of  other  dogs,  but  at  heart  he  is  minus  the  pluck 
of  our  terriers.  He  nevertheless  makes  an  excellent  pet, 
and  settles  down  most  admirably  in  the  ways  of  ease  and 
luxury. 

Some  years  ago  a  strain  of  all  black  pugs  was  intro- 
duced, it  is  said,  by  the  late  Lady  Brassey,  some  of 
which  were  exhibited,  showing  the  characteristics  of  the 
breed.  As  a  contrast  to  these,  others  have  been  pro- 
duced almost  or  altogether  white. 

The  origin  of  the  black  pug  has  been  ascribed  to 
various  sources.  In  one  instance  it  is  said  to  be  the 
result  of  pure  accident,  being  a  "sport,"  descended  from 
an  unusually  dark  coloured  strain  owned  by  a  working 
fancier  in  the  north  of  London.  Setting  aside  various 
improbabilities,  it  is  certain  that  Lady  Brassey  owned 
several  of  these  dogs,  and  although  at  the  time  it  was 
kept  a  close  secret,  it  now  seems  to  be  well  known  that 
they  were  Chinese  or  "  Peking "  pugs,  obtained  by  her 


Ladies^  Toy  Dogs.  95 

during  her  memorable  voyage  in  the  "  Sunbeam,"  There 
is  now,  therefore,  no  doubt  that  by  subsequent  mating  a 
distinct  breed  has  been  produced,  with,  however,  the 
tendency  in  some  instances  among  individual  members 
to  be  grey  instead  of  black.  The  present  development 
of  the  breed  is  largely  due  to  three  individuals — viz , 
Mrs.  Fiefield,  of  Eastleigh,  Southampton,  Miss  "  Morti- 
vals,"  (Miss  M.  D.  Robinson),  Takeley,  Essex,  and  Mr. 
A.  Bond  of  Gravesend. 

The  black  pug  is  somewhat  altered  by  breeding  in  this 
country.  He  stands  on  shorter  legs  and  is  thickly  set  or 
"  cobby "  in  appearance,  while  the  head  and  face  in 
conformation  possess  the  characteristics  of  our  ordinary 
pug-dog.  Judging  from  the  experience  of  the  past,  it  is 
not  unlikely  that  he  will  perpetuate  a  true  type,  notwith- 
standing some  of  the  adverse  criticisms  which  have  been 
launched  against  him. 

Lord  Willoughby  d'Eresby,  Mr.  Morrison,  of  Walham 
Green,  the  late  Mr.  H.  Gilbert,  Mr.  John  Anderson,  Mr. 
Jardine,  Mr.  Hinks  (the  owner  of  Madman,  the  celebrated 
bull  terrier),  and  Mr.  Henry  Brown,  of  Gilling  Lodge, 
Haverstock  Hill,  one  of  the  most  reliable  breeders  of 
valuable  dogs,  and  certainly  one  of  the  best  judges  in 
England  of  toy  dogs — all  these  and  many  others  have 
bred  and  exhibited  beautiful  specimens  of  the  old  English 
pug  dog ;  and  we  may  gather  from  the  favour  the  dog 
has  met  from  high  quarters  that  the  breed  is  in  no  danger 
of  extinction. 

The  true  English  pug  should  be  of  a  fawn  or  nn'tv- 
colour,  devoid  of  any  smut  approaching  hlac7zness.  Clear- 
ness and  purity  of  colour  are  essential,  so  as  to  render  the 
various  markings  (which  I  shall  proceed  to  describe)  as 
clear  and  sharp  in  outline  as  possible.  The  dog  should 
stand  on  short  legs,  as  straight  and  well  made  as  a  fox- 
hound, but  with  long  "  hare  feet,"  the  toes  well  split  up. 
His  head  should  be  round,  and  the  forehead  high  and 
monkey-like;  nose  short,  teeth  level,  jaw  square.  The 
eye  should  be  full  and  black ;  the  ears  are  small,  silky, 
black,  and  close  to  the  head.     A  black  mole  should  be 


g6  Ladies'  Toy  Dogs, 

clearly  marked  on  each  cheek,  with  three  hairs  in  each. 
The  mark  should  be  black  and  positively  marked  with 
well-developed  wrinkles  in  the  skin ;  the  neck  should  be 
strong  and  thick,  devoid  of  all  loose  or  puckered  skin. 
The  chest  should  be  broad,  the  back  and  loins  wide  and 
strong,  and  a  black  line  or  "  trace  "  should  run  down  the 
back  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  tail  should  be  tightly 
curled  over  the  side  or  hip,  having  a  second  curl,  and 
the  point  coming  out.  The  ribs  should  be  round — this 
is  a  great  point,  as  a  ragged  or  narrow  dog  of  this  de- 
scription is  considered  deformed. 

It  will  be  seen  that  compact  form,  pure  colour,  and 
distinct  marking  form  the  principal  points  in  these  dogs ; 
but  perhaps  hardly  any  toy  dog  requires  a  more  experi- 
enced eye.  As  all  "  toys  "  are  beautiful  by  comparison, 
no  one  can  form  a  correct  estimate  of  a  dog's  relative 
value  unless  he  is  pretty  well  informed  upon  the  subject, 
and  the  rivalry  of  breeders  leads  to  one  excellent  example 
giving  place  to  another. 

A  narrow  or  pointed  nose  is  a  very  great  disfigurement ; 
so  is  a  woolly  or  dead  coat.  The  coat  should  be  sleek 
and  shining,  short,  and  soft  to  the  touch.  Round  feet 
are  also  bad,  so  are  white  toes,  or  indeed,  white  any- 
vvhere.  If  the  black  of  the  mask  melts  gradually  into 
grey,  and  is  softened  until  it  mingles  with  the  fawn,  the 
doG:  loses  much  of  its  value. 

1^'\\Q points  of  a  pug  we  give  below: — Head,  lo;  ears, 
lo;  pure  colour,  15;  distinct  mask,  10;  black  trace,  10; 
check  moles,  5;  quality  of  coat,  10;  curl  of  tail,  10; 
compsctness,  10;  hare  feet,  10 — total,  ico. 

The  Maltese  Dog  resembles  in  general  a]>pearance  a 
diminutive  Skye  terrier,  differing  chiefly  in  being  of  much 
less  size,  shorter  in  the  back,  and  far  more  silky  in  coat, 
which  should  be  of  the  purest  white.  Most  of  the  breed 
are  very  animated  in  expression,  and  in  every  way  are 
well  adapted  to  be  made  drawing-room  pets.  Mr.  Mande- 
ville,  of  London,  has  of  late  years  carried  all  before  him 
at  the  various  shows,  and  indeed,  has  had  little  oppcsition, 
so  completely  have  the  claims  of  his  strain  been  recog- 
nised. 


w 


m 


2  - 

5      9. 


Ladies'  Toy  Dogs. 


97 


This  pretty,  diminutive  animal  has  long  been  an 
especial  favourite  as  a  pet  or  parlour  dog,  but  by  some 
strange  absurdity  has  been  commonly  spoken  of  as  a 
terrier,  of  whose  blood  not  a  drop  flows  in  his  veins. 
His  pedigree  is  long,  stretching  away  far  back  in  the 


Maltese. 


annals  of  the  ancient  races.  Few,  if  any,  older  variety 
exists.  History  associates  them  with  the  high-born 
dames  of  Greece  and  Rome,  who  lavished  large  sums  on 
the  importation  of  the  Maltese  lap-dog.  What  they  were 
in  those  days  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as  to  form,  size, 
colour,  coat,  and  actual  weight.     Records  are  strangely 

7 


98  Ladies'  Toy  Dogs. 

wanting,  even  in  the  original  home  of  his  birth.  Nothing 
of  the  breed,  as  we  know  it  at  this  day,  exists  in  the 
Island  of  Malta.  As  a  drawing-room  pet,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  find  a  dog  so  thoroughly  adapted  for  the 
purpose.  Besides  being  diminutive,  he  is  even-tempered, 
sagacious,  and  firm  in  his  attachment.  No  breed  of  dog 
is  more  cleanly  in  his  habits.  He  is  surprisingly  intelli- 
gent, rapidly  discovers  the  mind  of  his  teacher,  and 
easily  becomes  proficient  in  various  feats.  He  is  full  of 
life  and  spirits,  moves  with  the  alertness  and  grace  of  the 
squirrel,  and  by  his  innocent  cunning  and  clever  antics 
proves  himself  an  indispensable  companion.  One  of  the 
most  perfect  dogs  of  this  breed  is  said  to  be  "  Prince 
Lillywhite,"  by  "  Prince  Leopold,"  ex  "  Queenie."  He 
is  the  property  of  Mrs,  Watts,  of  Antwerp  House,  48 
Lordship  Road,  Stoke  Newington,  N. 

The  points  are  as  follows : — Head,  closely  resembles 
that  of  the  Skye  terrier,  but  the  hair  covering  the  face  is 
more  flossy.  The  general  coat  is  as  long  also,  but  more 
transparent  and  soft,  sometimes  running  into  a  fine  species 
of  wool ;  tail  carried  over  the  back,  but  very  short  with  a 
brush  of  silky  hair.  Colour  white,  with  an  occasional 
patch  of  fawn.  Weight,  not  more  than  6  lbs.  or  7  lbs., 
and  as  much  less  as  possible. 

The  points  are  : — Colour,  30  ;  coat^  30;  nose  and  eyes, 
20;  tail  and  carriage,  15  ;  symmetry,  5. 

The  Toy  Terrier. — Each  variety  of  the  terrier  when 
bred  less  than  5,  or  even  7  lbs.,  is  considered  to  belong 
to  the  toys.  If  black  and  tan,  the  colours  should  be  very 
distinct  and  rich,  without  a  speck  of  white,  and  on  the 
tan  each  toe  should  be  pencilled  with  a  fine  streak  of 
black,  reaching  to  the  knee.  This  is  a  point  greatly  in- 
sisted on  by  fanciers.  In  other  respects  the  description 
of  this  dog  already  given  will  apply.  Blue  and  fawn 
smooth  terriers  are  also  prized  highly,  but  they  are  not 
so  handsome  in  my  opinion  as  the  black  and  tan. 
Smooth  white  terriers  should  be  without  a  speck  of 
colour ;  but  they  show  too  much  of  the  pink  colour  of 
the  skin  for  my  taste.     These  dogs  have  generally  their 


Ladies'  Toy  Dogs.  99 

ears  clipped,  with  tails  left  perfect,  but  some  people 
prefer  both  left  as  Nature  provides  them.  The  rough 
blue  fawn,  silky  coat  terrier,  makes  a  very  pretty  toy 
dog,  and  so  does  the  dwarf  bull  terrier — both  resembling 
the  larger  breeds  in  all  points.  The  Italian  greyhound, 
crossed  with  the  terrier  or  spaniel,  is  often  passed  off  as 
the  pure  toy  terrier,  especially  the  latter,  which  may  be 
known  by  the  full  eye  peculiar  to  the  spaniel  breed. 

The  Poodle. — This  dog  is  not  unlike  the  terrier  in 
general  conformation,  very  intelligent,  and  quick  in 
learning  various  tricks.  In  temper  he  is  apt  to  exhibit 
peevishness,  and  even  to  bite.  The  colour  is  black  or 
white,  the  coat  being  curly,  and,  when  not  cropped, 
grows  inordinately  from  head  to  stern,  reaching  even  to 
the  ground.  This  peculiarity  affords  opportunity  for 
niany  owners  to  practise  "  trimming "  or  "  clipping," 
portions  here  and  there  being  entirely  removed,  while 
others  are  allowed  to  remain  like  tufts,  circlets  on  the 
limbs,  or  robe-like  folds  reaching  to  the  ground.  The 
general  appearance  is  then  supposed  to  be  greatly  en- 
hanced, particularly  if  the  animal  is  used  by  the  peripa- 
tetic player  or  street  conjuror,  whose  performiances  admit 
of  ample  scope  for  showing  the  tricksy  capabilities  of  the 
animal.  The  following  are  the  points  laid  down  by  the 
Poodle  Club : 

The  Perfect  Black  Poodle. — The  General  Appear- 
ance is  that  of  a  strong,  active,  and  very  intelligent  dog ; 
well  built,  and  perfectly  coated  with  curls  or  long  ropy 
"cords."  Head:  Long;  the  skull  large  and  plenty  of 
room  for  brain  power;  wide  between  the  ears  and  a 
slight  peak ;  the  parts  over  the  eyes  well  arched ;  the 
whole  thickly  covered  with  curls  or  cords.  Muzzle: 
Long  (but  not  "  snipey  "),  strong,  square,  and  deep  ;  the 
"  stop"  should  be  defined,  but  not  to  a  very  great  extent. 
The  teeth  should  be  perfectly  level,  strong,  and  white. 
Eyes  :  Small,  dark,  and  bright,  with  a  very  intelligent 
expression  ;  they  should  be  set  at  right  angles  with  the 
line  of  the  face.  Nose :  Large,  and  perfectly  black  in 
colour,  with  wide  open  nostrils.     Ears  :  Very  long,  close 


100  Ladies'  Toy  Dogs. 

to  the  cheek,  low  set  on,  and  well  covered  with  long 
ringlets  or  "  curls."  Neck  :  Well  proportioned,  and  very 
strong,  to  admit  of  the  head  being  carried  high  and  with 
dignity.  Chest :  Fairly  deep,  but  not  too  wide  ;  strong, 
and  well  covered  with  muscles.  Legs :  Forelegs  per- 
fectly straight,  very  muscular,  and  "  set  on  racing  lines  ;" 
they  should  be  long  enough  to  raise  the  body  from  the 
ground,  but  without  legginess.  Hind  legs  very  muscular, 
fairly  bent,  with  the  hocks  well  let  down.  Feet :  Large, 
strong,  and  rather  wide,  but  standing  well  on  the  toes, 
and  of  good  shape ;  the  nails  perfectly  black,  and  the 
pads  very  strong  and  hard.  Back :  Short,  with  body 
well  ribbed  up ;  the  loins  very  strong  and  miiscula*-,  but 
without  fat.  Tail :  Carried  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees, 
having  long  ringlets  or  cords  hangmg  down.  Coat : 
Thick  and  strong.  If  corded,  hanging  in  long,  ropy 
"cords";  if  curly,  the  curls  close  and  thick.  Weight: 
Large,  60 lbs.  ;  medium,  40  lbs.;  small,  20  lbs.  and 
under. 

The  Perfect  Red  Poodle. — All  the  foregoing  points 
hold  good  for  this  variety^  with  the  followijig  exceptio?is : — 
Eyes  :  Yellow,  and  free  from  black  rims  round  the  eye- 
lids. Nose  :  Liver  colour.  Avails  :  Liver  colour.  Back  : 
The  ticks  (spots)  on  back  should  be  red  or  liver,  and  the 
whole  body  should  be  free  from  black  ticks. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF    THE  DOG. 

General  management  of  Dogs— Of  Whelps— Dressing— Kennels- 
Management  of  pet  Dogs. 

General  Remarks. — The  management  of  the  grey- 
hound and  foxhound  as  to  their  kennel  management,  feed- 
ing, exercise,  and  training,  belongs  rather  to  a  treatise  on 
sport  than  to  this  litde  book.     We  therefore  refer  our 


General  Manage^ient  of  the  Dog.  i  o  I 

readers  for  information  on  this  subject  to  British  Rural 
Sports,  by  Stonehenge.  Of  the  treatment  necessary  for  the 
pointers,  setters,  spaniels,  retrievers,  and  Newfoundland, 
we  must  say  a  few  words. 

All  these  dogs  are,  in  the  usual  way,  chained  up  to  a 
vvooden  kennel,  with  a  length  of  chain  which  allows  of  no 
exercise ;  and  the  only  advantage  which  they  have  over 
neglected  hounds  is,  that  they  are  generally  kept  clean  for 
tlie  sake  of  appearances.  But  too  often  they  are  fed  irrc 
gularly  and  on  improper  food,  and  almost  invariably  proper 
exercise  is  denied  them.  For  these  dogs  Indian  meal  is 
by  far  the  cheapest  and  the  best  kind  of  food,  and  with 
greaves  it  will  keep  them  in  good  health,  if  they  are  only 
sufficiently  exercised  every  day.  But  in  many  cases  horse- 
flesh, being  at  times  very  cheap,  is  given  raw,  and  often 
unmixed  with  vegetable  food  ;  and  the  master  is  then  sur- 
prised if  an  eruption  appears  over  the  bodies  of  his  dogs, 
when  the  chief  reason  for  wonder  is  that  any  ever  escape, 
with  such  a  diet  to  stimulate  and  inflame  their  blood,  and 
nothing  to  carry  it  off.  This  improper  feeding  and  neglect 
of  exercise  are  fertile  sources  of  madness,  and  should  be 
avoided  by  all  who  value  their  own  safety ;  but  besides 
this  motive,  which  some  may  perhaps  disregard,  there  is 
another,  which  every  sportsman  will  carefully  consider, 
namely,  that  dogs  so  mismanaged  are  almost  always  de- 
ficient in  nose.  It  is  very  often  said  that  there  is  no  scent 
for  pointers  or  setters  early  in  the  season,  but  quite  as 
frequently  they  have  not  come  to  their  noses,  and  it  is  only 
after  a  fortnight's  work  that  they  carry  off  the  stimulating 
results  of  bad  feeding.  No  sporting  dog  ought  ever  to  be 
neglected,  for  he  will  seldom  entirely  regain  his  health,  and 
without  a  full  share  of  that  commodity  he  will  not  be 
capable  of  making  out  a  scent.  Servants,  therefore,  ought 
to  be  well  watched  during  the  spring  and  summer,  that  the 
dogs  may  be  attended  to  by  them  ;  and  if  they  do  their 
duty  there  will  be  very  little  reason  to  complain  of  birds 
flushed,  or  of  sore  feet,  or  knocking-up.  Sporting  dogs 
(not  including  greyhounds)  will  seldom  exercise  themselves 
at  a  fast  pace  unless  they  are  allowed  to  hunt ;  and  as  this 
is  unpossible  in  the  summer,  they  should  be  taken  out 


1 02  General  Management  of  the  Dog 

with  a  man  on  horseback  once  or  twice  a  week  on  the  road. 
Very  httle  flesh  should  be  given  them,  which  is  only- 
wanted  when  they  have  severe  work,  and  can  seldom  then 
be  procured.  Greaves,  with  meal,  and  occasionally  pota- 
toes, form  the  best  food;  carrots,  cabbages,  or  turnips 
should  be  given  once  or  twice  a  week  ;  and  a  dose  or  two 
of  castor  oil,  salts,  or  jalap  will  do  good  two  or  three  times 
in  the  summer,  or  an  aloetic  ball. 

Management  of  Whelps. 

Coursing  will  equally  apply  to  other  sporting  dogs. 
Few  people  will  take  the  full  amount  of  trouble  which 
should  be  bestowed  on  whelps,  but  it  will  suffice  if  the 
whelps  are  sent  into  the  country  to  be  reared  at  the 
butcher's,  or  the  tanner's,  or  at  the  small  wayside  public 
house.  When  milk  or  buttermilk  can  be  obtained,  it  is  a 
good  article  to  rear  all  whelps  upon ;  but  it  is  seldom 
afforded  to  ordinary  dogs.  The  accidents  likely  to  occur 
in  whelping  are  alluded  to  in  the  part  on  the  diseases  of 
the  dog. 

Dressing. 

Dressing  with  a  mixture  of  sulphur  and  train  oil  is  very 
generally  adopted  every  year  with  sporting  dogs,  and  if 
they  are  mismanaged  in  their  feeding,  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary; if,  however,  they  are  clean  in  their  skins,  it  is  not 
required.  Soft  soap  and  soda  kills  their  fleas,  and  white 
precipitate,  ticks  ;  but  the  latter  should  only  be  used  with 
a  muzzle  on,  to  guard  against  its  being  taken  into  the 
stomach  by  the  tongue.  Carbolic  acid,  diluted  with  twenty 
or  thirty  times  its  bulk  of  water,  likewise  kills  fleas,  but  it 
also  requires  a  muzzle. 

Kennels. 

Sporting  dogs,  as,  for  example,  pointers  or  setters,  are 
often  kept  in  such  numbers  as  to  require  a  kennel  or  ken- 
nels. When  such  is  the  case,  an  open  yard  paved  with 
glazed  tiles  or  blue  bricks  must  be  added,  but  it  is  better 
not  covered  in.  The  lodging-room  must  be  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  dogs,  but  it  is  better  not  to  have  more 


'Q^i 


Gciural  Management  of  the  Dog.  103 

than  tliree  or  four  together.  The  whole  of  this  part 
should  be  boarded  and  raised  18  in.  or  2  ft.,  with  a  lining 
of  board  i  ft.  high,  to  keep  the  backs  of  the  dogs  from 
the  wall.  An  opening  3  ft.  high  and  2  ft.  wide  is  left 
for  the  dogs  to  go  in  and  out,  and  this  should  be  provided 
with  a  wooden  door,  hinged  at  the  top,  and  kept  partly- 
open  by  A-shaped  sides,  so  as  to  allow  the  dog  to  jump 
up  and  down  freely,  and  yet  keeping  the  wind  and  rain 
from  entering.  This  is  a  wonderful  improvement  on  ken- 
nel doors,  which  I  introduced,  and  which  ought  to  be  gene- 
rally adopted,  as  it  is  the  only  plan  by  which  kennel  beds 
can  be  kept  clean,  and  at  the  same  time  airy,  without 
admitting  the  rain  and  wind.  When  the  bed  is  to  be  re- 
moved, the  door  with  its  sides  is  lifted  up,  and  the  atten- 
dant easily  enters. 

Management  of  Pet  Dogs. 

The  food  of  pet  dogs  is  almost  always  too  heating  in  its 
nature,  considering  that  they  are  generally  deprived  of  a 
proper  amount  of  exercise. 

I  am  sometimes  induced  for  the  sake  of  brevity  to 
recommend  correspondents  to  diet  their  dogs  as  they  do 
their  children.  But  unfortunately  the  latter  are  also  often 
crammed  with  all  sorts  of  improper  articles  of  food ;  and 
I  should  perhaps  be  less  liable  to  mislead  my  readers  if  I 
advised  them  to  give  their  dogs  the  same  kind  of  food 
which  they  would  think  right  for  the  children  of  their  ac- 
quaintances. Theory  and  practice  are  often  widely  sepa- 
rated, and  many  a  mother  is  so  weak  as  to  allow  her  own 
child  to  tease  her  into  giving  creams  and  pastry,  which  1  he 
would,  "  on  principle,"  refuse  to  another  not  holding  the 
same  power  over  her  maternal  feelings.  We  all  know  how 
well  bachelors'  wives  and  old  maids'  children  are  managed, 
and  therefore  I  would  in  a  few  words  wind  up  the  general 
principles  of  managing  pet  dogs  by  suggesting  that,  if  the 
plans  so  often  recommended  by  the  wise  virgins  of  this 
world  for  feeding  their  nephews  and  nieces  are  carried  out 
in  favour  of  pet  dogs,  a  great  improvement  will  be  effected 
in  their  health  and  appeai'ance. 


1 04  General  Management  of  the  Dog. 

To  begin  with  the  beginning,  however,  I  will  suppose 
that  a  puppy  six  weeks  old,  and  of  a  breed  not  exceeding 
15  lbs.  weight,  is  presented  to  one  of  my  readers.  What 
is  to  be  done?  First  of  all,  if  the  weather  is  not  decidedly 
warm,  let  it  be  provided  with  a  warm  basket  lined  with 
some  woollen  material,  which  must  be  kept  scrupulously 
clean.  The  little  animal  must  on  no  account  be  per- 
mitted to  have  the  opportunity  of  lying  on  a  stone  floor, 
which  is  a  fertile  source  of  disease ;  bare  wood,  however, 
is  better  than  carpet,  and  oilcloth  superior  to  either  on 
the  score  of  cleanliness.  In  the  winter  season  the  apart- 
ment should  have  a  fire,  but  it  is  not  desirable  that  the 
puppy  should  lie  basking  close  to  it,  though  this  is  far 
better  than  the  other  extreme.  Even  in  the  severest  cold  a 
gleam  of  sunshine  does  young  creatures  good,  and  the 
puppy  should,  if  possible,  be  allowed  to  obtain  it  through 
a  window  in  the  winter,  or  without  that  protection  in  the 
summer.  It  will  take  exercise  enough  in  playing  with  a 
ball  of  worsted  or  other  materials  indoors  until  it  is  ten 
weeks  old ;  but  after  that  time  a  daily  run  in  the  garden 
or  paddock  will  be  of  great  service,  extending  to  an  hour 
or  an  hour  and  a  half,  but  not  so  as  to  overtax  its  limbs. 
After  this  age,  two  or  three  hours  a  day,  divided  into 
periods  of  not  more  than  an  hour  each,  will  be  of  service; 
but  it  is  very  seldom  that  young  pet  dogs  can  reckon 
upon  this  amount  of  exercise,  and,  indeed,  it  is  not  by 
any  means  necessary  to  their  healthy  growth.  Until  after 
the  tenth  week,  cow's  milk  is  almost  essential  to  the 
health  of  the  puppy.  It  should  be  boiled  and  thickened 
at  first  with  fine  wheat  flour,  and  after  the  eighth  week 
with  a  mixture  of  coarse  wheat  flour  and  oatmeal.  The 
flour  should  be  gradually  increased  in  quantity,  at  first 
making  the  milk  of  the  thickness  of  cream,  and  towards 
the  last  adding  meal  in  quantity  sufiicient  to  make  a 
spoon  stand  up  in  it.  If  the  bowels  are  relaxed,  the 
oatmeal  should  be  diminished,  or  if  confined,  increased. 
This  food,  varied  with  broth  made  from  the  scraps  of  the 
table,  and  thickened  in  the  same  way,  will  sufliice  up  to 
the  tenth  or  twelfth  Aveek,  after  which  a  little  meat,  with 
bread,   potatoes,  and   some   green   vegetables,  may   be 


General  jManagcineiit  of  the  Dog.  105 

mixed  together  and  gradually  introduced  as  the  regular 
and  staple  food.  The  quantity  per  day  will  of  course 
vary  according  to  the  size  of  the  puppy ;  but,  as  an  ap- 
proximation to  the  proper  weight  required,  it  may  be  laid 
down  that  for  each  pound  the  pupjjy  weighs  an  ounce  of 
moderately  solid  food  will  be  sufficient.  From  the  time 
of  weaning  up  to  the  tenth  week  it  should  be  fed  four 
times  a  day;  then  up  to  four  months,  three  times;  and 
afterwards  twice  until  full-grown,  when  a  single  feed  will, 
in  our  opinion,  conduce  to  its  health,  though  many  prefer 
going  on  with  the  morning  and  evening  supply.  When 
the  puppy  is  full-grow^n,  meat,  bread,  and  vegetables 
(either  potatoes,  carrots,  cabbage,  cauliflower,  or  pars- 
nips), in  equal  proportions,  will  form  the  proper  diet,  care 
being  taken  to  avoid  bread  made  with  much  alum  in  it. 
Dog  biscuits,  if  sound,  answer  well  for  pet  dogs;  but  the 
quantity  required  is  so  small  that  in  most  houses  the 
scraps  of  the  bread-basket  are  quite  sufficient.  Bones 
should  be  supplied  daily,  for  without  them  not  only  are 
the  teeth  liable  to  become  covered  with  tartar,  but  the 
digestion  is  impaired  for  want  of  a  sufficient  secretion  of 
saliva. 

If  the  above  quality  and  quantity  of  food  and  exercise 
are  given  m  combination  with  the  protection  from  cold 
recommended,  the  pet  puppy  will  seldom  require  any 
medical  treatment.  Sometimes,  in  spite  of  the  most 
careful  management,  it  will  be  attacked  by  distemper  con- 
tracted from  some  passing  dog  infected  with  it;  but  with 
this  exception,  which  will  not  often  occur,  it  may  be  anti- 
cipated that  the  properly  treated  pet  dog  wall  pass  through 
life  Avithout  submitting  to  the  attacks  of  this  disease, 
which  is  dire  in  its  effects  upon  this  division  of  the  canine 
race.  If  care  is  taken  to  add  oatmeal  and  green  vege- 
tables to  the  food  in  quantity  sufficient  to  keep  the 
bowels  from  being  confined,  no  aperient  will  ever  be  re- 
quired ;  but  sometimes  this  precaution  is  neglected,  and 
then  recourse  must  be  had  either  to  castor  oil  or  the 
compound  rhubarb  pill — the  dose  being  one  drop  of  the 
former  or  half  a  grain  of  the  latter  to  each  pound  the 
puppy  weighs.     If  the  oil  is  stirred  up  with  some  milk, 


1 06  General  Management  of  the  Dog, 

the  puppy  will  take  it  readily  enough,  and  no  drenching 
is  required ;  but  care  should  be  taken  that  the  quality  is 
good,  and  that  the  oil  is  not  the  rank  stuff  sometimes 
used  in  kennels  of  sporting  dogs.  The  compound  rhu- 
barb pill  may  be  given  by  opening  the  mouth  with  the 
left  hand,  and  then  dropping  in  the  pill.  It  must  be 
boldly  pushed  well  down  the  throat  as  far  as  the  finger 
will  reach,  no  danger  being  risked  in  effecting  this  simple 
process.  If  the  liver  is  not  acting  (which  may  be  known 
by  the  absence  of  the  natural  gingerbread  colour  of  the 
evacutions),  from  half  a  grain  to  a  grain  of  blue  pill  may 
be  added  to  either  dose,  and  repeated  if  necessary  every 
day  or  every  other  day  till  the  desired  effect  is  produced. 

Very  young  puppies  should  not  be  washed  even  in  the 
summer  season,  as  they  are  very  liable  to  chill.  After 
they  are  three  months  old,  however,  a  bath  of  warm 
v/ater,  with  or  without  soap,  will  do  good  rather  than 
harm,  provided  that  care  be  taken  to  dry  them  well 
afterwards.  For  white  dogs,  white  soap  is  required  to 
give  full  effect  to  this  operation  ;  and  it  may  be  either 
curd  or  white  soft  soap,  whichever  is  preferred,  the  latter 
being  most  effective  in  cleaning  the  coat.  Long-haired 
dogs,  such  as  spaniels,  the  Maltese  and  Skye  terriers, 
require  combing  and  brushing  until  they  are  dry,  which 
should  be  done  in  the  winter  before  a  fire ;  and  in  the 
latter  breeds  the  coat  should  be  parted  down  the  back 
with  the  comb  in  the  most  regular  manner.  If  the  hair 
has  become  matted,  a  long  soaking  will  be  necessary,  the 
comb  being  used  while  the  part  of  the  dog  submitted  to 
its  teeth  is  kept  under  water,  which  will  greatly  facilitate 
the  unrolling  of  the  tangled  fibres.  After  the  coat  is  dry, 
where  great  brilliancy  is  demanded,  a  very  slight  dressing 
of  hair-oil  may  be  allowed  occasionally;  but  the  brush  is 
the  best  polisher,  and  when  "  elbovz-grease  "  is  not  spared, 
a  better  effect  will  be  produced  than  by  bear's  grease  at 
half-a-crown  a  pot. 

With  the  exception  of  fleas,  pet  dogs  ought  never  to  be 
infested  with  any  vermin.  Sometimes,  however,  they 
catch  from  others  either  lice  or  the  ticks  which  infest 
the  canine  race.   The  appearance  of  the  first  two  parasites 


General  ManageDient  of  the  Dog,  io^ 

is  well  known  to  every  one;  but  the  tick  is  not  among 
the  things  commonly  presented  to  the  eye,  and  we  may 
therefore  mention  that  it  may  be  known  by  its  spider-like 
shape,  and  by  its  close  adhesion  to  the  skin  by  means  of 
its  legs,  with  which  it  digs  into  the  surface.  In  size  it 
varies  from  that  of  the  head  of  a  small  pin  to  the  mag- 
nitude of  a  small  grain  of  wheat,  but  not  being  so  long 
in  proportion  to  its  width.  The  colour  changes  with  that 
of  the  dog,  and  with  the  quantity  of  blood  imbibed, 
which  always  gives  a  greater  or  less  tint  of  bluish  red ; 
but  in  very  young  ticks  the  colour  is  a  pearly  grey.  In 
destroying  fleas,  the  best  remedy  is  the  insect-destroying 
powder  sold  by  Butler  and  M'CuUoch,  of  Covent  Garden, 
and  by  Keating,  of  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  which  may  be 
well  rubbed  in  without  fear  of  consequences.  Lice  and 
ticks  require  a  stronger  drug  to  destroy  them,  and  this 
should  be  used  with  more  care,  as,  being  a  mercurial  pre- 
paration, it  is  liable  to  be  absorbed  if  the  skin  is  wetted, 
and  then  produces  serious  mischief,  accompanied  by  sali- 
vation; or,  if  the  dog  is  allowed  to  lick  himself,  this 
effect  is  still  more  likely  to  follow.  The  dog  should 
therefore  be  kept  carefully  from  all  wet  for  at  least  twelve 
hours,  and  during  the  application  of  the  remedy  it  should 
either  be  carefully  watched  and  prevented  by  the  hand 
from  licking  itself,  or  it  should  be  muzzled.  The  remedy 
is  white  precipitate,  in  powder,  well  rubbed  into  the  roots 
of  the  hair  over  the  whole  body,  and  left  on  for  six  hours, 
after  which  it  should  be  brushed  out.  At  the  expiration  of 
the  week  the  application  should  be  repeated,  and  possibly 
it  may  be  required  a  third  time ;  but  tliis  is  seldom 
needed. 


io8  Diseases  of  the  Dog. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  DOG. 

General  Observations — Health  and  Disease — Pathology— Fever  :  Simple, 
Symptomatic  and  Specific — Inflammation— Abscess — Serous  Cyst — Preven- 
tion of  Disease — Classification  of  Disease. 

The  public  health  is  largely  determined  by  the  con- 
dition of  our  domestic  animals,  notably  those  which 
minister  to  the  wants  of  mankind  as  a  provision  for 
daily  food.  Although  the  dog  does  not  figure  in  the 
general  influences  exerted  in  that  direction,  he  is  in  other 
respects,  as  the  close  companion  of  mankind,  capable  of 
developing  somewhat  dismal  consequences.  To  main- 
tain a  uniform  standard  of  health  is  an  absolute  neces- 
sity ;  otherwise,  not  that  only,  but  the  lives  of  the  human 
population  are  laid  under  serious  peril. 

The  knowledge  acquired  by  companionship  with  our 
domestic  animals  is  first  evident  in  our  judgment  of  their 
being  in  health.  Subsequently,  and  often  by  mere  intui- 
tion, we  discover  the  antithesis,  and  acquire  the  power  to 
interpret  the  sign  language  of  disorder  and  disease.  The 
"  Bloom  of  Health  "  is  a  state  which  the  experienced  in 
canine  lore  comprehend  at  a  glance.  The  clear  bright 
eye,  sleek  coat,  maintenance  of  general  function,  cool, 
moist,  and  sweet  odour  of  the  mouth  and  breath,  dewy 
state  of  the  muzzle  and  general  vivacity,  present  a  spec- 
tacle on  which  a  true  lover  of  the  lower  animals  will  gaze 
with  unwearied  delight.  On  the  other  hand,  the  signs 
of  disorder  are  readily  comprehended  by  similar  intelli- 
gence. They  are  recognised  by  their  being  the  reverse  of 
health  and  spirits.  The  animal  is  dull,  heavy  and  list- 
less, the  coat,  having  lost  its  sleek  and  glossy  appearance, 
is  more  or  less  dull,  dry,  harsh,  or  staring,  and  probably 
fouled  by  accumulations  of  scurf  and  dirt  which    the 


Diseases  of  the  Dog.  1 09 

creature  does  not  care  to  remove.  The  mouth  is  pro- 
bably hot,  foul,  and  dry,  or  slimy,  and  the  breath  f(jetid. 
The  functions  of  secretion  and  excretion  are  irregular  or 
suspended,  and  the  faeces  are  hard,  small,  irregular,  and 
probably  offensive;  the  urine  is  also  deficient,  highly 
coloured,  and  emits  an  odour  not  consistent  with  health. 
To  these  may  be  added  coldness  of  the  ears  and  legs,  a 
hot,  dry  muzzle,  &c.,  all  of  which  suffer  more  or  less 
modification  or  intensity  with  specific  additions  enforced 
by  the  various  organs  involved. 

With  regard  to  appetite  or  taste,  the  dog  is  not  a  clean 
animal.  Designed  by  Nature  as  the  scavenger  of  the 
earth,  he  devours  the  most  disgusting  filth  with  obvious 
enjoyment,  and  digests  his  dainty  morsel  without  suffer- 
ing systemic  disturbance.  Notwithstanding,  he  lays  claim 
to  the  possession  of  a  depraved  appetite  under  disease, 
and,  to  satisfy  the  morbid  demand,  hesitates  not  to 
swallow  sticks,  stones,  sand,  paper,  rags,  and  the  filthiest 
of  decomposing  material,  even  human  excrement,  or  that 
of  other  dogs  as  well  as  his  own. 

The  department  of  science  which  determines  the  state 
of  an  animal  under  disease,  and  defines  its  nature,  is 
known  as  Pathology.  In  order  to  realise  the  various 
morbid  conditions  which  are  comprehended  within  a 
given  word,  the  practitioner  resorts  to  numerous  methods 
of  observation,  specific  testing,  and  comparison  of  the 
several  signs  exhibited  by  the  suffering  animal.  The 
tisual  signs  of  disturbance  are  first  carelully  noted,  and 
often  by  negative  forms  of  examination  he  may  decide 
which  organs  are  free  from  morbid  disturbance,  while 
others  exhibit  special  indications  which  lead  conclusively 
to  their  identification  with  some  unusual  process.  This 
property  of  acquiring  information  during  life  is  greatly 
assisted  by  examination  after  death,  the  morbid  processes 
revealed  by  Pathological  Anatomy  being  highly  useful  in 
turning  the  attention  of  the  practitioner  to  the  diseased 
organs  during  life. 

In  the  treatmejit  of  disease  the  department  of  Materia 
Medica,  or  the  nature,  actions,  uses  and  doses  of  medi- 
cines, as  well  as  their  legitimate  combinations  affords  a 


1 10  Diseases  of  the  Dog, 

vast  amount  of  usefulness.  In  ignorant  hands  medicines 
often  prove  as  so  many  violent  poisons  ;  great  care  and 
sound  judgment  are  therefore  essential  in  all  cases,  but 
especially  when  the  amateur  aspires  to  the  office  of 
physician  and  surgeon. 

As  a  preliminary  to  the  study  of  general  diseases,  we 
turn  to  a  consideration  oi fever,  inflaimnation^  &c. 

Fever,  as  understood  by  the  practitioner,  consists  of  a 
general  disturbance  of  the  vital  functions,  m  which  the 
system  is  bordering  on  a  state  of  more  serious  derange- 
ment, which,  if  not  checked,  is  eventually  located  in 
some  important  organ,  and  confirmed  disease  is  the  inevit- 
able result.  Three  kinds  of  fever  are  recognised — viz., 
Simple  or  e_phe7neral,  Symptomatic  or  sympathetic,  and 
Specific. 

Slmplo  Fever  is  defined  as  the  short-lived,  or  ephe- 
meral disturbance  common  to  highly-fed  and  pampered 
animals,  taking  little  or  no  out-door  exercise,  and  sub- 
jected to  a  close,  warm  atmosphere,  and  soft  downy  beds. 
All  the  animal  functions,  as  respiration,  circulation, 
temperature,  &c.,  are  accelerated,  and  a  hot,  dry  mouth 
is  associated  with  constipation  and  diminished  secretions 
generally.  Such  conditions  are  by  continuous  occurrence 
developed  into  serious  diseases,  and  should  be  met  with 
the  needful  remedies,  as  more  frequent  exercise  in  the 
open  air,  a  less  stimulating  diet,  and  the  substitution  of 
laxative  materials.  This  form  of  disorder  is  too  fre- 
quently neglected,  the  result  being  that  local  or  general 
states  of  a  congestive  nature  are  induced,  followed  by 
slow  and  insidious  structural  changes  in  important  organs, 
which  finally  end  in  serious  disease  or  death. 

Sympathetic  or  Symptomatic  Fever  is  a  form  of 
aggravated  disturbance  of  the  system  consequent  upon 
the  development  of  disease  in  some  important  organ,  or 
set  of  organs,  and  may  be  thus  defined  :  severe  accidents, 
such  as  fracture  of  one  or  more  limbs,  ribs,  &c.,  produc- 
ing violent  shock,  the  whole  system  is  seriously  disturbed, 
and  by  nervous  sympathy  the  fanctions  are  deranged  or 
suspended.  In  such  cases  the  lungs  as  a  rule  suffer 
acutely  by  congestion  or  engorgement  with  blood,  or  they 


Diseases  of  the  Dog.  in 

are  inflamed,  and  the  disease  being  violent  the  effects 
upon  the  system,  already  intluenced  by  the  initial  shock, 
is  more  than  it  can  bear,  death  arising,  not  from  the 
result  of  the  original  injury,  but  from  the  impediment 
raised  within  the  circulatory  system.  In  other  words,  the 
constitutional  disturbance  in  its  magnitude  and  severity  is 
the  cause  of  death,  and  being  the  indication  of  the  serious 
nature  of  the  original  injury,  it  is  understood  as  being 
symptofnatic  in  its  real  nature. 

Specific  Fever  is  a  similar,  but  more  frequently  a 
milder,  form  of  constitutional  disturbance,  resulting  from 
some  form  of  animal  poison  within  the  system,  and  pro- 
pagated by  contact  with  other  subjects  of  the  disease. 
Contagious  fevers  supply  the  needed  examples,  which 
differ  from  the  subjects  in  the  preceding  class  in  their 
slow  and  insidious  nature  as  a  rule,  the  absence  of  violent 
shock,  and  few  sudden  deaths. 

Treatment  of  Fever. — The  rule  is  embodied  in  the 
apt  expression  :  "  Remove  the  cause  and  the  effects  will 
cease."  This  is  an  easy  procedure  with  Simple  Fever. 
Change  of  diet,  lodging,  a  supply  of  fresh  air,  light,  and 
water ;  more  frequent  exercise,  cleanliness,  friction  to  the 
skin,  &c.,  will  usually  effect  the  desirable  changes ;  or 
when  the  causes  have  been  long  applied,  a  moderate 
purgative,  or  a  dose  of  alkaline  medicine,  is  probably 
effectual.  As  regards  Symptomatic  Fever  the  case  is  widely 
different.  The  causes  are  more  powerful  and  destructive. 
We  cannot  replace  arteries,  veins,  and  nerves,  as  well  as 
muscular  and  other  tissues  destroyed  or  disorganised  by 
violence  in  one  form  or  other,  or  forces  of  the  most 
subtle  character  which  wait  upon  injury  and  disease  in 
all  their  fulness  and  potency  for  evil. 

Inflammation. — The  infallible  signs  are  heat,  pain, 
redness,  and  swelling.  The  first  and  second  are  usually 
evident,  but  owing  to  the  dense  covering  of  hair  in  many 
animals,  redness  and  swelling  are  not  so  readily  observed. 
In  small  pet  animals,  with  light-coloured  or  white  coats 
and  thin  skin,  the  difficulties  are  not  so  great.  Inflam- 
mation is  the  result  of  violent  causes,  consisting  of  an 
increase  of  blood  in  the  affected  part,  with  more  or  less 


112  Diseases  of  the  Dog. 

suspension  of  function  in  the  contiguous  structures,  as 
well  as  in  the  integral  parts  of  the  blood  itself.  Acute 
Inflammation  is  characterised  by  severity  and  activity ;  it 
is  atonic  or  subacute,  when  by  reason  of  low  vital  force  it 
proves  slow  or  tardy.  Closely  allied  to  this  state  is  a 
peculiarity  of  the  circulation,  common  to  the  larger  organs 
having  abundant  vessels  and  elastic  tissue,  known  as 
Congestion.  It  is  sudden  in  its  origin  and  departure, 
sometimes  attended  with  dropsical  states,  and  is  probably 
confined  to  the  venous  system. 

Inflammation  terminates  in  various  ways — viz.,  Resolu- 
tion, or  gradual  decline,  the  parts  shortly  regaining  their 
original  state ;  in  suppuration,  or  the  formation  oi pus^  in 
some  cases  discharged  from  the  surface  of  membranes,  as 
in  catarrh,  or  otherwise  collected  within  a  cavity  between 
muscles,  or  in  deep-seated  tissues,  when  it  is  known  as  an 
abscess ;  in  effusion  from  the  surface  of  membranes,  as 
water  (serum),  or  mucus,  or  by  lymph  within  or  between 
structures  inflamed,  by  which  permanent  union,  thicken- 
ing and  enlargement  is  the  result.  Inflammation  is  further 
distinguished  by  the  structures  involved  :  thus,  we  have 
serous  and  mucous  inflammation,  as  the  serous  and  mucous 
membranes  are  implicated  ;  when  the  substance  of  organs 
is  the  seat,  it  is  known  as  parenchymatoiis  ;  if  it  seizes  the 
ligaments,  tendons,  and  coverings  of  joints,  it  is  rheu- 
matic;  and  inflammation  of  the  skin  and  deeper-seated 
tissues  is  termed  erysipelatous. 

Treatment  of  Inflammation  may  be  local  ox  general. 
The  former  consists  of  liberating  the  vessels  of  the  affected 
parts  by  scarificatio?t  or  slight  incisions  across  the  surface 
by  means  of  a  small  lancet,  as  in  conjunctival  ophthalmia, 
or  by  means  of  blisters,  the  hot  iron,  &c.,  in  the  case  of 
important  organs.  Gefieral  treatment  consists  of  attack- 
ing the  system  by  internal  remedies  known  to  be  effica- 
cious in  controlling  the  circulation  and  nervous  force. 

Abscess. — The  collection  of  pus,  or  matter,  within  a 
cavity  in  soft  parts  of  the  body,  is  termed  an  abscess.  The 
signs  are  heat,  unusual  tenderness,  and  defined  sweUing  ] 
and  as  the  process  of  pus  formation  matures,  the  swelling 
and  tenderness  are  confined  to  the  central  part,  which 


Diseases  of  the  Dog.  113 

becomes  first  moist,  then  denuded  of  hair,  and,  later,  by 
internal  absorption  or  ulceration  of  the  skin;  the  contents, 
now  become  fluid,  are  readily  felt  by  the  fingers.  In- 
ternal pressure,  the  result  of  pus  formation,  and  the  action 
of  contiguous  muscles,  &c.,  now  causes  the  abscess  to 
bulge  outwards,  and  ultimately  forces  the  skin  at  the 
weakest  part,  when  the  contents  are  evacuated. 

Treahnefit. — The  maturation  of  an  abscess  often  causes 
much  pain  and  systemic  disturbance,  and  to  avoid  this 
the  surgeon,  after  investigation,  detecting  the  presence  of 
pus,  hastens  the  process  of  recovery  by  plunging  a  lancet 
through  the  point  where  maturation  is  evident.  Thus, 
as  a  rule,  ends  the  malady.  With  the  evacuation  of  the 
contents  healing  proceeds  rapidly  and  safely,  all  that  is 
required  being  the  usual  means  of  cleanliness  to  prevent 
the  accumulation  of  dried  pus  or  dirt  around  the  orifice. 
In  the  case  of  deep-seated  abscesses,  or  those  situate 
below  or  between  muscles  some  distance  from  the  surface, 
much  judgment  and  skill  are  required  in  order  to  decide 
upon  the  exact  locality,  and  the  requisite  form  of  surgical 
treatment  which  can  neither  be  understood  nor  practised 
by  an  amateur,  and,  therefore,  calls  for  no  farther  comment 
here. 

Serous  Cyst,  otherwise  known  as  Serous  Abscess,  is 
mostly  located  superficially,  and  is  the  result  of  blows, 
falls,  or  severe  local  pressure.  It  is  not  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  the  dog,  neither  serious  in  its  nature  nor 
consequences.  The  contents  being  scrum  or  a  red-coloured 
fluid,  having  the  density  of  water  or  thereabouts,  the 
produce  of  the  blood-vessels  involved  in  the  injury,  the 
accumulation  is  regulated  by  the  surface  involved.  Ab- 
sorption of  the  contents  is  also  delayed  by  the  formation 
of  a  dense  lining  membrane  of  cellular  tissue,  and  the 
swelling  may  remain  for  weeks  or  months. 

Treatnwit  consists  of  liberating  the  contents  of  the  sac 
by  means  of  a  lancet  or  curved  bistoury.  The  former  is 
plunged  through  the  centre,  and  the  orifice  widened  as 
the  instrument  is  withdrawn.  The  bistoury  is  preferable, 
being  passed  through  the  skin  on  one  side  and  across  to 
the  opposite,  when  it  emerges  ;  it  is  then  turned  tdge 

8 


114  btscas(s  of  the  Dog. 

upwards,  and  the  whole  skin  between  the  two  points  is 
divided.  Pressure  is  next  apphed  by  means  of  a  pad  of 
soft  tow,  &c.,  saturated  with  some  heahng  fluid,  and  re- 
newed from  time  to  time  as  cleaning  is  carried  out. 

Prevention  of  Disease. — This  is  a  department  of 
social  economics  which  is  regarded  more  frequently  as 
Utopian  than  real,  or  possible,  from  the  circumstance 
of  its  introduction  within  recent  years.  The  usual  plan 
has  been  for  every  man  to  do  that  which  seemeth  right 
in  his  own  eyes,  a  legacy  which  we  have  come  to  regard 
as  sacred,  and  not  to  be  interfered  with  by  others. 
This  excessive  liberty  is  the  cause  of  our  towns  and 
villages  being  infested  by  numbers  of  dogs,  whose  sole 
use  and  purpose  is  to  annoy  the  inhabitants  by  their 
furious  barkings,  and  numerous  attacks  on  the  person, 
especially  of  children,  and  on  other  dogs  under  enforced 
control.  Besides  this,  the  animals  breed  indiscriminately, 
and  the  progeny  are  a  nondescript  race,  which  "walk  in 
the  ways  of  their  forefathers,"  or  when  opportunity  serves 
they  are  ruthlessly  drowned  in  some  river  or  ditch^  Avhere 
the  bodies  lie  rotting  and  polluting  the  water  and  atmo- 
sphere to  the  great  disgust  of  pedestrians  seeking  open 
air  exercise.  Like  produces  like.  Thus  all  the  defects  of 
race  are  handed  down  by  the  careless  mating  of  animals, 
including  the  idiosyncrasies  of  their  nature,  which  in 
most  cases  determine  the  hereditary  latency  of  disease. 
If  we  desire  strong  and  healthy  animals,  the  parents 
must  be  sound.  Regularity  of  Feeding  is  also  an  im- 
portant item.  Without  this,  the  process  of  digestion  is 
interfered  with,  and  the  assimilative  powers  weakened, 
by  which  nutritive  material  is  imperfectly  transformed, 
more  frequently  proving  deleterious  than  nourishing  or 
sustaining.  Fresh  Air  and  Cleanliness  have  a  large 
share  in  the  maintenance  of  health.  The  effect  of  the 
former  on  the  blood  is  to  facilitate  the  process  cf  com- 
bustion or  formation  of  animal  heat.  Thus,  not  only  the 
rich  principles  of  food,  but  the  deleterious  portions,  with 
the  effete  or  waste  products  of  the  body  are  burned  and 
suitably  transformed  to  ensure  their  expulsion  by  the 
proper  channels  from  the  system.     The  effect  of  cleanli- 


Diseases  of  Ike  Dog.  115 

ness  is  to  promote  the  movement  of  fresh  air.  Foul  and 
dark  habitations  interfere  with  true  ventilation.  The 
system  breathes  the  poison  thus  generated,  which  acts  as 
a  powerful  sedative  on  all  the  functions  of  animal  life, 
predisposing  it  to  diseased  conditions.  The  system,  in 
other  words,  acts  like  a  sponge,  and  constantly  imbibing 
impure  elements,  becomes  fertile  soil  in  which  the  seeds 
of  disease  may  find  the  needful  sustenance  of  their  nature. 
Regular  Exercise  in  the  Open  Air,  apart  from  actual 
work,  is  essential  for  the  promotion  of  organic  function, 
many  varieties  of  which  are  going  on  incessantly,  besides 
eating  and  drinking.  Food  and  exercise  produce  waste, 
the  latter  being  mainly  essential  in  the  process  of 
eliminating  the  waste,  as  the  result  of  consumption  of 
the  first.  Systematic  Feeding  is  also  essential.  The 
character  of  the  food  should  vary  with  work  and  rest. 
When  animals  come  from  hard  work  to  partial  or  com- 
plete idleness,  the  food  should  be  suitably  changed.  Rich 
aliment  as  flesh,  should  be  replaced  by  smaller  allow- 
ances, the  usual  bulk  being  supplied  by  adding  vegetables, 
as  boiled  greens  or  potatoes,  &c.  Linseed  mucilage 
may  be  suitably  added  to  meal,  porridge,  &c.,  when  the 
fceccs  are  dry  and  hard.  If  they  should  become  dark- 
coloured,  or  black,  and  offensive,  which  may  arise  from 
the  ingestion  of  raw,  decaying  animal  food,  as  dead 
rabbits,  &c.,  a  dose  of  the  castor-oil  mixture,  or  simply 
raw  linseed  oil,  should  be  given,  containing  5  to  60  drops 
of  the  ^'Sanitas  Fluid."  The  Abuse  of  Medicines  is  a 
constant  source  of  ill  health  in  many  establishments. 
Proper  food,  v/ater,  and  rest,  will  often  do  more  good 
than  medicines,  which  should  never  be  given  without  a 
clear  knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  the  case  and 
their  suitability  for  it.  Frequent  aftd  Indiscrimijiate 
Drugging  is  the  basis  on  which  blatant  quackery  thrives. 
Those  who  practise  the  first  are  responsible  for  the  latter, 
and  have  no  cause  to  complain  when  their  malady  be- 
comes intolerable.  Lastly,  the  niea?is  of  promoting  health 
includes  the  use  of  good  and  reliable  antiseptics,  the 
effect  of  w^iich  is  the  destruction  of  offensive  odours, 
which  act  powerfully  through  the  medium  of  respiration, 


Il6  Materia  JMedica. 

and  subsequent  absorption  by  the  blood.  Our  experience 
of  "  Sanitas "  preparations  is  such  that  we  confidently 
recommend  them  as  especially  suitable  for  kennel  use  in 
a  variety  of  ways,  as  specified  in  the  directions  which 
accompany  the  various  forms. 

Classification  of  Disease. — In  order  to  present  the 
subject  in  a  simple  and  comprehensive  form,  we  have 
arranged  the  maladies  of  the  dog,  as  far  as  possible,  in 
accordance  with  their  supposed  nature  and  causes : 
thus,  many  are  conveniently  included  under  the  head  of 
Blood  Diseases  ;  others  as  due  to  Specific,  or  Contagious 
elements ;  while  the  majority,  probably  arising  from 
interference  with  normal  organic  function,  injury,  &c., 
are  more  conveniently  dealt  with  in  their  respective 
classes. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
MATERIA    MEDICA. 

The  Dispensing  of  Medicines — Nuising — Doses  of  Medicines — Alteratives — 
Anodynes— Antiseptics — Antispasmodics — Aperients — Astringents — Blisters 
— Caustics— Clysters,  Enemas,  or  Injections — Cordials— Demulcents — Dia- 
phoretics —  Digestives  —  Diuretics  —  Electuaries  —  Embrocations  or  Lini- 
ments—Emetics— Expectorants — Febrifuges — Fomentations— Hypodermic 
Injections— Inhalations —  Lotions— Ointments  — Externnl  Parasiticides  — 
Poultices— Stimulants — Stomachics— Styptics — Tonics  —Worm  Medicines  : 
Internal  Parasiticides. 

The  continuation,  as  well  as  the  proportions  of  reme- 
dies for  the  treatment  of  disease,  are  details  which 
demand  careful  attention.  In  ignorance  of  the  exact 
nature  and  action,  &c.,  of  drugs  on  the  animal  body, 
strange  and  often  baneful  compounds  are  prescribed. 
By  simple  mixture  they  may  become  inert,  or  possibly  a 
deadly  poison.  The  truth  should  be  kept  in  view  by  all 
who  prescribe  without  the  needful  intelHgence  which  a 
lengthened  study  of  the  subject  provides. 


Materia  Medica.  1 1 7 

The  following  are  examples  of  each  class  of  remedies 
suitable  for  the  dog,  and  to  render  the  plan  of  admixture 
as  well  as  administration  intelligible,  reliable  formulae  are 
given,  from  which  the  reader  may  suitably  make  choice. 

The  Dispensing  of  Medicines. — Canine  pharmacy 
is  a  department  of  no  little  importance.  Next  to  the 
selection  of  suitable  remedies  ranks  the  judicious  com- 
pounding and  admixture,  an  art  which  can  only  be  ac- 
quired by  great  experience  of  the  nature  and  properties 
of  drugs. 

Medicines  are  prescribed  in  several  forms — viz.,  the 
bolus  J  ox  pill,  electuary  and  draught.  These  are  adminis- 
tered by  the  mouth.  In  some  cases  it  is  advisable  to 
administer  remedies  in  the  form  of  enemas^  or  by  sub- 
aita?2cous  i?ijections  (see  p.  132). 

The  bolus,  ox  pill,  is  a  compound  of  two  or  more  reme- 
dies, which,  after  being  reduced  to  fine  powder,  are 
w^orked  into  a  plastic  mass  by  means  of  honey,  treacle, 
&c.,  to  the  requisite  size,  and  subsequently  covered  with 
fine  paper.  The  latter  is  often  indispensable  in  order  to 
prevent  nausea,  which  may  cause  rejection  of  the  dose. 
The  form  0/  t/ie  pill  xna.y  be  cylindrical,  or  spherical.  In 
the  first  the  paper  is  rolled  on  to  the  mass  and  tucked  in 
at  the  ends.  A  spherical  pill  is  placed  in  the  middle  of 
a  small  square  of  thin  or  tissue  paper,  when  the  circum- 
ferent  edges  are  drawn  together  and  twisted  to  a  point. 

To  administer  a  pill  the  dog  is  taken  on  the  knee, 
supported  by  the  left  arm  placed  across  the  shoulder, 
while  the  left  hand  seizes  the  lower  jaw,  the  thumb  and 
fingers  being  pressed  on  each  side  of  the  mouth.  This 
has  the  effect  in  most  cases  of  separating  the  jaws,  when 
the  lower  is  quickly  and  firmly  grasped,  and  simulta- 
neously the  pill,  held  between  the  thumb  and  forefinger  of 
the  right  hand,  is  passed  to  the  back  of  the  tongue.  At 
the  same  moment  the  grasp  of  the  lower  jaw  is  removed, 
and  the  fingers  and  thumb  secure  both  upper  and  lower 
jaws  with  firmness,  yet  without  absolute  punishment. 
The  result  as  a  rule  is  that  the  dog  swallows  almost  im- 
mediately the  jaws  are  approximated.  If  he  fails  to  do 
so  a  few  gentle  passes  of  the  forefinger  over  the  front  of 


1 1 8  Materia  Medica. 

the  nostrils  will  hasten  the  needed  result.  Older  dogs 
often  become  experienced  patients  in  deception,  some- 
times feigning  to  swallow,  and  on  their  release  will  walk 
to  a  distance  and  calml}^  eject  the  pill,  not  simply  once, 
but  frequently.  Some  practitioners  seize  the  jaws  from 
above  by  the  left  hand,  and  press  the  cheeks  on  each 
side  into  the  mouth,  thus  causing  the  animal  to  separate 
the  jaws.  It  is  obvious  that  only  small  dogs  can  be  thus 
treated.  Large  animals  are  usually  held  between  the 
knees,  while  assistants,  by  means  of  a  tape  or  cord  looped 
behind  the  tusks,  forcibly  separate  the  jaws. 

The  Electuary  is  a  semi-soft  or  pasty  preparation,  the 
base  of  which  is  honey,  treacle,  &c.,  containing  the  need- 
ful remedy.  Successive  portions  are  placed  on  the 
tongue,  which  the  creature  seldom  dislikes,  and  during 
the  consequent  insalivation  pass  to  the  stomach  (see 
p.  128). 

The  Draii^^ht. — This  is  a  fluid  mixture  containing  the 
requisite  quantity  of  each  remedy,  the  whole  of  which  is 
to  be  given  as  one  dose.  A  mixture  is  usually  under- 
stood to  be  two,  three,  or  more  doses,  for  the  apportion- 
ment of  which  specific  directions  are  given. 

To  admi?iistera  drmight  the  operator  proceeds  as  follows : 
Fairly  manageable  animals  are  taken  on  the  knee  by  an 
assistant,  who  steadies  the  head  by  means  of  the  left 
hand,  the  thumb  being  placed  across  the  nose,  and  the 
fingers  beneath  the  lower  branches.  The  operator  in- 
serts one  finger  of  the  left  hand  into  the  angle  of  the 
cheek  of  the  right  side,  and  drawing  it  away  from  the 
teeth  a  suitable  pouch  is  formed,  into  which  the  fluid  is 
poured  in  successive  quantities  as  the  animal  swallows. 
Small  and  even  some  large  dogs  are  often  successfully 
managed  by  practitioners  without  any  assistance.  The 
medicine,  being  prepared,  is  put  into  a  one  or  twoounce 
bottle,  and  manipulated  by  the  right  hand.  The  dog  is 
raised  to  the  knees,  encircled  by  the  left  arm,  and  the 
nose  firmly  held  by  the  left  hand.  The  mouth  of  the 
bottle  is  placed  within  the  angle  of  the  lip  of  the  right 
side,  when  the  thumb  presses  from  the  outside,  the  effect 
being  to  capture  the  cheek,  draw  it  from  the  teeth,  and 


Materia  Medica.  119 

form  a  pouch,  into  which  the  fluid  is  gently  poured  in 
successive  quantities  as  the  animal  swallows.  By  care 
and  tact  many  dogs  may  be  treated  for  severe  illness 
during  lengthened  periods  without  tiring  or  rendering 
them  obstinate  or  vicious. 

Nursing. — The  importance  of  careful  nursing  cannot 
be  overstated.  The  term,  although  of  acknowledged 
scope,  is  minus  one  important  essential.  Plenty  of  food, 
water,  warmth,  or  ventilation,  cleanliness,  &c.,  are  liber- 
ally conceded,  but  the  creature  mopes  and  pines,  making 
no  progress  ;  some,  indeed,  die,  because  the  surroundings 
are  ungenial.  Perhaps  the  attendant  is  not  so  studious 
of  the  state  and  requirements  of  the  patient  as  he  should 
be,  neglect  and  coarse  treatment  having  the  effect  of 
rendering  the  sufferer  absolutely  miserable.  We  have  a 
somewhat  extensive  and  vivid  experience  of  the  value  of 
gentleness  and  kindness  to  canine  patients.  They  are 
exceedingly  susceptible  to  kindly  treatment,  and  fre- 
quently yield  obedience  to  a  firm  and  salutary  discipline, 
the  effects  of  which  are  evident  in  the  memory  of  the 
animal  during  long  subsequent  periods. 

In  the  various  formulae  now  to  be  considered,  the 
maximum  or  full  dose  is  intended  for  mature  dogs  of  the 
Setter  and  Retriever  class  ;  one-half  for  other  breeds  half 
their  size  and  weight,  and  one-third,  one-fourth,  or  even 
one-sixth,  &c.,  for  puppies  and  the  breeds  of  correspond- 
ing diminutive  proportions. 

The  Bloodhound,  St.  Bernard,  jMastiff  and  the  like, 
wall  require  double,  three-fourths,  or  one-half  in  addition 
to  the  proportions  laid  down  for  Setters,  size  and  age 
being  considered. 

Alteratives. — A  variety  of  substances  are  included 
under  the  term  which  is  neither  precise  nor  commendable. 
It  is  usually  understood  to  refer  to  remedies  which  re- 
store healthy  functions  to  organs  previously  disordered. 
If  the  definition  be  correct,  all  remedies  are  alteratives. 

I.  Sublimed  sulphur,  5  grs. ;  powdered  nitre  or 
saltpetre,  i  gr. ;  linseed  meal,  i  or  2  grs.  \  lard  or  palm- 
oil,  sufficient  to  incorporate  the  whole  as  a  pill. 

The  above   ingredients   may    be  given  in  form  of  a 


1 20  Materia  Medica. 

draught,  in  which  case  the  lard  or  pahn-oil  is  omitted, 
and  the  dry  powders  are  mixed  in  a  tablespoonful  of 
linseed  tea  or  thin  gruel. 

2.  ^thiops  mineral,  2  to  5  grs. ;  powdered  ginger, 
\  to  I  gr. ;  powdered  rhubarb,  i  to  3  grs.  Mix,  and 
form  a  pill  with  syrup,  to  be  given  every  evening. 

3.  Plummer's  pill,  2  to  5  grs. ;  extract  of  hemlock, 
2  to  5  grs.     Mix,  and  give  every  night. 

Such  remedies  are  usually  made  use  of  during  slight 
febrile  conditions,  attended  with  defective  appetite,  slight 
liver  disorder,  &c. 

Anodynes. — These  are  remedies  which  allay  pain,  and 
soothe  the  nervous  system.  In  this  way  they  remove 
spasm,  as  in  colic,  diarrhoea,  tetanus,  &c.  Opium,  bella- 
donna, hyoscyamus,  &c.,  are  chief  examples. 

1.  For  Simple  Diarrhoia. — Prepared  chalk,  2  drms.  ; 
aromatic  confection,  i  drm. ;  tincture  of  opium,  5  to  8 
drms. ;  rice  water,  or  cool  flour  gruel,  8  oz.  Mix.  Dose, 
two  tablespoonfuls  afrer  each  fluid  evacuation. 

2.  Continued  Diarrhcea. — Dilute  sulphuric  acid,  3 
drms.;  tincture  of  opium,  2  drms.;  compound  tincture 
of  bark,  i  oz.;  water,  6i-  oz.  Mix.  Two  tablespoonfuls 
every  four  hours. 

3.  Castor  or  linseed  oil,  2  oz.;  tincture  of  opium,  i  oz. 
Mix  by  agitation.  Dose,  a  tablespoonful  night  and 
morning  during  the  diarrhcea. 

4.  Powdered  opium,  \  to  2  grs. ;  prepared  chalk,  5  to 
ID  grs.  ;  catechu,  5  grs.;  powdered  ginger  and  powdered 
carraway  seeds,  of  each,  i  to  3  grs.  Mix,  and  form  a 
pill  with  simple  syrup,  and  give  every  three  hours. 

5.  "  Sanitas  "  Fluid  in  doses  of  10  to  30  or  80  drops, 
in  cold  whey,  flour  gruel,  mixed  with  the  usual  medicine, 
is  an  invaluable  agent  in  the  protracted  forms  of  diarrhoea 
attended  with  offensive  odours. 

6.  For   Cramps  or  Spasms. — Powdered  opium,  \  to 

2  grs.;  spirit  of  chloroform  10  to   20  drops;  camphor 

3  to  10  grs.  Mix,  and  give  in  a  tablespoonful  of 
glycerine. 

Antiseptics. — Antiseptics,  or  Antiputrescents,  are 
agents  which  prevent  the  septic  or  putrescent  stage,  and 


Materia  Medica,  1 2 1 

thus  arrest  or  destroy  the  noxious  odours  which  are  the 
result  of  putrefaction.  They  are  largely  called  for  in 
maintaining  the  purity  of  dwellings  where  the  lower 
animals  are  retained,  especially  when  contagious  diseases 
are  present,  or  offensive  effluvia  arise  from  the  bad  state 
of  the  floor  or  drains,  and  to  cleanse  woodwork,  &c., 
fouled  by  animal  discharges.  When  used  for  the  latter 
purposes  they  are  known  as  deodorisers  or  disinfectants. 

1.  ^'  Sanitas''  6^// stands  pre-eminent  for  service  in  any 
of  the  above-named  departments  when  used  in  accordance 
with  the  simple  instructions  furnished  with  each  supply. 
It  has  also  a  useful  place  in  the  treatment  of  some  internal 
diseases  attended  with  putrid  discharges,  as  diarrhoea, 
metritis^  cystitis,  &c.  For  this  purpose,  and  also  for 
promoting  the  healing  of  wounds,  *'  Sanitas  "  Oil  has  been 
employed  in  the  following  form  : 

2.  Antiseptic  Afixture. — "Sanitas"  Oil,  2  parts;  gly- 
cerine, 4  parts ;  olive  oil,  6  parts.  Mix,  and  agitate 
thoroughly,  and  keep  in  a  well-corked  bottle. 

3.  '■'■  Sanitas  ^^  Fluid  is  even  more  portable  for  many 
purposes,  needing  only  admixture  with  water  or  glycerine 
for  internal  or  external  use. 

4.  Co7idfs  Fluid  is  also  effective  when  applied  as 
directed. 

5.  Any  of  the  mineral  acids,  as  sulphuric,  nitric,  muri- 
atic, or  acetic,  diluted  with  100  parts  of  water,  form  useful 
antiseptic  lotions  for  wounds  and  chronic  discharges. 

6.  Chloride  of  zinc,  3  grs.;  distilled  water,  i  oz.  To 
form  a  lotion,  or  as  No.  8. 

7.  Lunar  caustic,  5  grs.;  distilled  water,  i  oz.  To 
form  a  lotion,  or  as  No.  8. 

8.  Solution  of  sulphurous  acid  applied  by  the  spray 
producer,  or  as  a  lotion. 

Antispasmodics. — Medicines  of  this  class  are  also 
anodynes  (which  see).  They  have  the  property  of  allaying 
spasm  or  cramp ;  hence  the  name. 

1.  Tincture  of  opium  and  sulphuric  ether,  of  each, 
5  to  60  drops;  camphor  mixture,  \\  drms.  to  i  oz. 
Mix,  and  give  every  two  hours,  during  the  attack. 

2.  Lijection. — Tincture  of  opium,  tincture  of  belladonna, 


122  Materia  Medica, 

and  sulphuric  ether,  of  each  i  to  2  drms. ;  gruel,  3  to  6 
ozs.  Mix,  and  use  as  required  by  means  of  an  enema 
syringe. 

Aperients. — Aperients  are  mild,  gentle  purges.  They 
are  also  known  as  laxatives;  and  when  required  in 
powerful  form  are  termed  cathartics. 

1.  A  Mild  Oleaginous  Purge. — Castor  oil,  4  drms.  to 
\\  fluid  oz.  N.B. — For  young  dogs  equal  parts  of  castor 
and  linseed  oil  forms  the  best  purgative. 

2.  Castor  Oil  Mixture. — Castor  oil,  3  parts  ;  syrup  of 
buckthorn,  2  parts;  syrup  of  white  poppies,  i  part.  Dose, 
I  dessert  to  i  tablespoonful.  Shake  well  before  adminis- 
tration. 

3.  Active  Aperient. — Powdered  jalap,  i  to  3  or  4 
scruples  ;  calomel  i  to  2  grs. 

4.  Blue.,  or  Liver  Pill. — Blue  pill,  5  grs.;  powdered 
colchicum,  6  grs.;  extract  of  colocynth,  10  grs.  Full 
dose. 

5.  Liver  Pill,  No.  2. — Blue  pill,  5  grs.  ;  compound 
extract  of  colocynth,  10  grs. ;  oil  of  peppermint,  or  oil  of 
cloves,  3  to  6  drops. 

Astringents. — Medicines  of  this  class  constrict  animal 
tissue,  acting  directly  when  applied  to  the  part,  or  re- 
motely when  administered  by  the  mouth  or  rectum. 

1.  Mixtures  for  Lnternal  Use. — Tincture  of  opium,  25 
drops;  powdered  catechu,  15  grs.;  flour  or  powdered 
starch,  2  drms.     Mix,  and  administer  promptly. 

2.  Powdered  opium,  3  grs.;  powdered  alum,  10  to  15 
grs.;  ground  ginger,  20  grs.  ;  strong  tea,  2  fluid  ozs. 

Dissolve  the  alum  in  the  tea,  and  add  the  other  in- 
gredients. 

Nos.  I  and  2  are  useful  in  protracted  diarrhoea,  &c. 
When  the  evacuations  are  offensive,  5  to  10  drops  to  i  tea- 
spoonful  of  "  Sanitas  "  fluid  may  be  added. 

Astringent  Boluses  for  the  dog  useful  in — 

3.  Diabetes  or  Hcemorrhage. — Powdered  opium,  2  to  3 
grs.  ;  gallic  acid,  4  to  6  grs. ;  alum,  5  to  10  grs. ;  pow- 
dered bark,  10  grs.  Linseed  meal,  enough  to  form  a 
bulus,  to  be  given  to  a  large  dog  (or  divided  for  a  small 
one)  two  or  three  times  a  day. 


Materia  Medica.  123 

4.  Nitrate  ol  silver,  \  gr.  Crumb  of  bread,  enough  to 
make  a  small  pill,  to  be  given  twice  a  day,  or  divided 
according  to  the  size  of  the  dog. 

5.  Asfmigent  Wash  for  the  Eyes. — Sulphate  of  zinc, 
5  to  8  grs.  ;  water,  2  oz.     Mix. 

6.  Goulard  extract,  i  drm. ;  water,  i  oz.     Mix. 

7.  Nitrate  of  silver,  2  to  8  grs. ;  water,  i  oz.     Mix. 

8.  Wash  for  the  Penis. — Sulphate  of  zinc,  6  to  10  grs.; 
water,  i  oz.     Mix. 

9.  Chloride  of  zinc,  \  to  ij  gr. ;  water,  i  oz.     !Mix. 

10.  Astringent  Ointniefit  for  Piles. — Gallic  acid,  10 
grs.  ;  goulard  extract,  15  drops  ;  lard,  i  oz.     Mix. 

Blisters. — Bhsters  are  irritant  applications  designed  to 
produce  inflammatory  action  in  the  skin.  Their  action, 
when  continued,  is  attended  v/ith  the  formation  of  vesicles, 
or  bladders,  by  which  deeper-seated  disease  is  overcome. 
They  are  also  known  as  cou7iter-irritants.  Prompt  rising 
of  the  blister  is  essential  to  successful  treatment ;  if  these 
results  are  delayed  or  absent,  the  original  disease  proves 
refractory,  and  fatal  issues  may  be  expected. 

1.  Fluid  Blister. — Olive  oil,  20  parts;  powdered 
cantharides,  i  part.  Mix,  and  heat  iu  a  water  bath  for 
2  hours,  then  stand  aside  to  cool.  The  fluid  is  then  se- 
parated by  straining  through  fine  muslin,  after  which  add 
2  drms.  of  oil  of  origanum.  Apply  a  small  quantity,  and 
rub  well  into  the  skin  before  the  application  is  repeated, 
otherwise  the  fluid  will  gravitate  to  lower  portions  and 
produce  unnecessary  irritation. 

2.  Blistering  Ointment. — Powdered  cantharides,  i  part; 
pure  lard,  8  parts.  Mix.  This  should  be  prepared 
sometime  before  use. 

3.  Powerful  and  immediate  action,  when  called  for  in 
severe  inflammation  of  important  organs,  may  be  induced 
by  the  application  of  a  rag  saturated  in  spirit  of  turpen- 
tine, or  solution  of  ammonia,  which  should  be  covered 
with  a  piece  of  oil-skin  or  paper,  and  closely  applied. 

4.  Mild  Blister  Ointment  (counter-irritant). — Hog's 
lard,  4  oz. ;  Venice  turpentine,  i  oz. ;  powdered  can- 
tharides, 6  drms.     Mix,  and  spread. 

5.  Stronger  Blister  Oint?nefit  (counter-irritant). — Spirit 


124  Materia  Medica. 

of  turpentine,  i   oz. ;  hog's  lard,  4  oz. ;  powdered  can- 
tharides,  i  oz.     Mix,  and  spread. 

6.  Very  Sirong  Blister  (counter-irritant). — Strong  mer- 
curial ointment,  4  oz. ;  oil  of  origanum,  h  oz. ;  finely- 
powdered  eupliorbium,  3  drms. ;  powdered  cantharides, 
i  oz.     Mix,  and  spread. 

7.  Rapidly  Acting  Blister  (counter-irritant). — Best 
flour  of  mustard,  8  oz.,  made  into  a  paste  with  water. 
Add  spirit  of  turpentine,  2  oz. ;  strong  liquid  of  ammonia, 
I  oz.  This  is  to  be  well  rubbed  into  the  chest,  belly,  or 
back,  in  cases  of  acute  inflammation. 

8.  Sweating  Blister. — Strong  mercurial  ointment,  2  oz. ; 
oil  of  origanum,  2  drms.  :  corrosive  sublimate,  2  drms. ; 
cantharides  powdered,  3  drms.  Mix,  and  rub  in  with 
the  hand. 

9.  Ti?uture  of  Iodine,  which  should  be  painted  on 
with  a  brush  daily,  until  it  causes  the  cuticle  to  exfoliate. 
It  may  then  be  omitted  for  a  few  days,  to  be  resumed 
after  that  interval. 

Caustics.— Substances  capable  of  exerting  chemical 
action  on  the  livmg  tissues  are  known  as  caustics,  such 
action  being  simply  burning  or  decomposition.  The 
most  familiar  example  is  the  actual  or  potential  cautery, 
or  heated  iron.  Chemical  agents  as  caustic  soda,  caustic 
potash,  and  lunar  caustic,  or  nitrate  of  silver,  are  also 
variously  employed.  The  general  use  is  to  stimulate 
indolent  wounds,  repress  luxuriant  granulations,  also 
removing  tumours,  or  parts  destroyed  by  sloughing,  and 
arresting  the  flow  of  blood  from  injured  vessels. 

1.  Caustic  Potash  is  conveniently  sold  in  sticks  or 
pencils,  and  requires  a  suitable  holder  for  operating  with 
It.  Its  action  is  prompt  and  powerful,  but  being  liable 
to  become  fluid  when  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  its 
use  is  sometimes  limited. 

2.  Lunar  Custic,  or  nitrate  of  silver,  is  by  far  the  most 
manageable,  and  effective.  It  is  sold  in  pencil  form, 
and  also  requires  a  holder  of  silver  or  platinum  for  its 
preservation. 

3.  Sulphate  of  copper,  burnt  alum,  verdigris,  red  pre- 
cipitate, and  corrosive  sublimate  are  used  in  powder  as 


Materia  Medica.  125 

dry  caustics.     The  last  is  often  a  dangerous  remedy  in 
the  hands  of  unskilled  persons. 

4.  Muriate,  or  butyr  of  antimony,  is  a  powerful  caustic, 
useful  for  fungoid  growths,  &c.  The  addition  of  water 
effectually  destroys  it.  When  dilution  is  needed,  tincture 
of  myrrh  is  the  proper  agent. 

5.  Sulphuric,  nitric,  muriatic,  and  acetic  acids  are 
also  powerful  caustics,  and  with  No.  4,  are  usually 
applied  by  means  of  a  small  mop  of  cotton  wool. 

Caustic  Lotions  are  made  of  any  required  degree  of 
strength,  by  the  addition  of  water  as  follows  : 

6.  Nitrate  of  silver,  3  to  15  grs.  per  ounce. 

7.  Corrosive  sublimate,  3  to  10  grs. ;  muriatic  acid, 
\  fluid  drm.;  cold  distilled  water,  y-J  fluid  drms.  An  effec- 
tive remedy  for  fistulous  sinuses,  indolent  tumours,  &c. 

8.  Sulphate  of  copper^  3  to  6  drms. ;  sulphuric  acid, 
\  fluid  drm. ;  water,  one  pint, 

9.  Chloride  of  zinc,  3  to  5  grs. ;  muriatic  acid.  3  to  5 
drops ;  distilled  water,  i  fluid  oz. 

Caustic  Oint77ients  find  their  base  in  hog's  lard,  vase- 
line, cocoa  butter,  &c. 

10.  Verdigris,  finely  powdered,  i  to  3  or  4  oz.  of  one 
or  other  of  the  bases  named. 

11.  Sulphate  of  copper,  finely  powdered,  i  oz. ;  to  3 
or  4. 

12.  Burnt  alum,  i  oz.  to  3  or  4.  Mix,  in  each  case 
causing  thorough  incorporation. 

Clysters,  Enemas  or  Injections. — Two  kinds  of 
clyster  are  in  common  use,  fluid  and  gaseous.  The 
first  are  used  to  unload  the  rectum,  remove  obstruction, 
relieve  spasm,  and  promote  intestinal  action  in  debility  ; 
also  to  convey  nutritious  fluids  to  the  bowels  during  the 
process  of  wasting  disease  ;  gaseous  enemas  are  effective 
in  allaying  spasm,  as  in  cofic,  &c. 

I.  Warm  fluid  clysters  are  constituted  as  follows: 
They  are  used  at  a  temperature  of  90°  to  100°  F.  Soft, 
or  hard  soap,  2  drms.  Cover  the  soap  with  boiling 
water,  and  when  the  former  is  dissolved,  add  sufficient 
cold  to  secure  the  above-named  temperatures.  Inject  a 
teacupful  as  required. 


12D 


Materia  Medica. 


2.  Common  salt  may  be  substituted  for  the  soap  when 
a  direct  irritant  action  is  required. 

3.  Medicated  e7iemas  consist  of  some  remedy  added  to 
warm  water,  beef-tea,  linseed  mucilage,  &c. 

4.  Flour,  oatmeal,  gruel,  or  beef-tea,  4  or  5  fluid  ozs., 
spirits  of  nitrous  ether,  2  to  4  drms.  Useful  when  the 
animal  is  unable  to  take  food. 

5.  Tincture  of  opium,  i  fluid  oz. ;  powdered  catechu, 
4  drms. ;  solution   of  starch,  as   used  in  the  laundry. 


Enema  Syringe. 


Enema  Funnel. 

thickened  by  boiling,  i  pint.  Mix,  and  inject  one-fourth 
part  as  needful  in  persistent  diarrhoea,  dysentery,  &c. 

6.  Gascons  Enema.— In  some  instances  the  fumes  of 
burning  opium  are  useful  as  a  means  of  reducing  spasm 
in  colic  and  other  affections  of  the  bowels,  but  in  all 
cases  the  treatment  calls  for  the  greatest  care. 

E7iema  Fujinel.—W axioms  forms  of  apparatus  are  used 
for  administering  an  enema,  the  simplest  being  the 
common  funnel  shown  in  figure  annexed.  The  pipe,  first 
smeared  with  simple  lard,  oil,  or  soap,  is  carefuhy  passed 
within  the  intestine  to  the  extent  of  two  inches.  The  bowl 
being  upwards  is  filled  with  successive  pordons  of  the 
fluid,  which  readily  disappear  with  a  gurgling  sound.     In 


Materia  Medica.  127 

some  instances  a  syringe,  a  cut  of  which  is  also  given,  is 
made  use  of,  the  fluid  being  passed  into  the  intestines  by 
means  of  pressure.  Both  instruments  are  to  be  obtained 
from  Messrs.  Arnold  &  Sons,  31,  West  Smithfield,  E.G. 
Cordials. — The  various  warm  aromatic  seeds,  ginger, 
pepper,  &c.,  are  included  in  this  term ;  also  fluids,  as 
nitric  ether,  &c.,  in  certain  instances.  The  seeds  are 
employed  in  the  form  of  powder  to  assist  the  action  of 
mineral  tonics  in  recovery  from  severe  illness ;  and  the 
latter  is  added  to  enemas  to  assist  the  general  action 
when  needful,  or  given  by  the  mouth  with  tincture  of 
cardamoms. 

1.  Cordial  Pills. — Powdered  carraway  seeds,  i^ 
drms.  ;  ginger,  20  to  40  grs. ;  oil  of  cloves,  3  to  8 
drops.     Mix.     Make  10  to  20  pills. 

2.  Cordial  Drench. — Tincture  of  cardamoms,  i  drm. ; 
aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia,  i  drm. ;  infusion  of  gentian, 
I  drm. ;  camphor  mixture,  i  oz.  Mix.  Divide  into 
doses  of  I  or  2  drms.,  as  needful,  and  give  in  linseed 
mucflage.     See  Demulcents. 

3.  Liquorice  powder,  J  oz. ;  gum  ammoniacum,  3 
drms. ;  balsam  of  Tolu,  i^  drm. ;  powdered  squill,  i  drm. 
Linseed  meal  and  boiling  water,  enough  to  form  into  a 
mass,  and  make  into  12  or  24  pills,  or  draughts  as  No.  2. 

Demulcents.  —  These  are  a  useful  class  of  agents, 
although  destitute  of  any  specific  medicinal  action.  They 
are,  more  correctly  speaking,  foods,  which,  containing  a 
large  amount  of  mucilage,  render  them  useful  as 
mechanical  agents  in  providing  a  thick  smooth  protective 
covering  to  irritable  and  inflamed  tissues,  notably  the 
intestinal  raucous  membrane,  and  those  lining  the  lungs,- 
kidneys,  bladder,  &c. 

1.  Linseed  Mucilage. — Linseed,  4  oz.  ;  cold  water,  i 
quart.  Mix,  cover  up  and  set  aside,  frequently  agitating. 
In  twenty-four  hours  it  is  ready  for  use.  Add  warm 
water  as  required. 

2.  The  above  quantities  may  be  boiled  to  expedite  the 
bursting  of  the  seeds,  and  used  when  cool. 

3.  Marshmallows,  a  double  handful ;  boiling  water,  i 
quart.     Strain,  and  use  when  cooL 


128  Materia  Medica. 

4.  Gum  arable,  finely  powdered,  4  oz. ;  water,  i  pint. 
Mix,  and  agitate  frequently,  until  a  mucilage  is  foniied, 
and  adminster  2  to  4  oz.  for  a  dose. 

Diaphoretics. — The  power  of  promoting  transpiration 
from  the  skin  of  the  dog,  as  in  man  or  the  horse,  is  a 
matter  of  extreme  doubt.  The  only  reliable  method  of 
accelerating  the  normal  functions  is  by  a  judicious  use  of 
stimulants,  as  ammonia,  assisted  by  warm  clothing  or  the 
vapour  bath. 

Digestives. — These  are  agents  used  to  promote  the 
discharge  of  pus,  in  stimulating  the  tardy  or  chronic 
action  of  wounds,  and  thus  promote  healin^^  They  are 
also  used  for  smearing  setons  with  a  view  of  hastening 
desirable  suppuration.  In  canine  surgery  they  are  not 
largely  made  use  of,  simple  resin  or  cantharidine  oint- 
ment being  all  that  is  required. 

Diuretics.  —  Medicines  which  exert  their  beneficial 
effect  by  stimulus  of  the  kidneys  are  known  as  diuretics. 
They  reduce  the  watery  parts  of  the  blood  and  thus  pro- 
mote absorption,  by  which  dropsical  states  are  removed. 
They  also  exert  a  sedative  eftect  on  the  circulation, 
the  object  of  which  is  to  reduce  the  tendency  to  fever  and 
inflammation. 

1.  Bolus. — Nitrate  of  potash,  i  drm.  ;  extract  of  gen- 
tian, sufficient  to  make  a  paste.  Divide  into  6,  8  or  10 
pills,  as  may  be  required. 

2.  Z)ni?/o-/z/.— Dissolve  the  required  dose  of  nitrate  of 
potash  in  i  or  2  oz.  of  linseed  mucilage. 

Electuaries. — Electuaries  are  syrupy  concoctions  for 
conveying  medicines  to  the  mouth  for  sustaining  local 
action.  They  slowly  dissolve,  and  are  carried  by  the 
tongue  to  all  parts  of  the  cavity,  exerting  a  beneficial 
action  when  movement  of  the  jaws  is  painful,  or  the 
animal  is  unable  to  swallow. 

I.  Muriate  of  ammonia,  i  drm.;  camphor,  i  drm.; 
gum  kino,  i  drm.  Pulverise  separately,  and  further 
triturate  the  whole  to  an  impalpable  powder,  then 
add  treacle  sufficient  to  form  a  soft  paste.  Dose,  half 
I  teaspoonful  placed  on  the  tongue  three  or  four  times 
a  day. 


Materia  Medic  a.  129 

2.  Powdered  catechu,  i  drm.  ;  linseed  meal,  i  drm.  ; 
honey  or  treacle  sufficient.  Mix,  and  use  as  directed  for 
No.  I. 

Further  remedies  may  be  alternated  with  the  foregoing 
— viz.,  tannic  acid,  powdered  galls  powdered  alum, 
boracic  acid,  «S:c.  &c. 

Embrocations  or  Liniments. — These  preparations 
are  for  external  use  only ^  and  should  be  distinctly  labelled 
as  such,  as  powerful  poisons  are  in  some  instances  incor- 
porated. They  are  designed  to  reduce  pain,  inflamma- 
tion or  swelling,  especially  old  standing  enlargements. 

1.  Stimulating. —  Olive  oil,  4  oz. ;  liquor  ammonia, 
i^  fluid  drm.;  oil  of  origanum,  i  drm.  Mix.  Apply 
with  friction. 

2.  Sedative. — Tincture  of  opium,  i  fluid  oz. ;  tincture 
of  belladonna,  i  fluid  drm.  ;  olive  oil,  J  pint.  Apply 
with  gentleness  to  the  affected  parts. 

3.  Soothing  and  Stiniulating.~Soa.p  liniment  (opodel- 
doc) 4  fluid  oz. ;  tincture  of  opium  ^  oz.  Apply  with 
gentle  friction  to  enlarged  joints  in  the  larter  part  of  the 
acute  stages  of  inflammation. 

4.  For  Dispersing  Enlargements.  —  Add  to  No.  3 
tincture  of  iodine  i  oz.,  and  agitate  thoroughly.  Apply, 
as  required,  with  smart  friction. 

5.  Mustard  Embrocation. — Best  flour  of  mustard, 
6  oz.  ;  liquor  of  ammonia,  \\  oz.  ;  oil  of  turpentine, 
\\  oz.  Mix  with  sufficient  water  to  form  a  thin 
paste. 

6.  Stimulating  Embrocation.— Csimphor,  J  oz. ;  oil  of 
turpentine  and  spirit  of  wine,  of  each  i  J  oz.     Mix. 

7.  Sweating  Embrocation  for  JVindgalls,  6^<f. — Strong 
mercurial  ointment,  2  oz.  ;  camphor,  \  oz. ;  oil  of  rose- 
mary, 2  drms. ;  spirit  of  turpentine,  i  oz.     Mix. 

8.  Another.,  but  stronger. — Strong  mercurial  ointment, 
2  oz. ;  oil  of  bay,  i  oz. ;  oil  of  origanum,  \  oz. ;  pow- 
dered cantharides,  \  oz.     Mix. 

9.  A  most  Active  Sweating  E?nb?'Ocation. — -Red  iodide 
of  mercury,  |  to  i  drm. ;  powdered  arnica  leaves,  i  drm. ; 
soap  liniment,  2  oz.     Mix. 

N.B. — This  ran  it  be  repeated  until  a  blister  is  raised, 

9 


130  Materia  Medica. 

which  usually  takes  t'.vo  or  three  applications.  It  may 
then  be  omitted  for  a  week. 

Emetics. — Emetics  are  sometimes  required  for  the 
dog,  though  not  so  often  as  is  commonly  supposed. 
Vomiting  is  a  natural  process  in  that  anii;ral,  and  seldom 
wants  provoking ;  indeed,  if  emetics  are  often  had  re- 
course to,  his  stomach  becomes  so  irritable  that  neither 
medicine  nor  food  will  remain  on  it.  Hence  their 
administration  should  be  carefully  kept  within  the  bounds 
of  absolute  necessity. 

Under  proper  regulations  emetics  have  a  useful  place 
in  canine  medicine.  They  greatly  assist  other  remedies 
or  measures  by  the  facility  with  which  they  cause 
rejection  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  and  produce 
a  direct  sedative  effect  on  the  system,  which  proves 
beneficial  in  active  diseases  as  pneumonia,  hepatitis, 
enteritis,  &c. 

Prescriptions. — i.  Tartar  emetic,  ^  to  i  gr. ;  powdered 
ipecacuanha,  4  to  5  grs.  Mix,  and  dissolve  in  a  Httle 
water,  to  be  given  as  a  drench,  and  to  be  followed  by 
2  to  8  oz.,  of  lukewarm  water,  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

2.  Common  Salt  Emetic. — A  teaspoonful  of  salt  and 
half  this  quantity  of  mustard  are  to  be  dissolved  in  half 
a  pint  of  warm  water,  and  given  as  a  drench. 

Expectorants. — Remedies  of  this  class  are  employed 
to  assist  or  relieve  the  lungs  by  promoting  discharge 
from  the  mucous  lining  of  the  air  passages,  in  which  office 
they  prove  eminently  useful.  They  restrain  irritation 
and  thus  remove  the  cough  which  it  occasions,  promote 
tranquillity,  affording  rest  and  comfort  to  jaded  spirits, 
and  greatly  facilitate  recovery. 

1.  Bolus. — Carbonate  of  ammonia,  finely  powdered, 
I  drm. ;  gum  asafoetida,  i  drm. ;  extract  of  belladonna, 
12  grains.  Pulverise  the  ammonia  and  gum  separately, 
using  to  the  latter  a  few  drops  of  spirit  of  wine,  then 
mix  and  triturate  together,  finally  rubbing  in  the  extract 
with  linseed  meal  and  treacle  to  form  a  paste.  Divide 
into  12,  18,  or  24  pills  according  to  the  size  of  the 
patient. 

2.  Carbonate  of  ammonia,  and  carbonate  of  potash, 


Materia  Mcdica.  I3I 

of  each  i  drm.,  finely  powdered  ;  extract  of  belladonna, 
12  grs.  ;  po\Ydered  squills,  i  drm.  Mix  by  trituration, 
and  work  into  a  paste  with  careful  and  small  additions  of 
oxymel  squills.     Divide  into  pills  as  directed  for  No.  i. 

3.  Draught. — Spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  or  aromatic 
spirit  of  ammonia,  i  or  2  drms. ;  oxymel  squills,  2 
drms. ;  tincture  of  belladonna,  i  drm.  Mix,  add  7 
drms.  of  linseed  mucilage,  and  agitate  thoroughly.  Dose, 
\  to  I  drm.  (30  to  60  drops). 

4.  Ipecacuanha  powder,  i  to  ij  gr. ;  powdered 
rhubarb,  i  to  3  grs. ;  compound  squill  pill,  i  to  2  grs. ; 
powdered  opium,  |  to  i  gr.  Linseed  meal  and  water, 
enough  to  make  a  bolus,  to  be  given  night  and  morning. 

5.  Ipecacuanha  powder  and  powdered  opium, of  each 
a  grain.  Confection  enough  to  make  a  pill,  to  be  given 
every  six  hours. 

6.  An  Expectorant  Mixturefor  Chronic  Cough. — Friar's 
balsam,  10  to  15  drops;  syrup  of  poppies,  i  drm.;  diluted 
sulphuric  acid,  5  to  10  drops  ;  mucilage,  |  oz. ;  water, 
\  oz.     Mix,  and  give  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

7.  All  Expectorant  in  Recent  Cough.  —  Tincture  of 
lobelia,  10  to  15  drops  ;  almond  emulsion,  i  oz.;  extract 
of  conium,  2  to  3  grs, ;  ipecacuanha  wine,  5  to  10  drops. 
Mix,  and  give  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

Febrifuges.^ — Fever  medicines  or  febrifuges  comprise 
a  large  number  of  substances  having  more  or  less  direct 
influence  upon  the  heart  and  circulation,  probably 
through  the  nervous  system,  and  the  excretory  channels. 
They  reduce  existing  febrile  states  by  neutralising  or 
destroying  the  causes,  rendering  the  process  of  inflam- 
mation less  powerful  under  their  presence  and  action. 

1.  Bolus. — Nitrate  of  potash,  i  drachm;  camphor,  15 
grains;  digitalis,  12  grains.  Reduce  each  separately  to 
powder,  and  afterwards  triturate  together,  adding  i 
drachm  of  linseed  meal,  and  treacle  sufficient  to  make 
the  mass.     Divide  into  12,  18  or  24  pills  as  needful. 

2.  Substitute  12  grains  of  extract  of  belladonna  for  the 
digitalis  in  No.  i. 

3.  Calomel,  i  to  3  grs.;  digitalis,  \  gr. ;  nitre,  3  to 
5  grs.     Confection  to  form  a  pill,  to  be  given  every  night. 


132  Materia  Medica. 

4.  Nitre,  3  to  5  grs. ;  tartar  emetic,  |th  gr.  Confec- 
tion to  form  a  pill,  to  be  given  night  and  morning. 

5.  Fever  Mixture.- — Nitre,  i  drm. ;  sweet  spirit  of  nitre, 
3  drms.;  mindererus  spirit,  i  oz.;  camphor  mixture,  6|  oz. 
Mix,  and  give  two  tablespoonfuls  every  six  hours. 

6.  Solution  of  the  acetate  of  ammonia,  2  drms. ; 
tincture  of  belladonna,  i  drm. ;  sulphuric  ether,  i  drm.  ; 
linseed  mucilage,  4  drms.  Dose,  60,  30,  15,  or  10  drops 
several  times  daily. 

Fomentations. — In  canine  therapeutics  this  class  of 
remedy  has  no  special  advantages.  Far  better  results  are 
produced  by  carefully  immersing  the  sufferer  in  a  warm 
bath  not  higher  than  76°  F.,  the  head  being  supported 
above  the  flliid.  This  is  a  useful  proceedmg  in  cases  of 
internal  spasm,  nervous  affections  and  other  functional 
disorders  requiring  soothing  and  sedative  treatment.  On 
removal  from  the  bath,  which  should  not  be  continued 
longer  than  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  at  the  most,  the  patient 
should  be  quickly  dried,  at  least  as  far  as  all  means  will 
allow,  and  enveloped  in  a  blanket  and  other  coverings  to 
protect  him  from  cold  until  he  is  quite  dry.  When  the 
hot  bath  proves  too  much,  causing  a  disposition  to  faint, 
or  show  any  signs  of  distress  by  panting,  &c.,  he  should 
be  quickly  removed,  and  revived  by  5,  10  or  15  drops  of 
the  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia. 

Hypodermic  or  Subcutaneous  Injections. — The 
advantages  of  this  method  of  treating  disease  in  the  lower 
animals  are  such  as  to  commend  the  practice  in  numerous 
instances.  It  is  not  only  cleanly,  as  waste  is  entirely 
avoided,  but  the  speediest  results  are  secured,  and  animal 
suffering  frequently  subdued,  if  not  totally  arrested,  with 
remarkable  promptitude  and  permanence.  By  means  of 
a  suitable  syringe,  provided  with  a  tubular  needle,  the 
administration  is  thus  effected.  A  fold  of  the  skin,  seized 
by  the  left  hand,  is  raised  from  the  body,  and  the  point 
of  the  needle  is  passed  through  the  first  layer,  parallel 
with  the  structures  beneath.  The  fold  is  then  released, 
and  spread  or  smoothed  by  the  hand,  when  the  piston 
is  pushed  home,  and  the  fluid  permeates  the  interstices 
of  the  connective  tissue.     Absorption  is  rapid,  and  the 


Materia  Medica.  133 

physiological  action  of  the  remedy  is  often  immediately 
demonstrated,  especially  when  powerful  agents  are  made 
use  of. 

It  is  essential  to  remind  the  reader  that  the  greatest 
attention  will  be  necessary,  in  order  to  avoid  an  overdose, 
or  too  frequent  repetition.  The  remedies  should  be 
carefully  prepared  solutions,  and  the  exict  degree  of 
strength  must  be  ascertained.  Indifference  towards  these 
precautions  will  result  in  bitter  regret  and  disappoint- 
ment. 

Inhalations. — The  class  of  remedies  useful  as  inhala- 
tions have  not  as  yet  been  put  to  an  extended  use. 
Warm  vapour  is  very  helpful  in  catarrhs  by  promoting 
discharges  from  the  nostrils  and  frontal  sinuses.  Medicated 
inhalations  are  conducive  also  towards  arresting  the 
progress  of  disease  in  catarrhs,  especially  those  of  an 
influenzal  or  purpura  type,  "Sanitas"  oil,  or  the  fluid, 
eucalyptol,  &c.,  being  added  to  the  vapour,  or  used  by 
means  of  the  spray  distributor. 

The  inhalation  of  cJiloroform  may  be  now  so  success- 
fully administered  as  to  be  considered  as  near  perfection 
as  possible.  Humane  proprietors  will  have  no  difficulty 
in  meeting  with  humane  surgeons  who  successfully 
conduct  operations  by  means  of  this  agent,  thus  reducing 
many  to  the  least  possible  degree  of  suffering  or  danger. 

Lotions. — Lotions  are  usually  solutions  of  one  or 
,.Tiore  remedies  in  water,  and  their  principal  uses  are  for 
the  healing  of  wounds,  or  the  application  of  cold  and 
sedative  influences  to  parts  under  inflammatory  action. 
They  have  but  a  limited  use  in  canine  practice,  as  the 
natural  habit  of  the  animal  to  lick  the  part  so  treated 
forbids  the  use  of  sufficiently  potent  remedies.  When 
it  is  desirable  to  adopt  such,  the  animal  must  necessarily  be 
nnizzled,  the  possibility  of  using  the  tongue  being  abso- 
lutely prevented, 

1.  Cold  water  constantly  applied  is  efficacious  to  in- 
flamed limbs,  &c. 

2.  Solution  of  the  acetate  of  ammonia,  4  fluid  oz. ; 
spirit  of  wine,  4  fluid  oz. ;  water,  one  pint.  Apply  as 
No.  I. 


134  Materia  Medica. 

3.  Lotions  for  Sprai?is. — Tincture  of  arnica,  2  fluid  oz. ; 
spirit  of  wine,  6  fluid  oz.  Mix.  Apply  a  thin  bandage 
to  the  affected  part,  and  keep  it  constantly  wet  with  the 
lotion  to  ensure  cold  by  evaporation. 

4.  Goulard's  extract  of  lead,  2  fluid  oz. ;  dilute  acetic 
acid,  2  fluid  oz. ;  distilled  water,  i  pint.  Apply  as 
No.  I. 

N.B.  The  dog  must  be  muzzled  to  prevent  his  licking 
the  application. 

5.  Healing  lotion  for  Wounds. — Sulphate  of  zinc, 
f  oz. ;  sugar  of  lead,  i  oz. ;  soft  water,  i  quart.  Shake 
well  before  using,  and  dash  the  fluid  upon  the  wound 
direct  from  the  bottle.     Muzzle  the  dog. 

6.  Cooling  Lotion  in  Bruises  or  Cuts. — Extract  of  lead, 
I  drm. ;  tincture  of  arnica,  \  to  i  drm. ;  water,  %  pint. 
Mix,  and  apply  constantly  by  means  of  a  sponge. 

7.  Cooling  Lotion  in  Stiffness  from  Bruises  or  Work. — 
Tincture  of  arnica,  i  drm.;  spirit  of  wine,  7  drms.  Mix, 
and  rub  well  into  the  part,  before  the  fire,  with  the  hand. 

8.  Lotion  for  the  Eyes. — Sulphate  of  zinc,  20  to  25  grs. ; 
water,  6  oz.     Mix. 

9 .  Very  Strong  One.,  a?id  only  to  be  Dropped  in . — Nitrate 
of  silver,  5  to  8  grs. ;  distilled  water,  i  oz.  Mix,  and  use 
with  a  camel-hair  brush. 

10.  For  Lnternal  Canker. — Nitrate  of  silver,  10  grs.; 
distilled  water,  i  oz.     Mix,  and  drop  in  every  night. 

Ointments. — Unguents,  or  Ointments,  are  soft  com- 
positions finding  their  base  in  pure  hog's  lard,  with  which 
some  special  curative  remedy  is  incorporated,  examples 
of  which  will  be  found  under  Anodynes,  Astringents, 
Blisters,  &c.  They  are  easily  applied,  and  as  a  rule 
remarkably  effective,  the  emollient  action  of  the  grease, 
combined  with  needful  friction,  being  conducive  to  the 
free  absorption  of  the  remedy  which  gives  the  essential 
character  to  the  compound. 

1.  Ointment  for  Majige. — Iodide  of  sulphur,  i  drm.; 
pure  lard,  10  drms.  Mix,  and  apply  with  moderate 
friction.  Being  non-poisonous,  there  is  no  fear  of  danger 
from  absorption,  or  being  licked  by  the  patient. 

2.  Green  iodide  of  mercury,  i  drm. ;  lard,  10  drms. 


Materia  Medica.  1 3  5 

Mix,  and  apply  as  directed  for  No.  i.  In  this  case  the 
animal  must  be  carefully  muzzled  to  prevent  licking. 

Parasiticides. — The  agents  of  this  class  are  such  as 
possess  the  power  of  destroying  parasites.  Of  those 
common  to  the  dog,  two  kinds  are  recognised — viz., 
External,  or  those  infesting  the  skin,  and  Internal,  or 
those  common  to  the  digestive  organs,  and  included 
under  the  familiar  title  of  Worms. 

External  Applications  for  Mange. — i.  Sublimed 
sulphur,  8  oz. ;  whale  oil,  8  fluid  oz, ;  oil  of  tar,  and  blue, 
or  mercurial  ointment,  of  each  \  fluid  oz.  The  whole 
should  be  thoroughly  mixed  before  use. 

2.  Whale  oil,  6  fluid  oz.  \  oil  of  turpentine,  i  fluid  oz. ; 
sulphur  ointment,  6  oz.  Mix.  The  above  are  for  mild 
cases  only. 

3.  Creasote,  ij  fluid  oz.  ;  rectified  spirit  of  wine, 
15  fluid  oz.  ;  water,  11  to  14  fluid  oz.     (Gamgee.) 

4.  Balsam  of  Peru,  i  oz. ;  alcohol  (spirit  of  wine), 
4  fluid  oz.  (Fleming.)  An  effective  and  very  safe 
remedy,  especially  adapted  for  house  dogs. 

N.B.  The  above  remedies  are  useful  for  sarcoptic 
mange.  The  following  are  especially  prepared  for 
follicular  mange. 

1.  Olive  oil,  14  fluid  oz. ;  creasote,  i  fluid  oz. ;  liquor 
potassse,  i  fluid  oz.  Mix,  and  agitate  thoroughly.  Apply 
by  means  of  a  piece  of  rag  to  all  diseased  parts  every 
third  day,  the  dog  having  been  thoroughly  washed  and 
dried  a  few  hours  before  dressing.     (Hunting.) 

2.  Balsam  of  Peru,  i  part,  dissolved  in  30  parts  of 
alcohol.     (Fleming.) 

3.  Nut  oil,  oil  of  tar,  and  spirit  of  turpentine,  equal 
parts,  well  shaken  together.     (Mayhew.) 

Carbolic  Acid  Prepaj-ation. — Take  carbolic  acid  (No.  5 
preparation),  i  oz. ;  soft  soap,  i  oz. ;  water,  2  pints.  Put 
the  soap  into  the  water,  and  boil  until  it  dissolves, 
after  which  add  the  acid,  and  the  moment  the  fluid  boils 
remove  and  set  aside  to  cool.  Use  i  part  to  40  for  local 
applications,  and  i  to  50  for  extended  use. 

For  Fleas  and  Lice. — Oil  of  aniseed,  i  fluid  oz. ;  gly- 
cerine, I  fluid  oz.  ;  spirit  of  wine,  2   fluid  drms. ;  oHve 


136  Materia  Medica. 

oil,  4  fluid  oz.  Mix,  and  apply  thoroughly  to  the  skin 
and  hair,  placing  the  dog  meanwhile  on  a  temporary  bed. 
After  a  few  hours  wash  with  warm  water  and  "  Sanitas" 
dog  soap. 

For  remedies  for  Internal  Parasites,  see  Worm 
Medicines. 

Poultices.— The  remarks  already  made  in  reference 
to  lotions  apply  also  to  poultices.  The  best  substitute, 
under  the  restrictions  of  a  fine  wire  muzzle,  is  spongio- 
piline.  A  piece  of  suitable  size  is  selected,  dipped  in 
hot  water,  partially  wrung  out,  and  rapidly  bound  upon 
and  around  the  limb  if  possible.  For  renewal,  a  second 
piece  is  required,  that  the  attendant  may  immediately  re- 
place the  fresh,  hot  covering,  on  the  removal  of  the  first. 
This  material  is  made  in  various  degrees  of  thickness, 
thus  presenting  a  most  effective  and  cleanly  method  of 
applying  the  best  means  for  promoting  suppuration  in  the 
case  of  abscess,  or  as  a  fomentation  to  injured  parts. 

Medicated  poultices  also  claim  our  notice.  Their  object 
is  the  application  of  some  remedial  agent  as  well  as  heat, 
for  which  purpose  spongio-piline  is  eminently  useful,  cleanly 
and  effective.  The  arrangement  consists  of  cutting  the 
spo7igio-piIifie  to  a  size  suitable  for  an  entire  covering  to 
the  affected  parts,  after  which  it  is  plunged  into  hot  or 
cold  water,  as  required,  and  quickly  pressed  to  remove 
superfluous  fluid.  It  is  next  spread  out  and  saturated 
with  the  remedy,  and  applied  to  the  affected  parts  with- 
out delay.  When  the  application  is  to  be  hot,  the  remedy 
should  also  be  heated  by  admixture,  as  with  water  of  suit- 
able temperature.  Heat  or  cold,  to  prove  serviceable, 
must  be  continuous  to  the  well-ascertained  end  of  the 
operation.  The  reverse  brings  inevitable  disaster  and 
disappointment. 

Purgatives,  see  Aperients. 

Stimulants. — By  this  term  is  understood  those  sub- 
stances which  excite  the  action  of  the  whole  nervous  and 
vascular  systems  ;  almost  all  medicines  are  stimulants  to 
some  part  or  other,  as,  for  instance,  aperients,  which 
stimulate  the  lining  of  the  bowels,  but  to  the  general 
system  are  lowering.     On  the  other  hand,  stimulants,  so 


Materia  Medica.  137 

called,  excite  and  raise  the  action  of  the  brain  and 
heart. 

I.  Stimulating  Mixture. — Aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia, 
I  02. ;  tincture  of  cardamoms,  i  oz. ;  camphor  mixture, 
6  oz.     Mix,  and  give  two  table-spoonfuls  every  six  hours. 

Stomachics. — Stomachics  are  medicines  given  to  im- 
prove the  tone  of  the  stomach  when  impaired  by  bad 
management  or  disease. 

1.  Stoniac/iic  Bolus. — Extract  of  gentian,  6  to  8  grs. ; 
powdered  rhubarb,  2  to  3  grs.    Mix,  and  give  twice  a  day. 

2.  Sto7nachic  Mixtui-e. — Tincture  of  cardamoms,  \  to 
I  oz.  ;  infusion  of  cascarilla,  7  oz. ;  carbonate  of  soda, 
\  drm.    Mix  :  give  one  or  two  table-spoonfuls  twice  a  day. 

Styptics. — Styptics  are  remedies  which  have  a  ten- 
dency to  stop  the  flow  of  blood  either  from  internal  or 
external  surfaces.  They  are  used  either  by  the  mouth, 
or  to  the  part  itself  in  the  shape  of  lotions,  &c. ;  or  the 
actual  cautery,  which  is  always  the  best  in  external 
bleeding. 

Internal  Styptics. — i.  For  Bloody  Urine,  or  Bleed- 
ing from  the  Lungs. — Superacetate  of  lead,  12  to  14  grs. ; 
tincture  of  matico,  I-  to  i  oz. ;  vinegar,  2  drms. ;  water, 
l\  oz.  Mix;  give  two  table-spoonfuls  two  or  three 
times  a  day  to  a  full-sized  dog. 

Tonics.  —  Tonics  augment  the  vigour  of  the  whole 
body  permanently,  whilst  stimulants  only  act  for  a  short 
time.     They  are  chiefly  useful  after  low  fever. 

1.  Tonic  Pills. — Sulphate  of  quinine,  i  to  3  grs. ;  gin- 
ger, 2  to  3  grs.  Extract  of  gentian,  enough  to  form  a 
bolus,  to  be  given  twice  a  day. 

2.  Tonic  Mixture. — Compound  tincture  of  bark,  i  oz. ; 
decoction  of  yellow  bark,  7  oz.  Mix,  and  give  two  table- 
spoonfuls  twice  or  thrice  a  day. 

Worm  Medicines  (Parasiticides).  —  Worm  medi- 
cines, or  vermifuges,  are  given  in  order  to  expel  worms, 
which  they  do  partly  from  their  specific  action  upon  the 
parasite  itself,  and  partly  by  their  purgative  qualities, 
which  all  ought  to  possess,  or  to  be  followed  by  medi- 
cines of  that  class. 

I.  For  Worms  Generally. — Two  drachms  of  powdered 


138  Blood  Diseases. 

areca  nut  to  be  given  mixed  up  in  water  as  a  drench,  and 
followed  by  a  dose  of  castor  oil.  This  is  the  dose  for  a 
very  large  dog.  It  may  be  regulated  for  all  sizes  by 
giving  2  grains  of  the  nut  for  each  pound  the  dog  weighs. 

2.  Afedicines  for  Round-Worm. — Infusion  of  Indian 
pink,  I  to  3  table-spoonfuls,  on  an  empty  stomach. 

3.  Santonine,  3  to  4  or  5  grs. ;  jalap,  5  to  10  grs. ;  pow- 
dered ginger,  3  to  5  grs.  j  extract  of  gentian  to  make  a 
pill. 

4.  For  Tapeworm.  —  Kousso,  2  to  4  drms. ;  lemon 
juice,  \  oz.  Mix,  and  give  as  a  drench,  with  the  addition 
of  a  little  water,  on  an  empty  stomach.  This  should  be 
follo\ved  by  a  dose  of  castor  oil  eight  hours  after. 

5.  For  Tapeivorm  (another  plan). — Root  of  male  fern, 
I  to  4  drms.;  powdered  jalap,  15  grs.  Liquorice  pow- 
der or  linseed  meal  enough  to  form  a  bolus  with  water. 

6.  Oil  of  male  shield  fern,  20  drops;  sulphuric  ether, 
60  drops  ;  oil  of  turpentine,  30  drops.  Mix.  Add  the 
white  of  one  egg ;  2  drams  of  glycerine,  and  beat  to- 
gether. When  thoroughly  incorporated  administer  to  the 
dog  when  the  stomach  is  empty. 


Plethora 
ing 


CHAPTER  IX. 
BLOOD   DISEASES. 

■a— Obesity— Anaemia— Rheumatism— Rickets  or  Rachitis— Inter-breed- 
— Crooked  or  Bandy-legs— Leuchaemia — Jaundice— Uraemia— Apnoea. 

The  blood  in  its  circulation  or  movement  through  the 
numberless  vessels  of  the  body  is  exceedingly  liable  to 
deterioration  by  admixture  with  various  foreign  substances. 
The  vital  constitution  is  more  or  less  depleted,  and  when 
the  causes  are  continued,  it  fails  to  nourish  the  body  in 
its  integral  parts  ;  or  the  excess  of  foreign  materials, 
although  strictly  speaking  they  are  food  elements,  but 


Blood  D  is  cases.  139 

insufficienlly  elaborated,  may  induce  severe  general 
disorder;  still  worse  results  may  follow  the  not  infrequent 
decay  or  degeneration  of  such  food  elements,  which  are 
retained  in  consequence  of  the  attendant  inability  of  the 
system  at  the  time  to  expel  them.  Suspension  of  function 
more  or  less,  is  a  constant  sequel  to  over-repletion.  The 
system  suffers  frequently,  but  regains  the  power  to  throw 
off  the  offender;  at  length  it  fails  to  recoup  itself,  vital 
stamina  is  impaired,  and  the  next  attack  has  removed 
the  conditions  from  the  area  of  simple  disorder.  Vital 
action  is  impaired  by  reason  of  structural  decay  or 
permanent  change,  and  the  conditions  are  those  of 
disease,  with  the  possibility  that  the  changes  are  not  only 
of  permanent  duration,  but  functions  essential  to  life  are 
seriously  interfered  with  or  destroyed,  and  the  end, 
sooner  or  later,  is  death.  Such  conditions  are  recognised 
in  one  or  other  of  the  following  forms. 

Plethora  or  fulness  of  blood,  consists  of  an  excess  of 
nutritious  elements  derived  from  the  food,  which,  circu- 
lating through  the  body,  gives  rise  to  rapid  growth  and 
development  known  as  "blooming  condition."  The 
absence  of  needful  exercise  largely  favours  these  states 
and  renders  the  consequences  dangerous.  Overfed,  obese, 
and  inactive  dogs  are  the  usual  subjects. 

Symptoms. — In  addition  to  the  conditions  already 
named,  the  animal  exhibits  a  generally  bloated  appear- 
ance ;  the  skin  is  hot,  dry,  and  red.  The  mucous 
membranes  are  also  injected,  or  highly  coloured.  The 
mouth  is  dry,  or  slimy,  breath  faint,  or  disagreeable, 
bowels  constipated,  urine  highly  coloured,  and  probably 
offensive.  The  creature  is  indolent,  drowsy,  tires  on  the 
least  exertion ;  the  artery  is  full,  and  the  circulation 
unusually  accelerated,  imparts  a  strong  resistance  to  the 
finger,  and  the  general  temperature  is  increased. 

Treatment. — Reduce  the  blood  pabulum  by  purgatives 
occasionally.  Change  the  food,  substituting  a  less 
quantity,  of  less  nutritious  quality,  and  especially 
institute  regular  exercise  to  stimulate  the  natural  func- 
tions of  waste,  decay,  and  expulsion  of  the  effete 
products. 


140  Blood  Diseases. 

Obesity. — Following  hard  upon  the  conditions  of 
Plethora  is  the  disposition  to  accumulate  fat.  The 
degrees  of  this  are  various,  culminating  in  a  state  of 
superlative  inability,  associated  with  positive  ugliness. 
Internally  the  organs  are  surrounded  by  accumulations 
of  fat,  which  impede  the  essential  functions,  and  often 
cause  sudden  death.  Even  the  muscles  are  replaced  by 
fat,  and  the  animal  is  a  trouble  if  not  a  torture  to 
himself. 

The  Cmcses  are  those  enumerated  under  Plethora,  a 
discontinuance  of  which  must  be  ensured  before  curative 
measures  can  be  successful. 

Treatment. — Avoid  the  causes  which  generate  Plethora. 
Institute  gentle  exercise,  gradually  increased  as  the  effects 
are  fruitful.  Substitute  a  less  fattening  diet.  In  spite  of 
these  measures  some  cases  refuse  to  yield  even  to  the 
exhibition  of  strong  medicine  of  an  aperient  character. 
In  such  an  event  regular  doses  of  iodine  should  be 
given  in  conjunction  with  aperient  medicines  at  stated 
intervals. 

Anaemia. — Deficiency  of  Blood. — This  definition  indi- 
cates the  exact  reverse  of  the  state  known  as  Plethora. 
The  deficiency  applies  to  the  pabulum  or  rich  elements 
needful  for  building  up  the  body.  It  is  the  disease  of 
badly  fed  dogs,  especially  puppies,  in  which  the  organis- 
ation lacks  vigour  and  development.  It  is  the  outcome 
of  overcrowding,  bad  smells,  wa?it  of  ligJit  and  fresh  air, 
especially  when  unsuitable,  or  unnutritious  and  in- 
digestible food  is  supplied. 

Symptoms. — Weakness,  often  amounting  to  prostration, 
precarious  appetite,  indisposition  to  rise,  generally 
depressed  spirits,  cold  limbs,  which  sometimes  swell, 
pallid  membranes,  staring  coat,  scanty  excretions,  with 
general  inabihty  for  any  exertion.  The  mouth  is  cool 
and  the  gums  with  the  tongue  are  remarkably  pale. 
Diarrhoea  usually  supervenes  and  terminates  fatally. 

Treatment. — Remove  the  cause.  Supply  good  food 
judiciously,  together  with  fresh  air,  water,  etc.  Treat  the 
diarrhoea  by  means  of  half  or  quarter  doses  of  oil  and 
laudanum,  and   when   successfully   arrested,  commence 


Blood  Diseases.  1 4 1 

carefully  with  a  course  of  iron  tonics  with  quinine  in 
small  dcses. 

Rheumatism. — This  disease  owes  its  origin  to  the 
state  of  the  blood  as  the  result  of  impaired  digestion  and 
assimilation :  it  is  charged  with  elements  inimical  to  its 
constitution,  an  arrest  of  certain  functions  being  the 
cause  of  their  accumulation  and  retention  within  the 
organism.  The  disease  exhibits  a  preference  for  particular 
tissue,  such  as  the  joints  and  ligaments,  when  it  is  known  , 
as  articular  rheumatism;  and  in  the  muscles,  especially 
their  terminations  and  attachments  by  tendons.  The 
latter  form  producing  much  stiffness  of  the  body, 
especially,  has  been  known  for  generations  as  the  "chest- 
founder"  of  the  old  farriers,  and  lumbago  of  more  recent 
days.  In  sporting  dogs  the  disease  appears  as  the  result 
of  cold  and  damp  quarters,  hence  the  term  "  kennel- 
lameness." 

Two  forms  are  observed,  the  acute  and  chronic,  the 
first,  as  a  rule,  subsiding  into  the  latter,  assuming  per- 
sistent and  incurable  states,  extremely  liable  to  aggrava- 
tion by  adverse  states  of  the  temperature  and  moisture 
of  the  air.  The  acute  form  is  also  liable  to  become 
periodic,  and  heart  complications,  as  valvular  disease, 
of  a  serious  and  fatal  nature  are  common. 

Symptoms.— In  the  acute  articular  form  the  joints  are 
hot,  swollen,  and  intensely  painful.  Movement  causes 
intense  agony,  which  the  sufferer  avoids,  but  yelps 
piteously  when  forced  to  change  his  position. 

In  the  muscular  form  or  "  chest-founder,"  the  sufferer 
is  more  or  less  unable  to  advance  the  forelegs,  or  move 
the  shoulders,  which  are  stiff,  the  whole  of  the  limbs 
being  carried  in  a  piece,  and  with  extreme  care.  The 
sufferer  objects  to  being  handled,  and  yells  loudly  when 
the  limbs  are  manipulated,  especially  if  abducted  or 
moved  away  from  the  body.  Considerable  fever  is 
present. 

In  lumbar  rheumatism  the  same  objection  to  move- 
ment is  evident.  The  back  is  arched  upwards,  the  feet 
being  near  together,  movement  in  any  direction  causing 
intense  agony,  and  as  a  result,  the  creature  refuses  to  be 


142  Blood  Diseases. 

disturbed,  and  pressure,  or  forced  movement  rouses  his 
anger  by  the  intense  pain  which  attends  the  least  change 
of  position. 

Constitutional  disturbance  is  severe  in  each  of  the 
forms,  the  temperature  being  increased,  the  pulse  rapid, 
hard,  and  sharply  defined,  respiration  accelerated, 
tongue  coated  with  mucus,  breath  foul,  bowels  con- 
stipated, and  the  urine  deficient,  depositing  a  sediment 
on  cooling.  The  same  tendency  to  move  from  one  part 
or  go  out  to  another  as  seen  in  the  human  subject, 
characterises  the  disease  in  canine  sufferers,  and  an 
intensely  inflamed  joint  may  be  apparently  sound  in  a 
few  hours,  the  disease  being  transferred  with  all  its 
severity  to  another.  The  erratic  nature  of  the  disease  is 
particularly  striking,  and  serves  an  important  purpose  in 
correct  diagnosis. 

Treatment. — The  bowels  should  be  moved  in  the 
earliest  stages,  assisted  by  enemas.  Give  the  fever  bolus 
No.  I,  page  131,  or  one  of  the  draughts  there  pre- 
scribed. In  the  early  stages  of  extreme  constitutional 
disturbance  one  or  two  minims  of  Fleming's  tincture  of 
aconite  may  replace  the  belladonna.  It,  however,  re- 
quires great  care,  and  must  not  be  continued  too  long. 
In  addition,  and  between  the  other  remedies,  20  or  30 
grains  of  the  bicarbonate  of  potash  or  soda  may  be  given 
in  half  or  one  ounce  of  water. 

In  the  chronic  form,  the  disease  appears  to  be  milder. 
There  is  less  pain  and  little  disposition  to  move  from  one 
part  to  another.  Deformity  of  limb  is  common  and  is 
associated  with  enlargement,  which  suffers  aggravation  in 
changes  of  weather.  In  this  instance  a  modification  in 
the  essentials  of  treatment  is  called  for,  the  most  useful 
remedies  being  salicylic  acid  and  colchicum,  or  iodide 
of  potassium  with  the  carbonate  of  soda,  or  potash. 
Blisters,  and  setons  to  the  affected  joints  are  sometimes 
serviceable. 

As  damp  and  cold  are  undoubtedly  active  agents  in 
the  development  of  the  disease,  prevention  depends  on 
the  adoption  of  warm,  dry,  and  airy  quarters  ;  and  when 
dogs  are   washed,   to   ensure   they  are   carefully   dried 


Blood  Diseases,  I43 

subsequently  by  friction  with  towels,  &c.,  being  quickly 
removed  to  sheltered  places,  free  from  direct  draughts, 
and  having  a  normal  temperature. 

The  complication,  valvular  disease  of  the  heart,  will 
be  referred  to  under  diseases  of  the  circulatory  system 
in  Chapter  XII. 

Rickets  or  Rachitis. — The  deformities  which  charac- 
terise this  affection  are  the  evidences  of  an  abnormal 
state  of  the  digestive  and  assimilative  functions.  Flesh 
and  fat  may  be  greedily  partaken  of,  but  the  power  to 
convert  earthy  or  calcareous  matters  into  true,  soHd 
bone  structure  is  absent.  The  disease  is  not  so  common 
or  widespread  as  generally  supposed.  Many  crooked, 
bow,  or  bandy  legged  dogs,  especially  whelps,  are  met 
with,  but  these  form  a  totally  distinct  class,  often  deriving 
their  characteristics  from  the  irregularities  of  their 
mongrel  descent.  The  ricketty  whelp  is  sickly,  weak, 
and  ailing,  always  morbid,  and  rarely  worth  the  trouble 
which  the  apparent  gravity  of  the  case  demands. 

The  syniptonis  are  briefly  as  follow.  The  bones  are 
the  seat  of  the  principal  abnormalities,  swelHngs  of 
variable  size  being  present  on  the  limbs,  sometimes  in 
connection  with  the  joints,  attended  with  more  or  less 
inflammatory  action,  pain,  and  lameness.  The  latter  is 
so  pronounced  in  some  cases  as  to  render  the  animal 
incapable  of  rising  from  the  bed.  The  legs  are  thus 
deformed  by  bends,  or  twists,  the  weight  of  the  body 
being  instrumental  in  their  production.  Bulging  of  the 
facial  bones,  or  jaws  is  also  somewhat  common.  The 
spine  and  ribs  are  more  rarely  affected,  but  the  same 
want  of  earthy  material  is  evident  with  more  or  less 
softening  after  death.  The  coat  stares,  the  flanks  are 
hollow,  the  loins  narrow,  and  the  whole  vertebrae  develop 
the  razor  back  appearance.  The  mucous  membrane  and 
the  "white"  of  the  eye,  are  singularly  pale,  and  the 
creature  as  a  whole  is  a  miserable  and  profitless  being. 

Treatment. — Success  attends  only  upon  those  cases  in 
which  the  disease  is  of  a  recent  or  slight  nature,  and 
when  fresh  air,  light,  suitable  food  and  freedom  from 
cold  and  damp  are  ensured.     The  food  should  contain 


144  Blood  Diseases. 

the  elements  necessary  for  bone  formation,  as  lime  water, 
finely  ground  bones  or  egg  shells,  good  oatmeal  porridge 
forming  the  medium  as  well  as  the  bulk  of  the  daily  food. 
Cod-liver  oil,  glycerine,  or  linseed  oil  should  be  variously 
alternated  with  the  foregoing  to  promote  assimilation, 
and  impart  warmth.  Additional  advantages  will  be 
derived  from  daily,  but  suitable  and  gentle  exercise. 
As  a  general  medicine,  the  following  may  be  advan- 
tageous : — Cod-liver  oil,  or  linseed  oil,  and  lime  water, 
of  each  8  fluid  ounces  ;  solution  of  dialised  iron,  one 
fluid  ounce;  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia,  one  fluid 
ounce.  Mix  the  oil  and  lime  water  together  and  shake 
well ;  next  add  the  ammonia  and  again  agitate ;  finally 
put  in  the  iron  solution  and  mix.  The  dose  should  vary 
from  one  teaspoonful  to  a  tablespoonful  twice  a  day, 
age  and  size  of  the  patient  being  considered. 

It  remains  to  be  stated  with  emphasis  \ki2X  ricketty  dogs 
should  not  be  used  for  breeding  purposes.  Male  and  female 
alike  hand  down  the  defects  and  hereditary  taint,  which 
effectually  frustrate  the  designs  of  the  owner  to  improve 
his  animals  through  that  means. 

I?ifer-breeding,  or  breeding  from  animals  of  close  con- 
sanguinity is  also  set  down  as  the  cause  or  origin  of 
rickets  as  well  as  many  other  diseases.  This  is  un- 
doubtedly true  when  one  or  both  parents  are  unsound 
from  existing  disease.  We  need  to  remember  that  a 
close  system  of  in-breeding  has  given  us  our  famous 
flocks  and  herds,  as  well  as  unrivalled  studs  of  the  finest 
horses.  A  true  system  of  in-breeding  is  based  on  carefiil 
selection  of  the  healthiest  as  well  as  the  best  formed 
animals,  and  the  results  are  inevitably  favourable,  even 
with  animals  of  close  consanguinity.  Health,  hardi- 
hood, vigour,  conformation,  &c.,  are  fortunately  as 
hereditary  as  the  taint  of  scrofula,  or  any  other  specific 
disease,  the  value  of  the  progeny  being  in  direct  ratio  to 
the  soundness  or  otherwise  of  the  parents. 

Crooked  or  Bandy  Legs  are  peculiarly  common  to 
some  breeds  of  dogs,  and  of  late  years  the  deformity  has 
gradually  come  to  be  esteemed  as  a  peculiarity  of  breed. 
The   Dachshund  and  Basset  Hound  are  of  this  class. 


Blood  Diseases.  1 4  5 

It  is  not  improbable  that  originally  the  defect,  for  such 
it  must  be  considered,  had  its  origin  in  the  hereditary- 
transmission  of  a  weakly  constitution,  and  later  in 
attenuation  of  form  and  physical  development.  The 
absence  of  sound  judgment  in  the  selection  and  mating 
of  canine  animals  is  evident  in  the  various  deformities 
of  the  heavier  breeds,  as  the  Mastiff  and  St.  Bernard. 
The  system  of  feeding  also,  as  inducing  weight  of  body 
while  sacrificing  the  essentials  of  the  bony  skeleton  is 
probably  the  immediate  cause.  What  we  would  think  of 
the  builder  who  places  his  superstructure  on  an  inferior 
foundation  ?  The  breeding  from  animals  possessing 
heavy  carcases  set  on  inferior  legs,  composed  of  deficient 
osseous  material  is  a  practice  of  similar  kind,  having  the 
same  inevitable  results. 

Leuch86mia  or  Leucocythsemia,  otherwise  white 
blood,  or  white  cell  blood,  is  described  as  occuring  in  canine 
and  other  animals,  as  well  as  the  human  subject.  As  its 
name  implies,  the  corpuscles  of  the  blood  are  white,  the 
characteristic  red  or  crimson  colour  being  absent  as  a 
result  of  disease  in  the  blood-producing  organs — viz., 
the  spleen,  lymphatic  glands,  or  spinal  marrow. 

Dogs  and  cats  suffer  most  of  all  domestic  animals, 
usually  at  or  about  the  middb,  or  in  advanced  life.  The 
cause  appears  to  be  due  to  engorgement  of  the  spleen 
with  blood,  and  later  to  its  becoming  thickened,  hard, 
and  anemic,  finally  involving  other  organs  as  the  liver, 
kidneys,  etc.,  and  ending  in  death. 

The  disease  is  identified  with  difficulty,  examination 
of  the  blood  during  life  being  the  only  reliable  test. 
The  outlines  of  a  cure  have  not  yet  been  defined. 

Jaiuidice  or  Icterus,  is  essentially  a  disease  of  the  blood 
owing  to  retention  of  bile  products,  and  indicated  by  a 
deep  yellow  colour  of  the  tissues.  As  the  original  cause 
is  disease  of  the  liver,  the  subject  will  be  suitably  con- 
sidered in  connection  with  the  several  maladies  of  that 
rgan.    (See  Chapter  XIII.) 

Uraemia  is  the  state  of  blood  poisoning  by  retention 
of  elements  which  should  be  expelled  by  the  kidneys. 
The  skin  exhales  a  strong  and  sickly  odour  of  urine  in 

10 


146  specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

fully  developed  cases,  the  mouth  being  slimy  and  equally 
offensive,  and  the  feces  are  small,  hard,  glazed  with 
mucus,  and  emits  the  same  disagreeable  odour.  The 
end  soon  comes  on.  Dulness  is  followed  by  insensibility, 
the  animal  lies  stretched  on  the  side,  and  life  gradually 
passes  away.  Uraemia  may  be  due  to  disease  of  the 
kidneys,  but  as  a  rule  it  is  the  result  of  obscure  causes, 
without  special  disease  of  those  organs. 

Apnoea. — This  is  a  form  of  blood-poisoning  arising 
from  an  arrest  of  the  functions  of  the  skin.  It  is  mainly 
due  to  the  use  of  large  quantities  of  resinous  ointments 
and  other  agents  which  prevent  due  transpiration. 
Among  horses  and  sheep  the  disease  is  more  or  less 
prevalent,  but  in  dogs,  as  the  skin  is  less  active,  this  form 
of  disease  is  not  so  common. 


CHAPTER  X. 
SPECIFIC  AND  CONTAGIOUS  DISEASES. 

Anthrax — Cholera— Diphtheria— Distemper— Eczema  Epizootica — Glanders — 
Measles— Rabies — Relapsing  Fever— Septicaemia — Tuberculosis — Variola 
or  Small  Pox. 

The  specific  diseases  of  the  blood  in  canine  animals 
have  received  much  greater  attention  in  later  years,  and 
close  observation  has  been  rewarded  by  the  recognition 
of  various  forms  from  which  the  system  of  the  dog  was 
believed  to  be  practically  exempt.  This  may  possibly  be 
due  to  the  extension  of  the  causes,  the  majority  of  which 
bear  close  relation  to  our  international  relations  with 
other  countries  of  the  world.  They  present  a  wide  field 
for  study,  especially  in  their  relation  to  the  diseases  of 
mankind,  and  in  a  few  years  hence  the  present  list  may 
be  considerably  extended  and  enriched  by  further  dis- 
coveries, removing  many  difficulties  we  now  experience. 

Anthrax,   or  Charbon,  otherwise   coal,  derives   its 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  147 

name  from  the  dark  coloured  or  black  state  of  the 
blood. 

The  usual  form  of  infection  is  by  means  of  the  flesh  ©f 
cattle  which  have  died  of  the  disease,  or  when  the  dog 
has  been  allowed  to  forage  among  the  excrement  of  those 
suffering  from  the  intestinal  form.  The  disease  has 
appeared  with  violence  among  foxhounds,  from  which  the 
losses  have  been  serious,  but  as  a  rule  dogs  resist  the 
poison  better  than  catde. 

Symptoins. — The  intestinal  form  of  the  malady  is  most 
common.  It  commences  by  violent  colic,  during  which 
the  bowels  are  moved,  the  evacuations  being  mixed  with 
blood.  Vomition  is  likewise  severe,  the  contents  of  the 
stomach  being  largely  mixed  with  blood.  Recovery  is 
more  common  in  the  dog  than  among  cattle.  In  some 
instances  the  lymphatic  glands  about  the  throat  and  neck 
rapidly  swell,  with  local  tumefaction  and  serous  infiltra- 
tion of  the  surrounding  tissues,  which  greatly  interfere 
with  respiration.  The  skin  and  parts  thus  implicated, 
together  with  the  membrane  of  the  mouth,  and  tongue,  is 
spotted  with  blood  effused  beneath,  and  shortly  becomes 
gangrenous;  viscid  saliva  copiously  flows  from  the  mouth, 
and  the  bowels  discharge  fluid  fceces  largely  mixed  with 
blood.  The  affected  animal  usually  dies  within  three  to 
five  days,  or  recovery  is  betokened  within  that  time.  As 
a  result  of  the  contagion  entering  by  the  mouth,  the 
buccal  membrane  lining  the  whole  cavity  is  often  studded 
with  blebs  or  pustules,  which  occasion  severe  fever  and 
irritation.  Such  states  are  believed  by  the  ignorant  to  be 
the  result  of  an  encounter  with  a  toad,  snake,  &c.  It  is 
said  that  a  dog  affected  with  anthrax  will  convey  the 
disease  by  attacking  with  his  teeth.  If  this  is  correct, 
may  we  not  suppose  it  is  due  to  the  presence  of  blood  or 
other  matter  on  which  the  animal  has  fed  previously  ?  If 
it  is  proved  to  be  conveyed  by  the  saliva,  or  discharges 
from  the  blebs,  &c.,  in  his  mouth,  we  realise  the  formid- 
able nature  of  the  complaint,  and  the  need  for  the 
greatest  caution. 

Treatme?it  must  be  regulated  by  the  attendant  circum- 
stances.    The  mi'der  forms,  and  only  when  the  dog  is 


148  specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

valuable,  should  be  treated,  as  great  risk  is  imminent 
from  the  conveyance  of  fatal  blood-poisoning.  The  care 
of  the  patient  properly  rests  with  a  qualified  veterinary 
surgeon.  "  Sanitas  "  disinfectants  should  be  largely  made 
use  of  for  purifying  the  litter,  floor,  &c.,  fouled  by  the 
discharges,  and  as  a  wash  for  the  mouth,  nothing  answers 
better  than  "  Sanitas  "  fluid  diluted  with  an  equal  bulk  of 
water.  One  or  two  fluid  drachms  with  one  ounce  of  cold 
water  will  form  an  excellent  medicine,  which  may  be 
given  several  times  daily ;  and  a  fluid  injection,  say  two 
to  four  ounces  of  tepid  water  containing  one  teaspoonful, 
will  materially  aid  in  correcting  the  offensive  dejections. 
Otherwise  the  warmth  and  general  comfort  of  the  animals 
must  be  ensured. 

Cholera. — The  communication  of  cholera  to  the  dog 
or  cat  may  not  be  improbable.  Both  these  animals  in  their 
association  with  mankind  run  serious  risk  during  an 
outbreak  of  the  disease.  They  may  partake  of  the  malady 
by  their  disposition  to  seek  delicate  morsels  from  the 
evacuations  or  vomited  matters ;  they  may  also  become 
carriers  of  contagion,  and  spread  the  disease  far  and  wide 
among  the  population  of  the  district.  With  regard  to  the 
first,  the  evidences  of  cholera  in  either  dog  or  cat  are  by 
no  means  clear.  During  visitations  of  the  plague  in 
certain  countries,  cats  and  dogs  have  suffered  extensively 
from  an  epizootic  form  of  disease  which  has  been  recog- 
nised at  the  least  as  of  a  choleraic  nature,  and  exceedingly 
fatal  even  after  a  few  hours.  The  chief  symptoms  were 
severe  vomiting,  &c.,  with  violent  as  well  as  profuse 
diarrhoea  ;  the  animal  appeared  to  be  suddenly  reduced, 
having  a  "  pinched  "  or  wasted  appearance,  and  the  eyes, 
sunk  deep  in  the  orbits,  added  considerably  to  the  woe- 
begone or  dejected  condition.  After  death  the  internal 
evidences  very  closely  agreed  with  those  witnessed  in  the 
human  subject.  It  has,  however,  been  carefully  ascer- 
tained that  notwithstanding  the  great  similarity  in  the 
post-mortem  appearances,  the  true  choleraic  poison  was 
probably  not  present. 

Piphtheria. — Prominently  among  the  discoveries  of 


specific  mid  Contagious  Diseases.  149 

recent  years  is  the  susceptibility  of  dogs  to  diphtheria. 
The  cause  is  ascertained  to  rest  with  the  defective  state 
of  the  drainage,  the  gases  from  which  are  inhaled,  or  by 
the  access  of  putrilage  to  the  system,  the  medium  being 
the  food.  By  nature  the  dog  is  surprisingly  immune  as 
to  many  putrid  forms  of  disease,  as  he  is  almost  the  only 
scavenger  in  many  countries;  yet  it  appears  to  be  possible 
for  the  system  to  become  susceptible  as  the  animal  is 
exposed  to  the  operation  of  causes  while  under  con- 
strained or  domestic  conditions.  My  late  friend  Professor 
Robertson,  in  his  extended  observations  was  enabled  to 
witness  the  effects  of  the  disease  in  a  number  of  horses, 
as  well  as  a  kennel  of  greyhounds,  and  I  give  the  results 
of  his  experience  in  the  following  observations. 

Some  of  the  cases  were  characterised  by  high  fever  at 
the  outset,  when  the  inflammation  was  acute,  the  mouth, 
fauces,  tonsils  and  palate  being  of  a  dark  red  colour, 
tense,  smooth,  and  glistening,  as  a  result  of  distension 
from  sub-cellular  infiltration.  The  gland  structures  were 
swollen  and  tender,  which  rendered  swallowing  difficult 
or  impossible.  The  early  signs  were  increase  of  temper- 
ature, accelerated  pulse  and  respiration,  and  when  this 
increased  functional  activity  subsided,  the  animal  was 
depressed,  and  listless  from  a  want  of  muscular  energy. 
The  end  of  the  disease  was  betokened  by  emesis, 
diarrhoea  and  death.  In  those  surviving  twenty-four 
hours  were  the  characteristic  grey  coagulable  exudate, 
sometimes  arranged  in  spots  or  stripes,  but  always 
adherent  to  the  mucous  membrane ;  more  frequently 
the  exudation  was  glossy,  tenacious,  soft,  and  devoid  of 
structural  arrangement,  or  granular  material  was  thickly 
deposited  in  some  parts,  or  almost  absent  in  others. 

In  another  form  there  was  less  fever,  and  the  power  of 
swallowing  was  only  slight. 

In  the  third  form  the  disease  was  principally  located  in 
the  nasal  passages,  being  characterised  by  dulness,  and 
fever  of  a  low  type,  with  sore  throat,  sanious  discharge 
from  the  nostrils,  and  a  similar  fluid,  mingled  with  saliva, 
flowed  over  the  tongue  when  the  mouth  was  examined. 


ISO  Specific  and  Contagious  Diseases » 

Of  the  few  which  recovered,  one  became  blind  of  both 
eyes  from  infiltration  of  the  layers  of  the  cornea,  but 
ultimately  sight  was  restored.  Another,  aftected  a  fort- 
night later,  was  seized  with  clonic  spasms  of  the 
muscles  of  the  face  and  cervical  region,  followed  in  a  few 
days  by  paraplegia.  After  a  tedious  convalescence  this 
animal  recovered  his  full  nervous  power. 

Examination  of  the  drains  proved  them  to  be  full  of 
filth,  which  had  percolated  through  the  floor  of  the 
kennels,  and  escape  of  eflluvia  took  place  through  a 
perforated  grating,  conditions  which  fully  accounted  for 
the  fatality. 

Other  writers  have  noticed  the  occurrence  of  diphtheria 
in  dogs  from  the  consumption  of  the  excreta  of  human 
patients  under  the  disease.  And  Professor  Law  also 
alludes  to  croup  as  occurring  in  the  dog,  probably 
due  to  the  confinement  within  buildings  to  which 
mephitic  vapours  have  gained  more  or  less  constant 
access. 

Distemper. — In  the  list  of  canine  ailments  distemper 
probably  ranks  first  in  importance,  prevalence,  severity, 
and  fatality.  It  is  a  specific  disease,  and  usually  believed 
to  be  closely  associated  with  early  life,  a  peculiarity  which 
may,  to  some  extent,  be  responsible  for  its  fatality.  In 
later  years  the  belief  in  a  contagion  by  which  it  is  carried 
from  one  animal  to  another,  has  included  it  among  the 
highly  infectious  maladies,  yet  some  who  accept  the 
theory  of  its  being  "self-generated,"  also  admit  that 
many  dogs  safely  pass  through  the  vicissitudes  of  life 
without  contracting  the  disease.  It  is  also  in  evidence 
that  one  attack  does  not  always  ensure  immunity  from  a 
second,  or  even  a  third.  Various  attempts  have  been  made 
to  establish  identity  with  various  diseases  of  other  animals 
and  the  human  subject,  which,  it  is  almost  needless  to 
state,  have  failed.  In  our  student  day?,  we  assisted  in 
the  inoculation  of  numerous  dogs  as  a  preventive,  the 
belief  of  our  teacher  in  that  day  being  that  the  disease 
resembled  small  pox  of  the  human  subject. 

Nature. — The  evidences  gained  by  a  careful  study  of 
the  disease  are  decidedly  in  favour  of  its  being  dependent 


specific  and  Contagions  Diseases.  1 5  i 

upon  an  altered  condition  of  the  blood,  leading  to  an 
asthenic  or  debility  of  a  peculiarly  low  type.  It  may  be 
located  at  one  time  in  a  special  set  of  organs,  and  during 
a  succeeding  attack  the  manifestations  are  removed  to  a 
totally  distant  part :  thus,  at  one  time  it  is  wholly  catarrhal, 
and  in  other  instances  it  proves  to  be'  either  pulmonary, 
intestinal,  hepatic,  or  cerebro-spinal,  all  of  which  may 
suffer  modification  in  their  special  characteristics  under 
various  circumstances. 

Causes. — Contact  with  diseased  animals  is  perhaps  the 
chief.  The  exciting  causes  are  those  which  by  inducing 
debility,  impoverishment  of  the  bloody  &c.,  favour  the 
attack,  such  as  bad  or  insufficient  food,  damp,  over- 
crowded, or  ill-ventilated  dwellings,  over-feeding,  want 
of  exercise,  &c.  &c.  Worms  and  teething  also  contribute 
their  share  in  reducing  the  natural  stamina  of  the  system. 
As  we  are  assured  of  the  demonstration  of  a  special 
disease  producing  bacterium  of  micrococcus  characters, 
we  may  content  ourselves  in  the  inevitable  assurance  of 
the  contagious  cause  under  all  circumstances. 

Sympto7ns. — The  most  recent  views  of  the  nature  of 
this  disease  are  that,  primarily,  it  is  a  specific  form  of 
catarrh,  in  which  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  air  pas- 
sages, or  the  upper  alimentary  track,  as  far  as  the  stomach, 
are  involved,  degenerating,  as  already  stated,  into  one 
or  other  of  the  forms  of  pneumonia,  hepatic  or  bilious, 
enteric  or  intestinal,  and  cerebro-spinal  or  nervous 
disease. 

The  earliest  signs  of  disorder  are  dulness,  lassitude, 
snuffling  or  slight  husk,  or  coughing  fit,  at  the  close  of 
which  the  animal  attempts  to  vomit.  Somewhat  later  he 
is  found  trembling,  with  staring  coat,  a  fit  of  shivers 
ushering  in  a  subsequent  stage.  The  pulse  and  tempera- 
ture are  increased,  the  latter  rising  to  104''  or  105°  F. 
The  respiration  soon  becomes  accelerated,  and  the 
mucous  membranes  slightly  reddened,  which  provokes  a 
watery  discharge  from  the  eyes  and  nostrils,  and  a  fre- 
quent blowing  of  air  from  the  latter.  In  a  few  hours  the 
watery  discharges  become  muco-purulent,  or  partly 
mucus  and  pus,  the  mouth  is  hot,  and  the  tongue  coated 


152  specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

with  dirty-looking  mucus.  Shortly  the  throat  is  inflamed 
and  sore,  outward  pressure  causing  pain  and  coughing, 
the  urine  scanty  and  highly  coloured,  bowels  constipated, 
legs  and  ears  cold,  and  appetite  very  capricious,  any 
attempt  to  swallow  provoking  vomition.  In  mild  cases 
these  signs  prevail  some  days,  and  the  patient  may 
recover,  or  the  change  may  be  in  the  development  of 
severe  complications,  often  ending  in  some  incurable 
form  of  disease,  or  death  within  a  few  days. 

There  are  also  conditions  which  merge  from  the  simple 
catarrh  at  the  outset,  which  we  must  now  notice.  The 
disease  may  appear  to  be  mainly  located  in  the  nose, 
eyes,  &c.  The  discharges  grow  exceedingly  thick  and 
tenacious,  accumulating  around  the  eyelids,  on  the  face 
below,  and  about  the  nostrils  and  lips.  The  eyelids  are 
closed  and  even  united  by  the  hardened  discharge,  and 
the  breathing  is  impeded  by  similar  accumulations  in  the 
nostrils,  rehef  in  either  case  being  gained  only  by  care- 
ful soaking  with  warm  water,  and  removal  of  the  en- 
crustations. Blood  circulation  and  supply  are  deficient, 
the  result  of  which  is  that  the  parts  affected  are  not 
nourished;  the  discharges  are  offensive,  and  contain 
blood,  the  resuH  of  ulceration,  which  appears  in  the  form 
of  numerous  sores  on  the  nostrils,  lij)s,  and  even  the 
gums,  tongue,  &c.  The  eyes  are  likewise  involved, 
opaque  spots  first  appearing  on  the  eyeballs,  and  by  sub- 
sequent ulceration  or  abscess,  perforate  the  tissues  and 
the  aqueous  humour  escapes.  In  those  cases  which 
recover,  the  process  of  repair  is  wonderfully  rapid  and 
effective,  the  eye  being  ultimately  clear  and  sight  unim- 
paired. Similar  results  are  not  uncommon  with  respect 
to  the  general  state  of  disease.  The  animal  is  fearfully 
prostrated,  and  each  day  is  thought  to  be  his  last.  A 
few  hours  decides  the  issue  of  the  case,  and  he  suddenly 
pulls  himself  together,  enters  on  the  path  to  recovery, 
and  in  a  few  days  is  convalescent.  In  other  cases,  and 
in  the  earlier  stages,  improvement  is  suddenly  apparent 
by  the  absence  of  all  the  severe  symptoms  ;  shortly,  how- 
ever, he  appears  weak  in  the  back,  is  unusually  excitable, 
and  at  length  the  worst  that  can  befall  him  is  seen  in  the 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases,  1 5  3 

evidence  of  epileptic  fits,  St.  Vitus's  dance,  or  paralysis. 
Sometimes,  owing  to  brain  complication,  the  sufferer 
engages  in  a  continual  walking  in  one  direction,  and  in 
the  form  of  a  circle,  evidently  in  a  stale  of  stupor  or 
partial  insensibility,  which  terminates  in  complete  coma 
and  death. 

The  Respiratory  or  Pulmonary  form  of  Distemper  is 
essentially  that  of  Bronchitis  of  a  low  and  aggravated 
character,  the  post-mortem  evidences  being  those 
common  to  the  usual  disease  of  that  name,  but  asso- 
ciated with  general  specific  blood  derangement.  {See 
Bronchitis.) 

In  the  Bitiary  or  Hepatic  form  jaundice  is  conspicuous 
by  the  yellow  colour  pervading  the  tissues  generally. 
The  tinge,  more  or  less  intense,  is  seen  to  great  advan- 
tage in  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  mouth,  tongue, 
nostrils,  eyelids,  eyeball,  the  haw,  vulva,  and  rectum.  It 
is  associated  with  intense  depression,  a  feature  which 
adds  considerable  difiiculty  in  combating  the  associated 
blood  poison  and  its  destructive  effects.    {See  Jaundice.) 

Enteric  or  Intestinal  Distemper  is  principally  confined 
to  younger  dogs  and  puppies,  which  are  peculiarly  liable 
in  their  immature  state  of  physical  development  to  con- 
tract a  state  of  blood  disease,  even  under  the  least 
favourable  circumstances.  Worms  in  the  intestines,  also 
teething,  often  prove  exceedingly  trying  to  these  creatures, 
and  under  their  continued  effects,  without  due  care  as  to 
suitable  food,  exercise  according  to  capacity,  comfortable 
quarters,  &c.,  the  causes  of  blood  derangement  are  not 
far  distant. 

In  ordinary  Distemper  the  tendency  to  a  loose  state  of 
the  bowels  is  general,  thus  completing  the  list  of  signs 
which  are  characteristic  of  blood  diseases.  A  state  of 
looseness  is  often  present  from  the  first,  the  f^ces  being 
laden  with  mucus  shed  by  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
bowels.  Further  action  induces  congestion  of  the  tissues, 
which  is  followed  by  rupture  of  the  minute  vessels  ; 
blood  oozes,  and  being  irritant  as  well  as  an  animal 
poison,  causes  stoppage  and  sloughing,  when  an  ulcer 
forms,   another    source    of    bleeding;    thus    the    fceces 


i  54  Specific  and  ConiagiGUS  Diseases. 

soon  become  dark-coloured,  or  black,  emitting  an 
offensive  odour.  Severe  colic  accompanies  the  changes 
referred  to,  and  great  depression  is  evident,  the  pulse  is 
now  running  down,  temperature  declines  rapidly,  and  the 
animal  dies  in  agony.  When  this  is  the  case  a  portion 
of  the  intestine  may  be  observed,  on  post-mortem  ex- 
amination, to  be  firmly  contracted,  congested,  and 
probably  infiltrated,  as  well  as  ulcerated.  Some  cases 
do  not  proceed  thus  far,  death  arising  from  blood- 
poisoning  and  coma. 

Eczema  of  a  severe  form  is  another  serious  compli- 
cation. Innumerable  pustules  form  over  the  body,  or 
perhaps  only  over  the  surface  of  the  belly,  some  of  which 
are  so  small  as  to  resemble  the  puncture  by  a  pin; 
others  are  larger  and  well  defined,  while  a  third  form 
consists  of  a  confluence  or  union  of  these  which  raise  the 
cuticle  over  a  wide  area  as  a  large  swelling.  The  system 
then  suffers  violently  from  pain,  shock,  and  an  enormous 
drain,  and  from  this  period  the  patient  becomes  weaker, 
and  finally  dies  in  the  majority  of  cases.  In  milder 
forms  the  pustules  mature,  burst  and  discharge  their 
contents,  which  proves  the  welfare  of  the  system,  but  in 
the  severe  states  the  poison  is  re-absorbed,  to  the  great 
detriment  of  the  circulation. 

Treaiinent. — This  is  of  two  kinds,  preventive  and 
remedial.  With  regard  to  the  first,  vaccination  or 
inoculation  with  the  eye  or  nasal  discharges,  has  been 
set  forth  as  all  sufficient.  Upwards  of  forty  years  ago  we 
had  the  privilege  of  assisting  the  late  Professor  Barlow,  of 
Edinburgh,  in  a  great  number  of  trials  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  testing  the  value  and  usefulness,  if  any,  of  the 
operation.  It  is  almost  needless  to  state  the  results  were 
nil,  and  to  the  present  day  that  experience  has  been 
repeatedly  verified.  If,  however,  we  regard  the  presence 
of  bacteria  as  the  sole  cause,  the  use  of  cultivated  fluids 
may  solve  the  mystery.  Let  the  sick  be  rigidly  kept 
apart  from  the  healthy,  observing  all  necessary  rules  of 
sanitation,  with  a  judicious  employment  of  antiseptics  of 
known   value,    of  which    "Sanitas"   preparations    take 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  1 5  ^ 

leading  rank.  This  caution  is  of  the  utmost  importance 
in  dealing  with  the  profuse  discharges  from  the  eyes  and 
nostrils,  as  well  as  the  fccces,  &c.  The  former  should  be 
frequently  and  carefully  removed  to  avoid  funile/it 
infection^  using  the  most  gentle  means,  as  the  ulcerated 
skin  is  exceedingly  sensitive,  and  irritation  causes  intense 
agony.  For  this  purpose  one  part  of  •''  Sanitas  "  Fluid  to 
four  or  five  of  water  will  sweeten  and  soothe  the  parts. 
An  injection  of  the  same  should  be  used  when  diarrhoea 
makes  its  appearance ;  and  a  draught  composed  of  ten, 
twenty,  to  sixty  drops  in  water  may  be  given  by  the 
mouth. 

It  is  good  practice  to  administer  an  emetic  in  the 
earliest  stages,  for  which  form  No.  i  or  2  will  be 
useful.  A  laxative  judiciously  follows  the  emetic  when 
the  effects  have  subsided,  its  action  being  facilitated  by 
an  enema  of  warm  water  only.  Airy,  but  warm,  dry 
quarters  are  absolutely  essential,  and  feeding  must  be  of 
the  most  careful  kind,  in  order  to  avoid  constipation  or 
diarrhcea  by  direct  overloading  of  the  stomach,  or  irrita- 
tion from  unsuitable  or  indigestible  aliment.  Stimulants, 
as  No.  I,  will  be  found  useful  when  debility  is  evident; 
or  when  the  cough  comes  on,  expectorant  bolus  or 
draughts  will  be  called  for.  In  either  case  the  addition 
of  one  grain  of  the  sulphate  of  quinine  will  be  useful 
against  threatened  depression. 

The  insertion  of  a  seton  in  front  of  the  chest  for  sore 
throat  or  bronchitis  is  often  recommended  in  the  very 
early  stages ;  afterwards  they  may  prove  worse  than 
useless.  The  seton  is  also  recommended  when  the  eyes 
are  implicated.  In  this  case  it  is  placed  at  the  back  of 
the  neck,  behind  the  ears.  Opacity  of  the  cornea  may 
be  caused  by  general  cloudiness  or  by  small  circular 
spots  or  depressions,  the  commencement  of  ulceration. 
For  these  a  small  quantity  of  oxide  of  zinc  or  calomel  is 
laid  on  the  tip  of  the  finger  and  held  opposite  the  eye, 
the  lids  being  separated,  and  the  powder  is  blown  upon 
the  cornea. 

The   various   complications    of    Distemper,    such   as 


156  specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

BronchitiF,  Enterltic  diarrhoea,  Jaundice,  Eczema,  &c., 
will  be  dealt  with  under  these  heads. 

As  long  as  the  disease  can  be  confined  to  the  catarrhal 
stages  we  have  found  as  a  rule  the  appropriate  measures 
to  be  fairly  successful.  It  is,  therefore,  impossible  to  lay 
undue  stress  on  the  importance  of  thorough  cleanliness, 
an  unremitting  use  of  disinfectants  for  the  floor,  &c.,  of 
the  habitation,  with  antiseptic  dressings  for  the  various 
points  of  discharge.  In  clearing  the  latter  small  pieces 
of  soft  rag  should  be  used  with  extreme  gentleness, 
and  at  the  end  of  the  operation  consigned  to  the  fire. 
The  attendant  also  should  wash  the  hands  frequently, 
and  always  after  operating  on  the  patient,  the  "  Sanitas  " 
Fluid  being  used  as  directed. 

A  Malignant  form  of  Distemper  occasionally  makes  its 
appearance,  the  general  manifestations  being  those  of 
extreme  debility,  diphtheria  (which  see)  and  severe  skin 
eruption.  In  such  cases  little  or  no  good  can  be  done 
unless  the  appropriate  medical  treatment  is  adopted  at 
the  outset.     {See  also  Eczema  Epizootica.) 

Eczema  Epizootica,  one  of  the  scourges  of  the  bovine 
race,  is  known  to  be  transmissible  to  the  dog  and  the  cat, 
the  medium  of  conveyance  being  the  milk  of  diseased 
cattle.  It  is  very  probable  that  as  this  disease  appears  in 
conjunction  with  diphtheria  as  a  malignant  form  of  dis- 
temper, the  source  in  all  probability  is  the  milk  from 
dairies  where  not  only  diseased  cattle  are  present,  but 
the  water  used  for  washing  the  utensils,  &c.,  is  polluted 
with  sewage.     {See  Diphtheria.) 

Glanders. — The  dog  is  highly  susceptible  of  the 
poison  of  glanders,  which  may  be  communicated  in  co- 
habitation, by  direct  inoculation,  spreading  the  matter  on 
open  wounds,  or  injecting  it  within  the  veins.  In  the 
latter  instance,  the  operation  being  carefully  performed, 
the  induced  disease  generally  proves  fatal ;  in  the  other 
instances,  it  is  thought  the  effect  of  the  operation  is  to 
create  immunity  from  subsequent  attacks.  This,  how- 
ever, is  not  sufiiciently  demonstrated  to  be  set  down  as 
an  admitted  fact.  Glanders  in  the  dog  is  not  marked, 
as  in  the  horse,  by  chancrous  sores  on  the  nasal  mem- 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  157 

brane,  &c.,  yet  bloody  discharges  are  common,  associated 
with  dropsical  swellings  of  the  head  and  eyes,  the  mem- 
brane of  the  latter  being  acutely  reddened.  More  or 
less  fever  is  also  present  with  lung  disturbance  and  a 
lingering  death,  the  illness  in  fatal  cases  extending  over 
several  months.  Spontaneous  recoveries  are,  however, 
quite  common. 

Measles. — The  transmission  of  this  disease  from  the 
human  subject  is  set  down  as  quite  possible,  a  case  having 
actually  occurred  in  a  pet  dog  which  was  allowed  to  lick 
the  hand  of  a  child  affected  with  measles  in  a  severe 
form.  The  animal  sickened  in  twelve  days,  a  discharge 
from  the  nose  appeared  shortly  after,  and  in  four  days 
died  from  resulting  congestion  of  the  throat  and  air 
passages  generally.     {Veterinary Jour ?ial,  1876.) 

Rabies. — From  whatever  aspect  we  view  this  disease, 
there  can  be  but  one,  the  inevitable  conclusion  that  it  is 
one  of  the  most  dangerous  and  formidable,  the  possibili- 
ties of  which  are  fearful  to  contemplate.  The  number  of 
human  victims  who  are  said  to  succumb  to  the  effects  of 
the  poison  is  not  the  only  horror  which  comes  of  its 
prevalence,  however  large  the  quotation  may  be.  In  the 
minds  of  those  who  are  called  to  minister  to  the  sufferer, 
no  description  can  portray  the  amount  of  mental  agony 
and  utter  dismay  they  undergo  while  unable  to  offer  the 
least  assistance  calculated  to  assuage  the  bodily  sufferings, 
or  impart  solace  to  the  distracted  mind.  From  this 
point  of  view  it  is  not  surprising  that,  by  general  consent, 
we  regard  the  mention  of  rabies  as  synonymous  with 
general  prevalence,  the  cry  of  "mad  dog"  having  an 
electrical  effect  upon  a  whole  population.  Nervous 
subjects,  especially  those  who  know  little  or  indeed 
nothing  of  rabies,  at  the  mere  mention  of  the  name  often 
work  themselves  into  a  fearful  state  of  apprehension,  not 
unfrequently  attended  with  serious  consequences.  Such 
being  the  case,  it  is  high  time  that  all  interested  in  canine 
pets  should  become  acquainted  with  the  general  charac- 
ters of  the  disease,  the  usual  mode  of  origin,  possibility 
of  communication  to  other  animals  as  well  as  ourselves, 
in  order  that  means  for  its   dehmitation  at  least  may 


158  specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

be  secured  if  we  cannot  immediately  suppress  its  exist- 
ence. 

Rabid  dogs,  it  has  often  been  said,  exhibit  method  in 
their  madness.  A  state  of  fury  is  uncommon  or  at  least 
associated  only  with  certain  forms  of  the  disease;  in 
many  cases  the  creature  is  perfectly  docile,  the  owner 
himself  having  not  even  the  vestige  of  a  suspicion  against 
his  pet.  Rabid  dogs  have  been  known  to  fondle,  caress, 
and  lick  the  hands  of  their  owners  as  on  other  occasions, 
which  in  some  instances  have  proved  fatal,  the  virus  from 
the  saliva  gaining  entrance  to  the  system  through  a 
scratch  or  other  slight  form  of  wound.  They  show  their 
intense  dislike  to  other  dogs  in  preference  to  human 
beings  as  a  rule  ;  even  in  sleep  they  rise  and  violently 
rush  at  the  object  of  their  fury,  which  exists  only  in  their 
disordered  imagination ;  they  will  also  snap  as  at  flies,  or 
other  unseen  objects,  and  from  apparently  sound  sleep 
suddenly  rising  to  the  attack  have  been  known  to  fall 
exhausted  by  the  effort.  The  desire  for  freedom  is 
peculiarly  manifested,  often  with  a  degree  of  cunning  for 
which  even  the  dog  would  scarcely  be  credited.  Once 
free  he  commences  his  wanderings,  often  covering 
immense  distances,  and  when  unmolested  returns  to  his 
lair  completely  prostrate,  or  partially  paralysed,  and  in  a 
short  time  wholly  so.  It  is  rare  that  he  attempts  violence 
during  this  remarkable  journey,  but  when  provoked  is  apt 
to  commit  fearful  havoc.  The  wisest  course,  therefore, 
when  a  dog  is  "on  the  march  "  and  correctly  recognised, 
is  to  give  him  possession  of  the  road,  as  in  all  probability 
he  will  never  molest  any  person.  His  evident  desire  is  to 
get  away  from  the  disease^  and  to  this  end  he  devotes 
himself  with  a  concentration  of  will  that  is  remarkable  in 
the  brute  creation. 

In  the  furious  stages  the  dog  is  inclined  to  make 
sudden  attacks,  the  victim  receiving  one  or  more  grips, 
and  probably  thrown  down  or  rolled  over,  the  march 
being  resumed  in  search  of  others.  Thus,  in  the  space  of 
a  single  nig'nt,  not  only  dogs,  but  a  large  number  of 
sheep  are  bitten,  and  being  unobserved,  the  circumstance 
has  favoured  the  surmise  that  the  disease  had  a  spon- 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  159 

laneoiis  origin.  The  disposition  to  bite  is  evidently  due 
to  the  condition  of  the  brain,  amounting  not  only  to  a 
loss  of  the  normal  sensation,  but  also  to  mental  aberration. 
This  is  shown  sometimes  by  apparent  violence  in  the 
attack  as  well  as  seizure,  shortly  relinquishing  his  hold 
after  a  harmless  grip,  then  turning  to  resume  his  way  as 
if  nothing  had  happened. 

In  the  form  known  as  dinnb  rabies  the  lower  jaw  drops 
from  paralysis,  the  tongue  hangs  loose  and  becomes  of  a 
dark  purple  hue,  the  throat  also  swells.  The  eyes  are 
dull,  heavy  and  affected  with  strabismus  or  squinting,  in 
some  cases  the  pupils  being  turned  towards  the  nose. 

As  a  result  of  previous  violence  the  head  is  often 
swollen,  and  the  teeth  are  broken ;  the  lips  and  tongue 
are  likewise  swollen  and  lacerated  from  the  violence  of 
attack  on  other  animals  or  objects,  as  well  as  in  unsuc- 
cessful attempts  to  gain  his  liberty.  Perverted  taste  is 
evident  from  the  very  earliest  period  of  the  disease,  which 
causes  the  sufferer  to  take  up  all  kinds  of  foreign  bodies, 
large  accumulations  of  which  are  found  in  his  stomach 
after  death.  Vomition,  sometimes  expelling  blood,  is 
present  only  in  the  early  stages,  after  which  paralysis  sets 
in  followed  by  death.  The  fondness  for  urine  is  deemed 
a  sure  evidence  of  rabies.  Sexual  excitement  is  often 
intense  before  other  really  diagnostic  signs  are  recognised  ; 
sometimes  also  the  desire  to  lick  the  genitals  of  other 
dogs.  Fever  is  present  and  increases  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  disease.  There  is  a  bright  red  or  lurid 
appearance  in  the  eyes,  probably  with  squinting  of  both, 
pus  accumulates  in  the  angles,  and  a  discharge  flows  from 
the  nostrils.  As  the  disease  advances  the  breathing  is 
loud  and  hollow,  and  in  subsequent  stages  it  is  per- 
formed mainly  through  the  nostrils.  The  voice  is  also 
peculiarly  affected  :  the  hov/1  of  a  mad  dog  is  an  experience 
which  will  never  be  eftaced  from  memory.  It  is  utterly 
impossible  to  convey  its  characters  by  any  selection  of 
terms.  It  must  be  heard  tobe  really  understood.  Confined 
to  his  cage  or  otherwise  secure  he  sits  on  his  haunches, 
the  muzzle  directed  upwards  or  resting  his  head  on  the 
wall,  he  attempts  an  abortive  kind  of  bark  which  curiously 


I  Go  Specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

develops  into  a  succession  of  equally  abortive  howls. 
This  is  most  common  at  night  after  the  routine  of  bustle 
and  noise  is  stilled,  and  is  consonant  with  the  usual  re- 
cuperative efforts  of  the  system  at  this  season,  which  have 
the  tendency  to  aggravate  existing  disease.  At  this  stage 
also  signs  of  local  irritation  may  be  present,  the  cause 
being  the  cicatrix  of  a  former  wound  inflicted  by  another 
dog  suffering  from  the  disease.  He  licks  at  first,  but 
eventually  bites  or  even  tears  the  skin  which  at  this  part 
exhibits  the  gangrenous  stage.  This  is  the  inoculation 
point,  which,  as  a  result  of  the  introduction  of  the  virus 
heals  but  imperfectly,  and  is  subject  to  the  consequences 
of  irritation  and  ulceration,  one  of  Nature's  efforts  to  rid 
herself  of  the  poison.  The  issues  are  constantly  fatal, 
death  taking  place  from  two  or  three  days  in  some  of  the 
most  acute  cases,  or  it  is  otherwise  delayed  until  about  the 
seventh  day. 

The  Post-mortem  Appearances  in  fully  developed  cases 
are  remarkable.  The  body  very  shortly  enters  into  a 
state  of  decay.  At  the  back  of  the  mouth,  and  within 
the  stomach,  foreign  bodies  of  the  most  strange  character 
are  found,  as  sticks,  stones,  dirt,  fcieces,  bits  of  iron,  tin, 
leather,  &c.  The  back  of  the  tongue  and  the  mouth, 
with  the  lining  membranes  of  the  windpipe,  also  those  of 
the  pharynx  and  larynx,  are  highly  congested  and  streaky, 
particularly  about  the  epiglottis,  and  the  vocal  chords  are 
not  uncommonly  ulcerated.  The  salivary  glands  are  in- 
volved in  the  general  congestion,  which  extends  to  the 
stomach  and  intestines,  portions  of  which  exhibit  patches 
of  extravasated  blood,  some  of  which  have  already  entered 
on  the  ulcerative  stage.  As  a  result  of  this  process  within 
the  stomach,  considerable  effusion  'i  the  form  of  a  coffee- 
coloured  fluid — abnormal  blood  material — is  present 
in  addition  to  the  usual  heterogeneous  accumulations. 
Blood  spots  are  found  upon  the  heart,  pleura,  peritoneum, 
and  elsewhere.  The  spleen,  liver,  and  lymphatic  glands 
generally  are  enlarged  by  congestion ;  also  the  substance 
of  the  brain,  medulla,  and  spinal  chord  with  their  several 
coverings.  In  addition,  there  are  indications  understood 
only  by  the  scientist,  assisted  by  a  powerful  microscope, 


specific  and  Co  fit  agio?  ts  Diseases.  i6i 

&c.,  without  which  no  investigation  can  be  said  to  be 
complete. 

In  animals  recently  bitten  by  a  rabid  dog^  and  summarily 
destroyed^  the  post-mortem  appearances  afford  no  evidence 
of  rabies.  The  simple  reason  for  this  is  that  sufficient 
time  has  not  been  allowed  for  the  development  of  the 
actual  disease.  Without  disease  there  can  be  no  alteration 
or  destruction  of  tissue.  For  similar  reasons  the  inoculation 
test  is  equally  barren  of  positive  indications.  The  subse- 
quent appearance  of  cerebral  symptoms  in  the  inoculated 
victim  is  no  proof  whatever. 

The  bite  of  a  healthy  dog  is  regarded  by  many  nervous 
and  timid  persons  as  the  probable  communication  of 
rabies.  This  is  impossible.  Even  if  rabies  developed  at 
a  later  stage  in  the  same  animal,  the  subject  of  the  bite  is 
perfectly  safe.  If  this  were  otherwise,  the  writer  would 
have  never  penned  these  lines.  The  healthy  animal, 
however  angry  and  furious  he  may  be  towards  strangers, 
cannot  induce  or  develop  within  his  system  the  poison  of 
rabies,  he  must  first  receive  it^  the  usual  source  being  some 
other  rabid  animal.  Under  the  exercise  of  fear  engendered 
in  ignorance  of  the  above  fact,  the  biting  dog  is  labelled 
"  mad,"  pursuit  instantly  commences,  he  is  run  down  and 
killed,  and  there  is  the  end  of  him.  But  the  sufferer  lives 
on  in  doubt  and  fear,  harassed,  tormented,  and  can  never 
be  consoled,  probably  the  end  being  long  delayed,  with- 
out the  least  sign  of  the  canine  disorder.  The  nmtake 
occurs  in  the  haste  to  kill  the  dog.  Had  he  been  spared, 
his  death  or  survival,  either  of  which  could  be  ascertained 
in  all  probability  within  a  week  at  the  most,  would  reveal 
the  true  state  of  the  case. 

Another  popular  error  exists  in  the  belief  that  rabid 
dogs  have  a  great  aversion  to  water.  There  is  no  such 
fear  as  far  as  our  observation  has  been  conducted.  We 
have  witnessed  animals  in  both  forms  of  the  disease  en- 
deavour to  slake  the  burning  thirst,  which  they  were 
unable  to  accomplish,  owing  to  the  want  of  nervous  power 
which  is  present  from  the  first,  but  especially  developed 
in  the  mute  or  dumb  form.  With  these  truths  in  evidence 
it  is  incorrect  to  speak  of  a  rabid  dog  as  being  affected  with 

11 


1 62  specific  and.  Contagious  Diseases. 

hydrophobia,  or  the  human  subject  as  being  rabid.  _  The 
dread  of  \Yater  apphes  to  the  latter,  in  whom  the  disease 
is  correctly  hydrophobia. 

Frothing  or  foaming  at  the  mouth  is  also  believed  in  as 
a  sure  sign  of  rabies.  It  is  a  certain  condition  of  this 
disease  that  the  secretion  of  foam,  or  large  quantities  of 
saliva  worked  into  innumerable  air  bubbles,  is  often 
impossible,  by  reason  of  the  congested  state  of  the  blood- 
vessels and  the  salivary  glands. 

'Y\\Q  fits  of  epilepsy  \\'^N(t  frequently  been  mistaken  for 
rabies.  It  is  almost  needless  to  state  that  rabid  dogs  do 
not  become  unconscious  and  fall,  as  is  common  with  the 
epileptic  sufferer,  or  the  young  dog  in  distemper. 

There  are,  doubtless,  other  conditions  which  may 
resemble,  more  or  less,  certain  stages  of  rabies,  but  on 
careful  consideration  it  will  be  found  they  are  unassociated 
with  the  disease.  Hasty  conclusions  must  be  carefully 
avoided,  and  in  the  absentee  of  absolute  proof  it  is  a  wise 
proceedi7ig  to  withhold  decisive  judgment ;  place  the  suspected 
a?iimal  in  a  secure  cage,  room,  ^'C,  and  wait  the  issue  of  a 
systematic  course  of  observation. 

With  regard  to  curative  methods  and  remedies  sug- 
gested, their  name  is  legion  and  the  results  of  their 
application  ;///.  The  truly  rabid  dog  should  be  sum- 
marily destroyed  before  he  commits  any  damage,  unless 
some  special  reason  exists  for  sparing  his  life.  The  body 
should  be  burned  as  the  only  safe  and  expeditious 
method  of  destroying  the  virus  also,  thus  limiting  the 
possibilities  of  spreading  the  disease.  Thorough  cleans- 
ing and  disinfection  of  yards,  kennels,  beds,  baskets,  &:c. 
&c.,  occupied  by  the  sufferers  (the  object  being  the 
destruction  of  diiy  saliva)  should  follow,  and  as  an 
efficient  agent  black  ashes  in  boiHng  water  cannot  be 
surpassed.  Its  great  drawback  is  its  effectual  removal  of 
paint  from  woodwork  ;  where  this  is  an  objection,  strong 
soap  solution  with  crude  "  Sanitas  "  will  answer  effectu- 
ally. Those  who  engage  in  this  work  should  first  see 
they  have  no  open  sores  or  scratches  on  their  hands,  &c., 
and  in  all  cases  the  first  7vashings%\vQ^6.  be  accomplished 
by  means  of  brushes  having  long  handles  j  subsequent 


specific  and  Contagions  Diseases.  163 

courses  may  be  carried  out  with  scrub  brush,  flannel,  &c. 
The  drains  also  demand  attention ;  effectual  flushing  by- 
large  volumes  of  a  strong  solution  of  black  ashes,  boiling 
if  possible,  will  be  eminently  useful,  and  in  its  absence  a 
strong  mixture  of  crude  "  Sanitas "  with  water  will  be 
equally  effective.  The  recurrence  of  subsequent  cases, 
be  it  remembered,  will  in  all  probabihty  be  due  to  some 
lurking  virus,  and  that  which  proves  dangerous  to  the 
dog  may  be  equally  fatal  to  the  human  subject;  effec- 
tual cleansing  must  therefore  be  insisted  upon  ;  a  few 
shillings  spent  at  this  time  may  save  many  pounds  later 
on  and  prevent  serious  loss  and  discomfiture. 

The  seizure  of  a  mad  dog  is  often  a  most  difficult  pro- 
ceeding even  with  the  most  fearless.  When  confined  to 
a  stable  or  other  building  he  should  be  approached  from 
above  if  possible  and,  by  cautious  movements,  seized  by 
the  lasso,  which,  on  being  pulled  tightly,  will  strangulate 
the  victim;  this  is  often  preferable  to  shooting;  the 
liability  of  a  marksman  to  miss  the  vital  spot  renders 
death  less  certain,  while  the  creature  is  seriously  alarmed 
and  roused  to  violence.  When  at  large  the  lasso  may 
also  be  useful,  providing  the  operator  is  well  up  to  the 
business,  which  needs  to  be  done  determinedly,  fearlessly, 
and  above  all  quietly.  For  this  purpose  the  lasso  should 
be  attached  to  a  stout  stick  at  the  end  of  which  the  loop 
is  arranged ;  the  operator  grasps  the  stick  as  well  as  the 
returning  cord,  and  following  the  dog,  projects  the  loop 
over  and  beyond  his  head ;  immediately  the  cord  sur- 
rounds the  neck  it  is  pulled  by  one  hand,  the  other 
holding  the  stick  steadily,  the  dog  is  securely  arrested, 
and  if  necessary  at  once  strangled.  Iron  pincers,  formed 
to  encircle  the  neck,  are  likewise  useful  if  available  at 
the  time.  This,  however,  is  the  great  difficulty,  and  in  a 
sudden  emergency  men  and  others  who  witness  the 
escapades  of  rabid  dogs,  work  themselves  into  an  excite- 
ment which  often  paralyses  their  judgment  as  well  as 
efforts,  and  the  worst  thing  is  probably  done.  Seriously 
aggravated  by  the  treatment,  the  dog  becomes  violent, 
and  bites  right  and  left.  Presence  of  mind,  cool  judg- 
ment, and  quiet  movements  are  best  calculated  to  secure 


1 64  specific  and  Contagions  Diseases. 

the  victim;  he  may  be  cajoled  into  a  building,  yard,  or 
enclosure,  and  there  be  summarily  dealt  with. 

Prevoition  of  rabies. — Various  means  have  been  sug- 
gested for  this  purpose,  and  to  the  present  day  the  record 
is  an  admission  of  disappointment.  Absolute  extermina- 
tion of  the  canine  race  would  not  secure  the  stamping 
out  of  the  disease,  as  other  animals,  notably  the  fox  and 
cat  in  this  country,  contribute  to  the  perpetuation  of 
the  virus,  not  among  themselves  alone,  as  they  are 
undoubtedly  answerable  for  the  sudden  appearance  of 
the  malady  among  straying  dogs  in  localities  where  it  has 
not  previously  been  seen  for  long  periods.  Homeless  and 
mo}igrel  dogs  should  be  regularly  seized  and  summarily 
consigned  to  the  lethal  chamber.  The  uncertain  or  inde- 
finite period  of  incubation  of  the  disease,  suggests  the 
detention  of  many  animals  in  a  dog's  home  should  be 
conducted  with  great  care,  otherwise  the  mingling  of 
various  breeds  may  ensure  the  ])ropagation  of  rabies 
when  they  return  to  liberty.  For  similar  reasons  quaran- 
tine, unless  the  animals  are  isolated  from  the  first  and 
retained  over  six  months,  would  likewise  prove  a  mis- 
take. An  efficient  system  of  prevention  must  sooner  or 
later  receive  the  consideration  of  our  Government  with 
the  view  of  their  taking  over  the  direct  control.  A  serious 
matter  of  this  kind  should  not  be  left  to  the  hesitating 
policy  of  local  authorides.  It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  and 
regret  that  the  fell  disease  should  have  escaped  the  atten- 
tion of  the  legislature  when  framing  the  Contagious  Diseases 
(Animals)  Acts,  by  which  the  movement  of  dogs  could  be 
effectually  controlled.  Probably  our  rulers  in  their  zeal 
for  the  chase  were  oblivious  of  the  denizen  of  the  town, 
whose  nocturnal  slumbers  are  disturbed  by  the  miserable 
and  worthless  curs  which  render  night  miserable  by  their  cry. 
The  tax  is  systematically  evaded  by  many  who,  scarcely 
knowing  the  source  of  their  next  meal,  harbour  the  non- 
descript wanderers  and  mongrels  which  form  the  subjects 
of  a  constant  trade.  The  local  muzzling  order,  we  believe, 
is  a  mistake,  and  produces  a  needless  irritation  among 
well-meaning  and  law-abiding  owners.  The  muzzle  is  a 
cruel  torture  to  most  dogs  ;  its  general  utility  is  question- 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  165 

able.  The  really  spirited  fellows  obstinately  refuse  to 
appear  in  public  when  so  distinguished ;  others,  docile 
and  often  useless  creatures,  take  to  it  quietly,  and  know- 
ingly put  up  their  heads  to  passing  strangers  inviting  its 
removal.  The  honest  boys  of  the  locality  are  swift  to 
comply  with  Fido's  request,  and  hang  the  trapping  on  the 
owner's  railings  or  throw  it  into  the  area;  but  the 
ubiquitous  arab,  with  an  eye  to  business,  hands  it  to  the 
marine  store  dealer  for  "a  consideration,"  a  large  trade 
in  these  articles  having  been  done  during  the  rabies  scare 
of  1895  and  early  months  of  1896.  Meanwhile  Fido's 
owner  is  summoned  to  the  police  court  and  is  released 
on  payment  of  a  fine,  minus  the  assurance  of  a  speedy 
abatement  of  the  nuisance. 

The  wearing  of  a  collar  securely  locked,  on  which  the 
name  and  address  of  the  owner  is  legibly  engraved, 
serves  useful  purposes,  as  the  restoration  of  straying 
animals  to  their  proper  owners,  and  the  means  of  learning 
whether  the  tax  is  paid.  A  further  security  would  be 
ensured  by  the  collar  bearing  the  County  initials,  or 
device,  and  registration  number.  This  should  be  some- 
what ornamental  and  light,  and  supplied  free  with  the 
licence.  Dogs  thus  furnished,  and  secured  by  a  suitable 
chain  or  leather  leader,  might  be  allowed,  at  all  times 
and  with  perfect  safety,  to  take  outdoor  exercise  under 
the  care  of  their  owners,  «S:c. 

Dogs  at  large  ill  public  places  need  special  care.  {See 
Balanitis.)  The  general  adoption  of  a  suitable  leader  is 
not  only  a  useful  training  to  follow  and  keep  close  to  the 
owner,  but  an  efficient  safeguard  against  the  unprovoked 
and  savage  attacks  of  jealous  animals,  which  the  muzzle 
does  not  prevent.  It  is  remarkable,  especially  in  towns, 
how  few  are  the  dogs  which,  by  absence  of  training,  do 
not  disgrace  their  liberty  by  their  brutality,  often  encou- 
raged by  their  owners,  who  are  oblivious  of  the  panic,  or 
otherwise  prolific  in  abuse  when  reasonably  appealed  to. 
This  cannot  be  said  of  dogs  used  for  sport,  as  the  fox- 
hound, setter,  pointer,  &c.,  which  are  broken  to  work. 

Besides  the  seizing  and  destruction  of  homeless  curs 
and  cats,  which  need  especial  watchfulness,  why  should 


1 66  Specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

we  hesitate  to  include  the  fox?  Surely  when  he  is  known 
to  be  "  on  the  mad  march,"  it  would  be  safe  to  bring  him 
down  before  he  commits  any  serious  damage.  The 
farmer  sees  such  an  animal  now  and  again,  his  errand 
being  the  spreading  of  the  virus  of  rabies  by  means  of 
his  bite,  and  on  he  goes  again  with  a  business  purpose, 
until  he  dies  from  exhaustion.  Powder  and  shot  accu- 
rately applied  have  a  strictly  legitimate  use  in  this  direc- 
tion. A  grain  of  prevention  is  worth  a  hundredweight  of 
cure. 

Regulations  to  these  ends  properly  enforced,  aided  by 
useful  information  printed  on  the  back  of  the  annual 
Dog  Licence,  would  prevent  many  mistakes,  and  bring 
the  disease  within  a  small  and  manageable  compass. 

After  all,  rabies  is  not  so  prevalent,  except  in  the  dis- 
ordered imagination  of  persons  ignorant  of  the  disease, 
as  is  generally  believed.  Among  the  three  hundred 
thousand  dogs  Avhich  have  passed  through  the  home  at 
Battersea  in  twenty  years,  the  Manager  informed  Dr. 
Gordon  Stables  that  he  had  never  seen  one  suffering 
from  rabies.  The  majority  of  animals  destroyed  for 
supposed  rabies  are  doubtless  epileptics,  and  such  results 
are  inevitable  so  long  as  policemen  rank  as  scientists  in 
such  matters. 

The  Pasteur ian  System. — The  utterly  futile  nature  of 
remedies  propounded  for  the  cure  of  hydrophobia  in 
the  human  subject  has  led  to  diligent  search  for  others. 
The  great  difficulty  which  confronts  the  practitioner  is 
the  extremely  nipid  and  fatal  course  after  direct  inocula- 
tion. In  utter  defiance  of  the  physiological  action  of 
remedies  the  fell  disease  proceeds  without  deviation,  and 
the  inevitable  end  in  death  cannot  be  averted.  Thus 
far  internal  remedies  have  failed,  but  the  fact  has  stimu- 
lated research  in  other  directions.  The  disease  has  been 
studied  from  other  aspects.  Its  existence  is  believed  by 
some  to  depend  upon  the  presence  of  a  microbe,  but 
Pasteur,  whose  investigations  have  been  extensive,  has 
not  endorsed  the  view.  Plis  efforts  were  directed  towards 
sterilising  the  poison  within  the  system  of  the  person 
bitten  by  the  mad  dog.    Briefly,  the  operation  consists  of 


specific  cifid  Contagious  Diseases.  167 

inoculation  with  a  specific  virus  which  has  been  cuUi- 
vated  by  transmission  through  other  animals,  as  the  ape, 
until  it  is  deprived  of  its  power  to  induce  rabies,  while  it 
renders  the  individual  immune  or  proof  against  the 
disease.  In  order  to  ensure  the  greatest  results,  frequent 
inoculation  of  the  same  patient  is  sometimes  resorted  to, 
many  thousands  of  persons  said  to  be  bitten  by  rabid 
dogs  having  been  submitted  to  the  test,  with,  however, 
variable  success.  In  the  state  of  present  experience  it  is 
obvious  that  the  end  is  not  attained,  yet  in  the  interest 
of  suffering  humanity,  as  well  as  the  brute  creation,  the 
issue  of  further  investigation  in  other  directions  is 
eagerly  looked  for,  and  with  the  fervent  hope  that  the 
inevitable  end  will  be  an  irreversible  good. 

Tlie  Ti'catnient  of  Rabies. — In  La  Presse  Veterinaire 
for  December  1895,  M-  Pourtale  invites  special  attention 
to  his  treatment  of  rabies  in  the  dog,  which  he  states  has 
afforded  "absolutely  positive  results."  He  employs  a 
mixture  of  sulphate  of  soda,  chloral  hydrate,  and  decoction 
of  linseed  which  calms  the  attacks,  and  produces  a 
purgative,  as  well  as  refreshing  action.  Enemas  of 
similar  character  are  also  "used.  Recovery,  it  is  said, 
occurs  in  eight  days  generally ;  and  from  his  experience, 
M.  Pourtale  is  persuaded  that  if  the  treatment  is  applied 
to  the  human  subject  affected  v/ith  hydrophobia  it  would 
bring  about  his  recovery. 

Septicsemia,  or  Blood  Poisoning.  In  the  evident 
enjoyment  of  putrid  offal  and  decomposing  filth  of 
various  kinds,  the  dog  exhibits  a  remarkable  immunity 
from  disease  of  a  fatal  character.  If,  however,  he  should 
happen  to  imbibe  the  elements  of  decomposing  flesh  by 
means  of  a  wound,  the  results  are  more  serious. 
Varying,  of  course,  with  the  amount  of  inoculation,  he 
may  succumb  to  an  attack  of  fever  of  a  severe  typhoid 
nature,  marked  by  speedy  collapse,  or,  under  less  severe 
blood  impregnation,  he  surprisingly  recovers  after  acute 
as  well  as  profuse  diarrhoea,  attended  by  repulsive 
odours.  This  form  of  septicaemia  is  most  commonly 
ob:erved  in  females,  when,  in  protracted  parturition,  the 
foetus   is    undergoing    decomposition,    and    the    lining 


1 68  Specific  and  Contagious  Diseases. 

membrane  of  the  uterus  or  womb  has  been  removed  by 
abrasion  or  laceration,  &c.  Inoculation  is  thus  complete, 
and  the  usual  symptoms  are  observed  in  about  eighteen 
or  twenty  hours.  The  usual  signs,  as  dropsy  of  the 
tissues  with  the  never-failing  blood  spots,  are  sufficient  to 
mark  the  character  of  the  case.  The  animal  tissues  also 
pass  into  speedy  decomposition.  During  life  the  creature 
becomes  weak,  loses  power,  and  at  length  is  dull,  unable 
to  stand,  becomes  unconscious  and  dies  from  exhaustion. 
The  Treatment  should  be  prompt  and  energetic.  Anti- 
septic lotion,  as  the  "Sanitas"  Fluid,  chloride  of  zinc,  or 
perchloride  of  mercury  solutions  are  the  most  useful. 
The  first  only  is  non-poisonous  to  the  dog.  The  uterus 
or  womb  should  be  carefully  and  repeatedly  washed  out 
by  the  solutions,  which  should  be  used  at  a  temperature 
of  99°  or  1 00°  F.  Internally^  tonics  of  a  stimulating 
nature  are  particularly  called  for. 

Tuberculosis. — True  pulmonary  consumption,  due 
to  the  presence  of  the  tubercular  bacillus,  has  only  recently 
been  definitely  recognised  in  the  dog.  A  variety  oi  false 
tuberculosis  has  long  been  observed,  consisting  of  irregular- 
shaped  masses,  the  debris  of  altered  tissue,  enclosing 
small  worms  which  have  migrated  thither  by  means  of 
the  blood.  Such,  however,  have  not  developed  the 
serious  conditions  of  true  phthisis.  The  question  of  its 
existence  in  the  dog  is  no  longer  a  matter  of  doubt  as 
set  forth  by  Professor  Stockman  in  the  Veterinarian  for 
August  1896.  The  subject  was  a  Scotch  terrier,  two 
years  old,  which  had  been  in  poor  health  upwards  of  two 
months,  with  rapid  loss  of  condition.  The  symptoms 
consisted  of  great  debility,  difficult  breathing,  and  tem- 
perature 103°  F.  Percussion  revealed  no  dulness,  and 
auscultation  failed  to  detect  abnormal  sounds.  As  small 
round  worms  passed  from  the  bowels,  it  was  thought  the 
animal  might  be  suffering  from  verminous  ancemia,  and 
he  was  treated  accordingly.  The  persistent  chest  trouble 
induced  the  Professor  and  several  colleagues  to  concen- 
trate attention  upon  the  organs  of  respiration,  but  with 
negative  results.  Temporary  amendment  followed  the 
use  of  tonics,  the  tempera'ure  falling  to  101°.     Shortly, 


specific  and  Contagious  Diseases.  169 

the  digestion  was  disturbed ;  fluctuating  tubercular 
tumours  were  discovered  in  the  abdomen,  and  on  testing 
the  lungs  the  sibilant  rale  was  distinctly  heard.  There 
was  no  cough,  and  still  the  chest  was  elastic  and  without 
dulness  on  percussion.  An  injection  of  tuberculin  was 
made  at  i  p.m.  At  11.30  p.m.  the  temperature  had  fallen 
to  99°  F.,  and  at  12.30  a.m.  it  was  98°  F.  Shortly  after- 
wards the  animal  died.  An  examination  revealed  the 
presence  of  tubercular  nodules  in  the  lungs,  varying  in 
size  from  a  pin's  head  to  larger  areas,  but  they  were  firm, 
thus  accounting  for  the  absence  of  rales.  Bacilli  were 
found  in  the  mucus  of  the  bronchial  tubes,  and  the 
tubercular  areas  consisted  mainly  of  epithelioid  and 
spindle-shaped  cells.  A  few  bacilli  were  also  found. 
The  stage  of  caseation  does  not  appear  to  have  com- 
menced. Miliary  tubercles  studded  the  mentum,  liver, 
and  spleen.  The  mesenteric  glands  were  enlarged, 
hard,  and  fibrous,  and  in  one  a  large  abscess  existed.  A 
few  bacilli  were  also  found.  The  absence  of  caseation, 
or  cheesy  degeneration,  so  common  in  this  disease,  is 
fully  accounted  for  by  the  action  which  resulted  in  the 
free  development  of  fibrous  tissue  around  the  diseased 
points.  The  Professor  concludes  with  a  suggestion  as 
to  the  value  of  tuberculin  as  a  diagnostic  in  this  disease 
of  the  dog. 

Variola  or  Small  pox  in  canine  animals  closely  re- 
sembles the  form  usually  observed  in  mankind  as  well  as 
the  sheep  ;  one  of  the  means  of  its  introduction  being 
the  consumption  of  the  flesh  of  sheep  dying  of  the 
disease.  It  appears  in  the  usual  forms  of  mildness  or 
malignancy  ;  it  may  be  discrete  or  separate,  confluent  or 
running  together,  and  in  further  stages  are  those  of 
erythema,  nodule,  vesicle  or  bladder^  and  pustule,  the 
latter  assuming  the  flat  or  concave  surface  from  the  usual 
internal  changes.  Subsequently  desquamation  proceeds, 
leaving  hairless  spots,  which  are  hollow  or  concave  scars 
or  "  pits."  The  thin  skin  of  the  belly  and  insides  of  the 
fore-arms  or  thighs  are  especially  invaded. 

The  Symptoms,  in  addition  to  those  already  enumerated, 
consist    of    febrile    disturbance    from    the   first,    which 


1 70        Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs. 

moderates  as  the  pustules  cease  to  form  and  indicates  a 
tendency  to  decline.  This  is  the  usual  or  benign 
condition.  Other  forms  exhibit  a  tendency  to  induce 
bronchitis,  pneumonia  or  bronclio-pncunionia,  in  which 
extensive  pustular  discharges  flow  from  the  nostrils,  with 
cough,  mucous  rale,  &c.,  and  in  fatal  cases  stertorous 
breathing.  In  the  Intestinal  form  profuse  bilious  and 
often  offensive  evacuations  take  place.  All  the  forms  are 
attended  with  extremely  foetid  breath  and  excretions,  the 
skin  also  emitting  the  same  unpleasant  odour.  Young 
dogs  are  especially  liable  to  contract  the  disease  in  which 
mortality  is  always  the  greatest,  the  various  stages  being 
developed  and  merging  into  each  other  with  remarkable 
rapidity. 

Treatment  of  the  patient  comprises  diligent  and  careful 
nursing,  with  mild  febrifuges,  stimulants  and  tonics.  In 
warm  or  mild  weather  the  eruption  proceeds  most  favour- 
ably, particularly  if  the  animal  is  sheltered  from  draughts, 
but  cold  winds  and  exposure  generally  checks  the  process 
of  pus-formation,  and  leads  to  fatal  terminations  by 
implication  of  important  internal  organs.  Animals  re- 
covering from  variola  are  stated  to  be  free  from  future 
attacks  of  the  disease. 


CHAPTER  XL 
DISEASES  OF  THE  RESPIRATORY  SYSTEM. 

Catarrh    or    Coryza — Ozsena — Parasitic'   Ozsena — Epistaxis — Polypus — Laryn- 
gitis—Aphonia— Snoring — Bronchitis — Pneumonia— Pleurisy — Parasitic  or 

Verminous  Bronchitis— Chronic  Cough— Asthma. 

Catarrh  or  Coryza. — Common  cold  in  the  head  is 
the  colloquial  term  for  this  affecdon.  It  consists  of 
congesiion  of  the  lining  mucous  membrane  of  the  nasal 
cavities,  which,  after  some  sensation  of  stuffiness  or  slight 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs.         1 7 1 

suffocation,  develops  the  usual  symptoms.  The  causes 
are  exposure  to  cold  draughts,  severe  cold  weather, 
particularly  east  winds,  after  the  comforts  of  close  and 
warm  quarters. 

The  Symptoms  consist  of  fever  more  or  less  severe  in 
proportion  to  the  intensity  of  the  congestion,  which  is 
attended  by  a  discharge,  first  of  a  watery  nature,  but  later 
becoming  opaque,  white  and  thick,  as  mucus  and  pus  is 
mixed  with  it,  the  attendant  irritation  causing  the  animal 
to  snuffle  and  snort,  with  attempts  to  eject  the  accumula- 
tions. A  watery  discharge  Hows  from  the  eyes,,  and  this 
also  becomes  purulent.  Extension  of  these  conditions 
to  the  sinuses  of  the  head  produces  heaviness  with 
dulness,  with  noisy  respiration  or  "snuffling";  difficulty 
of  swallowing  and  breathing,  with  cough,  may  also  arise 
from  the  throat  (pharynx  and  larynx)  being  involved, 
when  the  fluids  or  food  partaken  of  return  by  the 
nostrils. 

Treatment, — In  mild  cases  removal  of  the  causes 
usually  suffices  for  cure.  Advanced  and  severe  forms 
must  be  met  by  expectorant  draught  No.  3  or  Bolus 
No.  I  or  2.  Support  the  strength  by  nutritious  food  of  a 
laxative  nature.  Frequent  steaming  of  the  nostrils  is 
highly  useful.  Avoid  purgatives  and  emetics.  The  early 
use  of  tonics  is  essential. 

Ozsena. — This  term  implies  a  chronic  and  often 
offensive  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  the  result  of  con- 
tinued or  neglected  nasal  catarrh,  and  occasionally  it  is 
caused  by  a  polypus,  portions  of  vomited  ahment,  or  pus 
from  the  lining  membrane.     {^Sce  Polypus.) 

The  Signs  are  a  constant  discharge  of  bad-smelling  pus 
from  the  nostrils,  sometimes  bloody,  loud  snuffling  and 
dulness  of  the  spirits.  The  disease  is  also  due  to  a 
certain  conformation,  having  contracted  nasal  chambers, 
as  seen  in  pugs  and  bulldogs. 

Treatment. — The  nostrils  must  be  kept  clean,  and  the 
passages  frequently  washed  out  by  syringing  with  "Sanita'^  " 
Fluid,  solution  of  the  chloride  of  zinc,  or  permanganate  of 
potash. 

Ozssna  due  to  Parasites  is  somewhat  common  in 


172         Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs. 


the  dog.     The  offender  is  a  formidable-looking  object,  a 
representation  of  which  is  given  in  the  accompanying 
figure.     It  is  the  mature  form  of  the  parasite  common  to 
man,  the  horse,  and  other  animals  indigenous  to  various 
parts  of  Europe,  in  which   it  occupies 
the    digestive   organs,    &c.,    and    is 
known  as  the  Taitadoma    denticula- 
tum.     Dogs    frequenting      butchers' 
shops,   slaughter-houses,    and  horse- 
slaughterers'  yards  gain   access  to  the 
viscera  which  contain    the  parasite. 
It  is  taken  to  the    mouth,  where  it 
attaches  itself  by    powerful  hooklets, 
and  eventually  era  wis  to  the  nostrils  ; 
some  indeed  pass    direct,  first  attach- 
ing themselves    to   the   outer  side  of 
the  lips,  &:c.    Armed  widi  formidable 
and   powerful    hooks,     they   set   up 
violent  irritation    as   they  migrate  to 
and     from     the     various    passages, 
causing  the  sufferer   to  push  his  nose 
into  the  soil,  or  rub    it  with  his  feet ; 
he  also  sneezes,     champs  the  jaws, 
rolls   violently     on   the   ground,    or 
passes  into  a    violent  convulsive  fit, 
in    one    of    which   he   sometimes     dies.      The   jiarasite 
requires  twelve  months  to  develop,    during  which  it  thus 
tortures  the  dog  whenever  from  any    cause  it  is  obliged 
to   change   its   quarters   by  cold    or     frost,  of  which  it 
appears  to  be  peculiarly  susceptible.       The  effects  of  its 
residence  in  the  nasal  chaaibers  of  the   dog  are  inflamma- 
tion, thickening,  and  probably   ulceration    of  the  lining 
membrane,  with  more  or  less   disease  of  the    turbinated 
bones,  and  even  harder  structures. 

Trcatineni. — Inhalation  of  various  volatile  substances, 
fluids,  &c.,  as  iodine,  chloroform,  chlorine  gas,  tobacco 
smoke  alone  or  combined  with  other  agents.  The 
application  of  iodoform  may  be  effectual.  Sometimes 
these  are  useless,  as  the  parasite  is  located  within  one  of 
the    sinuses.     When   such   is   the   case,  and   the   exact 


Pentastoma  Denticulatiim 
(after  Kuchenmeister). 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs.         173 

position  is  made  out,  the  cavity  may  be  opened  with  the 
trephine,  when  the  intruder  is  dislodged  by  direct  appli- 
cation and  destroyed. 

Epistaxis,  or  Bleeding  from  the  Nostrils,  sometimes 
arises  from  plethora  during  hot  weather.  It  is  more 
common  in  hot  countries  than  Britain.  Blows  or  falls,  by 
which  the  bones  forming  the  cavities  are  subjected  to 
shock  communicated  to  the  lining  membrane,  are  common 
causes.     (^Sce  Polypus.) 

Treatment. — Cold  water  externally ;  astringent  injec- 
tions into  the  nostrils,  and  perfect  quietude  are  essential. 

Polypus,  or  Tumour  in  the  Nostrils.,  is  a  morbid  fibrous 
growth,  covered  by  a  continuation  of  the  nasal  membrane, 
and  is  sometimes  observed  from  the  exterior  or  front  of 
the  nostrils ;  it  may  also  extend  backwards  to  the 
pharynx.  Its  presence  is  denoted  by  more  or  less  inter- 
ference with  breathing,  ozsena,  or  hcemorrhage,  which  may 
be  slight,  or  issuing  in  a  stream. 

Treatment  consists  of  removal  by  ligature  or  excision, 
to  determine  which  the  veterinary  surgeon  is  indis- 
pensable. 

Laryngitis,  or  Sore  Throat.,  is  often  a  troublesome 
affection  in  some  dogs.  As  the  result  of  extreme  change 
from  the  warm  fireside  to  a  seat  in  an  open  vehicle 
during  cold  or  damp  weather.  Yard  dogs  and  dogs  at 
shows,  constantly  barking  and  running  the  lengtli  of  the 
chain,  suffer  from  the  disease  in  an  aggravated  form. 
{See  Aphonia.)  The  adjacent  glands  sometimes  swell 
considerably,  which  renders  swallowing  not  only  difficult 
but  painful.  Food  and  liquids  taken  into  the  mouth 
return  by  the  nostrils,  and  cause  great  inconvenience. 
The  saliva,  which  is  secreted  largely  and  mixed  with 
mucus  from  the  inflamed  membranes,  has  a  foetid  odour, 
and  flows  in  a  continuous  stream  from  the  lips.  The 
breath  is  also  oftensive,  and  respiration  more  or  less 
disturbed;  the  heart-beats  are  rapid  and  forcible,  the 
eyes  are  dull  and  discharging  fluid.  Cough  is  frequent 
and  depressing,  feet  and  ears  probably  cold,  and  bowels 
confined.  The  voice  is  lost,  and  replaced  by  a  hoarse 
and  feeble  attempt,  often  interrupted  by  cough.     As  the 


174        Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs. 

signs  are  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  choking,  or  the  fixing 
of  a  bone  between  the  molars,  a  special  examination  of 
the  mouth  should  always  be  made  ;  or  the  disease  may 
be  confounded  with  "  dumb  rabies  "  in  which  the  mouth 
cannot  remain  closed. 

Treatment. — Wash  or  gargle  the  mouth  frequently  with 
astringent  lotion  of  tannic  acid,  alum,  boracic  acid,  &c., 
or  use  one  of  the  electuaries.  Relieve  the  tumefaction 
of  the  throat  by  means  of  hot  fomentations.  Spongio 
piline  as  described  under  Poultices.  Do  not  attempt  to 
give  food  or  medicine  by  the  mouth,  but  support  the 
system  by  injections  of  beef  tea  or  mutton  broth  free  from 
fat,  in  which  half  a  drachm  or  more  of  nitrous  ether  may 
be  given.  With  diminution  of  the  sore  throat,  appetite 
will  return,  when  food  may  be  given  by  the  mouth  in 
small  pordons,  carefully  prepared,  until  the  symptoms 
have  disappeared.  In  some  severe  cases  the  attendant 
swelling  necessitates  the  opening  of  the  windpipe  to 
admit  of  respiration ;  blisters  may  also  be  required 
to  hasten  suppuration  in  the  glands,  or  to  reduce  the 
irritation  in  the  throat,  the  use  of  which  must  be 
adopted  only  after  careful  consideration  of  the  existing 
conditions. 

Aphonia,  or  Loss  of  the  Voice.,  is  a  state  in  which  the 
bark  is  reduced  to  a  rough  and  husky  kind  of  sound, 
resembling  a  forcible  expiration.  The  vocal  chords  being 
inflamed  and  relaxed  from  incessant  barking,  the  sudden 
shocks  from  the  collar  in  running  violently  to  the  end  of 
the  chain  also  bruise  the  larynx,  which  aggravates  the 
complaint.  Aphonia  arises  in  conjunction  with  laryngitis, 
which  see. 

Snoring  proceeds  from  a  relaxed  state  of  the  laryngeal 
or  throat  apparatus,  as  induced  by  cold  in  which  the 
vocal  chords  and  velum  palati  are  involved.  It  is  removed 
by  the  remedies  prescribed  for  laryngitis ;  but  when  it 
occurs  in  pet  dogs  highly  fed  and  pampered,  taking  little 
or  no  exercise,  the  treatment  must  consist  of  a  reduced 
diet,  regular  exertion,  gentle  cathartics,  and  subsequently 
tonics. 

Inflammation  of  the  Organs  of  Respiration  con- 


Diseases  of  tJie  Respiratory  Organs.         175 

talned  within  the  chest  of  the  dog  is  not  usually,  as  in 
larger  animals,  confined  to  one  in  particular.  The 
general  tendency  is  for  all  to  participate,  while  the  inten- 
sity of  disease  is  resident  in  one  in  particular — at  least  this 
has  been  our  experience,  which  is  confirmed  by  other 
observers.  It  will,  therefore,  be  more  convenient  as  well 
as  consonant  with  the  view,  to  consider  the  several  affec- 
tions as  a  whole,  giving  prominence  to  special  manifesta- 
tions and  conditions  which  may  serve  to  render  the 
elucidation  complete.  There  is  also  much  in  common 
with  reference  to  the  needful  treatment  of  the  affections 
which  will  be  given  in  usual  course. 

T\\^  first  indications,  as  a  rule,  are  those  of  fever  more 
orless  severe.  He  pants  and  blows,  being  teased  by  a 
constant  cough,  the  ears  and  extremities  are  cold,  the 
coat  in  smooth  dogs  stands  loose  and  staring,  and  fits  of 
shivers  recur  at  intervals  of  greater  or  less  duration.  The 
cause  is  not  far  to  seek ;  undue  exposure  to  cold  in  some 
form  or  other  is  satisfactorily  made  out,  and  this  probably 
not  long  after  previous  attacks  of  sore  throat,  nasal 
catarrh,  &c.  The  systemic  disturbance  is  nov/  located  in 
some  part  in  particular,  and  there  the  chief  manifestations 
will  be  found,  Vv'hile  the  whole  of  the  respiratory  organs  will 
afford  evidences  of  sympathetic  derangement. 

Bronchitis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Bronchial 
Tubes,  is  denoted  by  accelerated  but  eve?i  respiration,  a 
cough,  probably  dry  at  first  but  becoming  moist,  and 
attended  with  a  discharge  of  mucus  from  the  nose,  as  well 
as  from  the  lungs  during  the  act.  As  congestion  of  the 
lesser  tubes  within  the  lungs  proceeds,  the  ejected  fluid  is 
also  tinged  with  blood,  the  cough  is  severe  and  frequent, 
and  a  wheezing  or  hissing  accompanies  the  respirations ; 
the  mouth,  tongue,  and  nose  are  dry  as  well  as  hot,  and 
the  expired  air  is  likewise  indicative  of  a  heated  state  of 
the  lungs ;  the  pulse  is  accelerated,  the  heart-beats  felt  at 
the  chest  are  strong  in  the  early  stages,  and  the  tempera- 
ture, as  shown  by  the  thermometer  placed  in  the  rectum, 
is  high,  probably  103°  or  104°  F.  Auscultation  furnishes 
the  mucous  rattle  as  soon  as  the  disease  is  established. 
From  this  point  recovery  is  denoted  by  a  cessation  of  the 


176         Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs. 

severity  of  all  symptoms,  and  the  creature  every  hour 
becomes  "more  Hke  himself."  In  fatal  cases  prostration 
is  soon  manifested,  with  troubled  respiration,  indefinite 
pulsation,  coldness,  sinking  and  death. 

In  Pneumonia,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Lungs, 
the  ear  placed  at  the  side  of  the  chest  detects  a  crackling 
sound  within,  and  tapping  the  ribs  with  the  fingers  elicits 
a  dull  heavy  sound.  The  breathing  is  rapid  and  op- 
pressed, the  animal  is  unable  to  expand  the  lungs.  A  cough 
is  present,  not  frequent  but  weak,  and  resembles  a  loud  and 
forcible  sigh ;  the  expired  air  is  also  hotter  than  natural, 
and  the  pulse  is  rapid  and  oppressed ;  the  ears  and  ex- 
tremities are  intensely  cold,  while  the  nose,  instead  of 
being  hot  and  dry  as  in  bronchitis,  is  very  cold  and  moist 
or  very  wet.  The  temperature  is  increased  in  the  early 
active  stages,  but  the  tendency  to  congestion  within  the 
lung  tissue  creates  a  somewhat  early  decline,  which 
denotes  sinking  and  death.  Before  the  end  the  sufferer 
persists  in  silting  on  his  haunches  with  his  fore  legs  apart, 
and  later  he  stands  on  all  four  legs,  which  are  separated, 
until  he  drops  dead. 

Pleurisy,  Pleuritis,  or  Inflammation  of  the 
Pleura,  the  lining  mejnbrane  of  tJie  diest  as  well  as 
covering  of  the  lungs,  &^c.,  has  also  its  special  significations. 
The  breathing  consists  of  a  prolonged  inspiration  which 
is  somewhat  slowly  and  carefully  performed,  and  a  sharp 
or  somewhat  halting  or  jerky  expiration.  The  ear  at 
the  side  detects  in  the  first  stages  a  sound  of  friction 
as  the  pleurae  of  the  lungs  and  ribs  rub  over  each  other 
in  breathing.  Later,  this  sound  is  gradually  lost,  disap- 
pearing from  the  bottom  upwards  as  the  accumulation  of 
scrum  proceeds.  The  effusion  of  lymph  also,  which  takes 
place  during  the  active  stages,  serves  to  deaden  the  sound 
by  uniting  the  lungs  to  the  side  and  limiting  their  move- 
ment. A  cough  is  present  from  the  first,  but  it  is  short, 
paroxysmal,  and  evidently  arrested  by  the  extremely 
painful  condition  of  the  parts  involved.  Pressure  on  the 
sides  or  between  the  ribs  inflicts  severe  pain,  and  the 
muscles  of  the  sides  may  be  observed  to  twitch  or  con- 
tract quickly.     The  state  of  the  circulation  causes  the 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs.        177 

pulse  to  be  small,  hard  and  frequent.  Animal  tempera- 
ture is  also  high.  Expectoration  is  absent.  A  character- 
istic sign  of  pleurisy  also  in  the  later  stages  is  the  dis- 
position to  sit  on  the  haunches  as  in  pneumonia,  and 
finally  to  stand  until  he  drops  dead. 

In  each  of  the  foregoing  diseases  the  animal  indicates 
much  suffering  on  account  of  the  difficulty  in  breathing ; 
he  actually  struggles  for  air  as  he  sits  or  stands  ;  the 
breath  is  offensive  and  the  tongue  hangs  from  the  mouth 
apparently  useless  and  is  livid  and  extremely  foul.  As 
the  chest  fills  with  water,  usually  on  one  side  only,  the 
patient  would  lie,  but  the  inconvenience  he  suffers  causes 
him  to  rise  almost  at  once.  Dropsical  swellings  now 
appear,  the  respiration  is  laboured  and  painful,  and  the 
muscular  spaces  between  the  ribs  are  pressed  outwards  by 
the  fluid  within  the  chest.  If  the  hand  be  carefully  laid 
on  these  the  heart- beats  will  be  felt  as  a  thrill  as  the  fluid 
is  moved  by  the  pulsations.  The  tendency  of  the  disease 
to  attack  one  side  only  often  renders  the  progress  slow 
and  protracted,  the  immediate  cause  of  death  being  a 
form  of  internal  drowning. 

The  Trcat?nent  is  based  on  similar  principles  in  each 
instance.  Pure  air  is  not  only  essential  but  curative,  and 
is  therefore  indispensable  in  the  routine.  The  best  of 
nursing  is  required  in  order  that  comfort,  warmth,  and 
quietude  may  be  ensured,  and  this,  in  conjunction  with 
all  known  means  of  supporting  the  system  by  nutridous 
and  digestible  food,  will  fortify  the  system  against  the 
many  depressing  phases  of  disease,  as  well  as  aid  the 
physiological  action  of  remedies  in  the  way  of  cure.  With 
regard  to  medicines,  the  choice  will  lay  with  those  of  a 
stimulating,  expectorant,  and  febrifuge  character  in  order 
to  support  the  system,  control  the  circulation  and  promote 
free  expectoration  as  a  relief  to  the  usually  overcharged 
lungs  in  pneumonia  and  bronchitis.  Bloodletting,  emetics, 
and  purgatives  are  so  much  poison  and  must  be  scrupu- 
lously avoided.  To  relieve  the  oppression  of  the  chest 
the  spongio-piline,  as  described  under  poultices,  is  an  in- 
valuable remedy;  a  good  substitute  is  opodeldoc  to 
which  a  small  proportion  of  strong  ammonia  or  turpentine 

12 


1/8         Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs. 

is  added,  say  one  fluid  drachm  to  one  ounce  of  the  former. 
This  should  be  well  rubbed  into  the  sides.  In  the  later 
stages  vegetable  tonics  with  the  iodide  of  iron,  one  to 
three  grains,  will  promote  absorption  of  the  chest  effusion, 
or  tapping  must  be  resorted  to,  the  trocar  being  passed 
through  the  space  between  seventh  and  eighth  ribs,  im- 
mediately above  the  sternum.  In  pneumonia  and  bron- 
chitis nothing  answers  so  well  as  the  castor  oil  mixture, 
or  mild  salines  for  producing  a  lax  state  of  the  bowels, 
actual  purgation  being  highly  prejudicial. 

In  the  Distemper  forms  of  the  two  first-named 
diseases,  which  are  characterised  by  gi'eat  debility,  the 
list  of  Expectorants  will  furnish  appropriate  formulas  for 
bolus  or  draught. 

Verminous  Bronchitis.— This  form  of  disease,  due 
to  the  presence  of  small  worms  in  the  air  passages  near 
the  lungs,  has  been  seen  chiefly  in  young  dogs.  The 
parasite  is  located  in  numerous  small  elevations  on  the 
mucous  membrane,  giving  rise  to  considerable  irritation. 
The  symptoms  are  those  of  bronchitis,  the  cough  being 
short  and  husky,  death  following  convulsions  in  most 
cases. 

Treatment. — Stim.ulants  and  tonics  should  be  given 
internally,  and  the  patient  caused  to  inhale  dilute 
chlorine  gas.  The  best  method  is  the  intra-tracheal 
method,  or  injection  of  the  remedy  direct  into  the  wind- 
pipe by  means  of  a  suitable  syringe.  The  most  effectual 
remedies  are  "Sanitas"  Oil  or  the  "Sanitas"  Fluid,  tur- 
pentine, or  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  three  to  ten  drops  of 
one  of  these  being  mixed  with  twenty  or  thirty  of  glycerine, 
to  which  three  to  ten  drops  of  chloric  ether  is  added,  and 
the  whole  well  shaken. 

In  the  dog  the  worm  proves  to  be  one  of  the  species 
known  as  Strongylus,  a  small  white,  slender,  thread-like 
parasite,  the  male  being  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in 
length,  and  the  female  not  more  than  one-sixth  or  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch.  The  mature  female  brings  forth  her 
young  alive.-  The  parasite  has  been  named  Strongylus 
canis  b7vnchiatis,  and  may  possibly  prove  to  be  a  stagal 
development  of  the  Strofigylus  flaria  of  the  sheep,  &c. 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs.         I'jg 

Chronic  Cough,  by  which  is  denoted  a  constant 
eflort  to  discharge  from  the  lungs,  attended  by  a  dry, 
harsh  sound,  usually  commencmg  on  the  least  exertion, 
short,  and  somewhat  feeble,  is  common  to  animals  taking 
little  exercise,  highly  fed,  and  accustomed  to  warm 
rooms  and  soft  comfortable  beds.  Violent  paroxysms 
ensue  on  the  infliction  of  unusual  exercise,  and  the 
animal  appears  to  be  choking,  the  respiration  being 
disturbed,  and  froth  is  ejected  from  the  mouth.  There 
are  probably  signs  of  indigestion  with  irregular  bowels, 
&c.,  by  which  reflex  nervous  action  upon  the  breathing 
apparatus  is  induced,  leading  to  limited  secretion  and 
undue  relaxation  from  want  of  nervous  energy. 

Ctire  depends  iipon  removal  of  the  causes,  which  should 
be  carefully  ascertained,  the  chief  of  which  is  doubtless 
chronic  forms  of  indigestion  inducing  disturbance  of  the 
functional  pov^'ers  of  the  liver,  spleen,  pancreas,  &c. 
Treatment  of  the  cough  alone  is  useless. 

Asthma. — This  painfully  distressing  disease  finds  its 
origin  in  a  chronic  form  of  bronchitis  associated  with 
thickening  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  tubes,  with 
more  or  less  structural  changes  in  the  lung  tissue  as  the 
result  of  high  feeding  and  idleness.  As  dogs  thus 
privileged  grow  old,  the  changes  are  completed  :  a  fully 
distended  stomach  with  increasing  fat,  exercising  pressure, 
hmits  the  respiratory  act,  and  fully  accomplishes  that 
which  is  necessary  to  unfit  the  tissues  for  healthy 
function. 

The  Symptoms  at  the  outset  are  those  of  indigestion,  a 
depraved  appetite,  offensive  mouth  and  breath,  frequent 
vomition,  flatulence,  constipation,  enlarged  or  hard 
abdomen.  Piles  are  also  common,  or,  if  not  developed, 
they  are  indicated  by  the  animal  drawing  the  anus  over 
the  ground,  the  hind  paws  being  elevated  on  each  side 
of  his  face.  The  animal  is  soon  tired,  hesitates  to  follow 
his  owner,  suffers  from  palpitation,  has  a  capricious 
appetite,  but  is  voracious  after  flesh.  He  is  teased  by  a 
constant  cough,  which  assumes  such  paroxysmal  severity 
as  to  prostrate  the  sufferer,  and  he  lies  as  if  he  were 
choking,   but,  after  throwing   out   frothy   matter,   gains 


1 80         Diseases  of  the  Circulatory  System. 

relief.  Usually  the  dog  appears  to  be  dull,  heavy,  out  of 
condition,  and  his  coat  is  rough,  and  the  skin  sometimes 
has  an  unpleasant  odour. 

Treatment. — Aged  animals  should  be  destroyed  by 
inhaling  an  overdose  of  chloroform,  the  most  humane 
method  of  depriving  them  of  life.  In  recent  cases,  when 
the  animal  is  especially  valuable,  slight  inhalations  of 
chloroform,  or  the  administration  of  chloric  ether  in 
doses  of  five  to  fifteen  drops  in  a  teaspoonful  of  water, 
may  afford  the  needed  relief.  In  less  urgent  cases  one 
or  other  of  the  Expectorant  formulae  will  be  useful  as 
daily  medicine.  A  hot  bath,  or  stimulating  liniment 
to  the  sides  is  also  useful  in  cases  of  more  or  less  urgency. 
In  those  of  less  severity,  the  patient  being  young,  daily 
exercise  is  of  great  importance,  the  diet  of  flesh  must  be 
reduced,  and  vegetables  substituted  for  the  deficiency,  or 
Spratfs  Fibriiie  and  Beetroot  cakes  may  form  the  entire 
diet  for  some  time.  The  action  of  the  skin  should  be 
induced  by  regular  cleansing  and  the  use  of  the  brush 
and  comb.  Aperients  are  called  for  to  promote  regular 
action  of  the  bowels.  Avoid  such  causes  as  cold  and 
damp,  especially  while  the  health  is  precarious. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  CIRCULATORV  SYSTEM. 

Fatty  Degeneration  of  the  Heart— Rupture  of  the  Heart— Valvular  Disease- 
Pericarditis — Invasion  by  Parasites. 

The  organs  engaged  in  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in 
canine  animals  are  not  subject  to  an  extended  list  of 
maladies,  as  in  the  horse,  for  instance.  The  circum- 
stances of  food  especially  bring  the  dog  within  the  limits 
of  a  special  susceptibility  to  disease  of  the  digestive  track, 
but  changes  in  the  system  of  breeding,  especially  with 


Diseases  of  the  Circulatory  System.          i8i 

reference  to  efficiency  in  various  forms  of  sport,  may 
remove  the  animal  into  the  sphere  of  a  new  danger.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  at  present  our  list  of  diseases  in  connec- 
tion with  this  particular  class  of  organs  is  surprisingly 
limited. 

Fatty  Degeneration  of  the  Heart  is  the  common 
associate  with  asthma  in  pampered  pets  and  constitutes  a 
serious  condition,  the  muscular  tissue  being  replaced  by 
adipose  or  fatty  substance.  The  obvious  result  is  a  want 
of  tone  and  energy  in  the  beats  or  pulsations,  and 
inability  to  propel  the  nutrient  fluid  along  the  channels 
of  circulation.  The  various  tissues  therefore  lack  nourish- 
ment, become  paUid  and  weak,  which  unfits  the  animal 
for  any  exertion,  and  a  serious  condition  of  the  brain  and 
nervous  system  is  induced,  not  only  in  the  want  of 
nourishment,  but  in  the  defective  supply  of  blood, 
syncope  or  fainting  being  a  common  symptom,  sooner  or 
later  resulting  in  death.  The  disease  is  incurable,  but 
may  be  prevented  by  permitting  the  animal  to  take 
regular  exercise  and  other  means  of  stimulating  the 
natural  functions. 

Rupture  of  the  Heart  is  not  of  common  occurrence, 
but  it  is  known  in  connection  with  improper  feeding  and 
want  of  judicious  exercise.  Dogs  subjected  to  "a  feast 
and  a  fast,"  and  other  treatment  calculated  to  militate 
against  health  and  condition,  are  likely  to  induce  some 
form  of  degeneration  of  the  organ,  and  in  a  moment  of 
excitement,  whether  of  play  or  work,  rupture  takes  place 
at  the  weakest  part,  and  death  is  certain. 

Valvular  Disease  is  not  uncommon  as  the  result  of 
chronic  rheumatism.  It  appears  in  the  form  of  a  deposit 
of  fibrine  from  the  blood,  which  may  exist  only  as  a 
roughness  on  the  surface  or  be  so  large  as  to  form  a  clot, 
and  thus  block  up  the  opening  to  the  vessels.  Such  con- 
ditions in  their  mildest  form  seriously  interfere  with  the 
proper  action  of  the  valves,  greatly  diminishing  the 
needful  flow  of  blood ;  and  when  clots  have  formed  the 
results  are  intensified,  causing  the  patient  to  fall  in 
repeated  fits  of  fainting,  or  by  completely  plugging  the 
vessels,  sudden  death   is   induced.     Treatffietif  is  only 


1 82         Diseases  of  the  Circulatory  System. 

palliative  in  the  mildest  forms  of  the  disorder,  the  most 
useful  agents  being  mild  doses  of  calomel  given  altern- 
ately with  iodide  of  potassium,  the  animal  needing  perfect 
quiet. 

The  Pericardium  or  Heart-Bag  surrounds  the 
heart  and  provides  the  fluid  which  moistens  the  surface 
during  action.  It  usually  suffers  from  disease  in  company 
with  the  pleura,  or  lining  membrane  of  the  chest,  from 
which  it  derives  a  layer,  internally  and  externally.  An 
abnormal  accumulation  of  thin  reddish-looking  fluid 
(serum)  is  the  common  result,  producing  inconvenience 
in  proportion  to  the  quantity,  such  as  interference  by 
pressure  with  the  functions  of  the  heart,  as  indicated  by 
feeble  pulse,  obscuration  of  the  heart  sounds,  tendency  to 
fainting,  anpemia,  local  dropsies,  and  eventually  death. 
The  disease  is,  however,  rare  in  the  dog,  but  as  a  result 
of  injury  is  most  common,  bruising,  puncture,  or  rupture 
from  violent  causes  being  the  common  forms. 

Invasion  by  Parasites. — Canine  Haniatozoa  is  not 
an  unfrequent  event  in  dogs  of  the  British  Islands.  The 
records  of  other  countries  where  malarious  influences 
abound  furnish  more  frequent  evidences.  Two  worms 
have  been  recognised :  Filaria  inimitis  or  Canis  cordis, 
and  Fiiaria  sangiiinolenta,  the  former  being  generally 
understood  to  be  the  embryonic  form  of  the  latter. 

Filaria  immitis  is  said  to  be  probably  present  in  at 
least  two-thirds  of  the  dogs  in  the  Chinese  Empire,  as 
estimated  by  microscopical  examination  of  the  blood. 
Singularly  enough  the  embryos,  though  so  numerous,  do 
not  occasion  any  appreciable  inconvenience  to  the  host, 
but  move  about  briskly  in  a  serpentine  form  within  the 
blood-vessels.  When  fully  developed  as  parent  worms 
they  take  up  their  position  within  the  heart,  in  some 
instances  bundles  or  clusters  of  them  being  found,  and 
individuals  varying  from  one  or  two  inches  to  six  or  seven 
in  length.  The  general  results  of  the  presence  of  these 
worms  is  their  interference  with  the  valves,  between 
which  they  may  be  forced  by  such  bodily  efforts  as  induce 
an  inordinate  flow  of  blood.  The  effects  are  seen  some- 
what later,  as  at  the  end  of  one  or  two  days  the  animal 


Diseases  of  the  Circulatory  System.         183 

exhibits  a  difficulty  in  respiration,  dulness,  and  oppressed 
circulation,  with  great  irregularity  of  the  pulse,  epileptic 
fits,  &c.,  while  fever  is  entirely  absent. 

I^ilaria  sanguinolcnta  has  a  decided  preference  for 
various  tissues  of  the  body  as  well  as  the  large  aortic 
vessels,  chiefly  embedded  in  a  mass  of  tumefaction,  the 
result  of  their  movements.  In  this  they  remain  some 
time  and  bring  forth  their  ova,  which  are  subsequently 
hatched,  and  escape  in  all  possibility  as  the  mature  worm, 
capable  of  propagating  its  species. 

The  tendency  of  the  parasite  to  bore  into  the  sentient 
structures  gives  rise  to  local  irritation  and  the  formation 
of  small  tumours.  These  are  sometimes  present  on  the 
surface  or  otherwise  embedded  within  the  deeper  seated 
layers.  Aggregations  of  such  tumours  occurring  in 
various  parts  give  rise  to  serious  functional  disturbance, 
consonant,  with  the  nature  and  position  of  the  organ 
thus  invaded..  Pleurisy  also  appears  to  have  had  its 
origin  in  some  cases  by  the  escape  of  the  worms  from 
the  tumours  in  the  substance  of  the  gullet  direct  into 
the  cavity  of  the  chest,  where  they  have  been  found 
crawling  in  the  midst  of  recent  tumefactions  or  adhesions 
created  by  their  presence.  Paralysis  of  the  hind  limbs  is 
also  seen,  and  is  supposed  to  be  the  result  of  plugging  of 
the  small  blood-vessels  of  the  spinal  cord  by  ova  escap- 
ing by  the  aorta  or  chief  artery.  It  is  singular  that  the 
brain  does  not  appear  to  suffer,  the  tumours,  it  is  said, 
being  seldom  seen  among  the  tissues  in  front  of  the 
heart.  Doubtless,  however,  as  may  be  here-after  demon- 
strated, other  affections  in  various  organs  or  viscera,  as 
the  kidneys,  intestines,  &:c.,  may  be  due  to  similar 
causes. 


1 84  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  DIGESTIVE  SYSTEM. 

The  Teeth  :  Caries- Abscess  of  the  Jaw— Diseases  of  the  Tongue:  Glossitis, 
Wounds,  Paralysis— Ptyalism— The  Lips— Pharyngitis— Choking— Struc- 
ture of  the  Gullet— Indigestion— Vomition— Gastric  Catarrh— Gastritis- 
Foreign  Bodies  ill  the  Stomach— Ulceration— Worms  in  the  Stomach— Colic 
— DiarrhcEU — Dysentery —  Constipation— Impaction — Enteritis —  Prolapsus 
— Piles- Atony— Tnickening— Hernia— Worms  in  the  Bowels— Peritonitis 
— Ascites  or  Dropsy— Hepatitis,  Acute  and  Chronic— Fatty  Degeneration — 
Parasites  in  the  Liver— Diseases  of  the  Spleen  and  Pancreas— Goitre. 

The  Teeth  are  subject  to  disorder  and  discoloration 
from  accumulations  of  so-cailed  tartar  at  the  neck, 
producing  also  irritation  of  the  gums  and  the  tooth 
cavity,  usually  ending  in  caries  or  displacement  of  the 
teeth  and  ulceration  of  the  gums.  The  subjects  are  the 
well  fed  and  pampered  pets,  especially  old  dogs,  which 
contract  a  chronic  form  of  dyspepsia,  accompanied  by 
offensive  breath,  flow  of  saliva  from  the  lips,  pain  and 
inconvenience,  until  the  animal  becomes  "broken 
mouthed  " — that  is,  having  scarcely  a  sound  tooth. 

To  prcve?it  these  conditiojis  tht  dog  should  be  allowed 
to  use  and  clean  his  teeth  in  the  natural  manner,  namely, 
the  picking  of  bones  and  other  food  sufficiently  solid  to 
require  breaking  down.  For  this  purpose  the  Fibrine 
Cakes  cf  Spratt's  Patent  are  highly  useful. 

Broken  Teeth  are  the  result  of  carrying  hard  or 
heavy  articles.  Displacement  is  the  result  of  irregular 
growth  or  accumulation  of  tartar,  absorption  of  the 
alveolar  margins,  and  ulceration  of  the  gums.  Extraction, 
with  the  after  observance  of  hygienic  rules,  are  the  means 
of  remedy. 

Caries  of  the  Teeth  is  the  result  of  indigestion  and 
improper  feeding,  probably  derived  from  hereditary 
predisposition  or  taint.  Breeders  should  especially  note 
this  fact.     Excessive  foetor,  unusual  salivation,  dulness, 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  1 8  5 

evidence  of  pain  and  fever,  looseness  of  the  teeth,  which 
are  encircled  by  deposits  of  tartar,  evidence  of  paia  on 
pressure,  refusal  of  food,  &c.  The  tooth  is  somewhat 
raised,  and  the  gum  inflamed,  as  the  result  of  disease  in 
the  fang.  Treatment  consists  of  extraction,  cleansing 
the  mouth  by  antiseptic  fluids  as  "  Sanitas,"  &c.  &c.,  and 
paying  attention  to  the  diet,  exercise,  and  general  welfare 
of  the  patient.  When  profuse  bleeding  follows  extrac- 
tion, a  suitable  plug  of  cotton  v/ool  steeped  in  a  solution 
of  alum  or  sulphate  of  iron  will  be  usually  sufficient. 

Abscess  of  the  Jaw,  vulgarly  known  as  Canker  of 
the  Mouth,  results  from  neglect  of  the  conditions  essential 
to  health,  which  leads  to  extensive  caries  and  abscess  of 
the  fang  of  the  tooth.  Removal  of  the  tooth  is  usually 
sufficient  to  liberate  the  pus ;  but  in  protracted  cases  the 
bone  of  the  jaw  swells,  and  the  gums  assume  a  spongy 
condition,  with  a  liability  to  bleed  profusely,  causing 
high  fever,  salivation  and  inability  to  take  food.  These 
states  may  result  in  the  discharge  of  matter  by  a 
fistulous  opening. 

Treatment. — Evacuate  unopened  abscesses  ;  remove 
diseased  teeth,  and  dress  the  parts  regularly  with 
astringent  lotions,  or  simply  "  Sanitas  "  Fluid.  Wash 
out  the  mouth  also  with  the  latter  to  remove  the  foetor 
and  sweeten  the  breath ;  and  use  a  plug  saturated  in 
"Sanitas"  for  the  cavity  from  which  the  tooth  has 
been  removed.  Good  food  with  stimulants  and  tonics 
will  be  required  to  restore  the  health  and  spirits  of  the 
patient. 

Glossitis,  or  Liflammation  of  the  Tongue,  arises  from 
punctures,  bruises,  scalding  with  hot  food,  the  action  of 
caustics,  &c.  Swelling  and  protruding  of  the  organ 
from  the  mouth,  profuse  salivation,  and  probable  soreness 
of  the  throat,  with  high  fever,  are  the  general  signs. 

Treat nmit. — Perfect  quietness  is  essential.  Syringe 
the  mouth  frequently  with  a  solution  of  alum,  or  use  an 
electuary  as  directed. 

Wounds  of  the  Tongue,  incised  or  punctured,  may 
be  treated  with  astringent  lotions  thrown  into  the  mouth 
by   a  syringe.     During  this  treatment  the  animal  must 


I S6  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System, 

be  fed  on  fluid  rations,  as  Fibrine  biscuits  bruised  and 
soaked  in  hot  water  or  milk,  and  given  when  cool. 

Paralysis  of  tlie  Tongue  is  not  common,  but  it 
occurs  now  and  again  in  bulldogs  and  spaniels,  hanging 
loosely  and  useless  from  one  side  of  the  mouth  in  a  dry 
and  often  discoloured  condition.  In  most  cases  the 
ascertained  cause  is  nervous  disorder.  It  is  congenital 
in  some  animals,  and  therefore  incurable. 

Treatment  comprises  the  use  of  nerve  tonics,  as 
strychnine.  Purchasers  of  valuable  dogs  should  be  on 
the  alert  for  this  deformity,  as  unscrupulous  dealers 
practise  the  surgical  art  of  amputating  the  portion  visible 
on  the  outer  side  of  the  teeth. 

Ptyalism,  or  Excessive  floiv  of  Saliva,  arises  in  the  dog 
from  the  incautious  use  of  mercurial  ointment  as  a 
remedy  for  the  mange,  also  when  the  niineral  has  been 
too  frequently  or  too  largely  administered  internally, 
when  such  Symptoms  as  the  following  are  present :  Dis- 
coloration or  perhaps  looseness  of  the  teeth,  sore  and 
swollen  gums,  and  in  long-standing  cases  disease  of  the 
bones.  Saliva  drivels  from  the  mouth,  and  when  the 
jaws  are  separated  the  flow  is  largely  increased.  The 
animal  is  dull,  highly  sensitive  to  cold,  and  the  body 
generally  is  cold,  especially  the  ears  and  legs.  A  close 
examination  is  essential  in  order  to  decide  accurately,  as 
ptyalism  arises  from  other  causes,  as  defective  teeth  and 
disease  of  the  mouth,  &c.     {^See  Mercurial  Poisoning.) 

The  Lips  are  liable  to  invasion  by  warty  growths, 
which  sometimes  affect  the  outer  cheek,  as  well  as 
internally,  together  with  the  tongue  and  palate.  Increase 
in  size,  and  their  possible  recurrence,  may  prove  highly 
inconvenient  and  troublesome,  besides  being  a  serious 
disfigurement.  The  most  effective  treatment  is  that  of 
constant  excision  by  suitable  sharp  scissors  or  the  knife, 
the  parts  being  afterwards  touched  with  lunar  caustic. 

Inflammation  of  the  Pharynx  or  Pharyngitis 
always  accompanies  Laryngitis  (which  see),  one  of  the 
common  results  being  permanent  thickening  or  ulcera- 
tion of  the  lining  membrane,  the  disease  having  assumed 
a  chronic   character.     Free   dressings   v/ith    nitrate    of 


Diseases  of  iJie  Digestive  System.  1 87 

silver  are  recommended,  the  mouth  being  kept  open  by 
means  of  the  gag. 

Choking. — Notwithstanding  ample  provision  in  the 
dog  for  bolting  the  food,  this  accident  sometimes 
takes  place,  the  usual  seat  of  obstruction  being  the 
entrance  to  the  pharynx.  The  Symptoms  are  frequent 
attempts  to  regurgitate  or  force  out  the  obstruction ; 
fluids  passed  into  the  mouth  return  immediately.  There 
is  also  frequent  cough,  profuse  salivation,  great  discom- 
fort, an  anxious  look  in  the  eyes,  and  sometimes  the 
obstruction  may  be  seen  and  felt  on  the  outside. 

T^-eatmejit. — Previous  to  actual  surgical  interference 
the  nature  of  the  obstruction  should  be  ascertained,  as 
sharp  or  angular  substances  are  sometimes  serious 
offenders,  and  should  not  be  pushed  downwards.  A 
whalebone  probe  or  a  flexible  tube  specially  made  for 
the  purpose  will  answer  for  pressing  down  a  piece  of 
meat,  pudding,  &c.,  but  when  bones  or  other  hard  and 
dangerous  things  are  lodged  in  the  passage,  the  throat 
forceps  alone  are  useful,  by  which  the  body  is  seized  and 
drawn  through  the  mouth.  During  the  operation  the 
dog  must  be  fixed  securely,  and  the  mouth  held  open  by 
the  gag.  These  methods  may  fail  in  consequence  of  the 
offending  substance  moving  downwards  and  agaiu  re- 
tained within  the  gullet.  In  this  case,  seeing  no  direct 
possibility  of  moving  the  obstruction  any  further,  the 
surgeon  will  not  hesitate  to  open  the  gullet  by  incision 
from  the  outside,  as  experience  shows  the  surprising 
aptitude  for  heahng  in  the  portions  subjected  to  the 
operation.  A  fluid  diet  and  attention  to  the  wound 
comprise  the  after-essentials  for  a  week  or  more. 

Stricture  of  the  Gullet  is  the  probable  result  of 
repeated  choking,  considerable  injury  to  the  mucous 
membrane  and  even  the  muscular  layer,  arising  from  the 
swallowing  of  hard,  and  probably  sharp,  angular  sub- 
stances, as  bones,  &c.  Similar  states  are  also  due  to  the 
presence  and  burrowing  of  a  small  round  worm  known  as 
Filaria  sanguinotenta. 

The  Symptoms  are  frequent  and  usually  slight  attacks 
of  choking,  v;hich  subside  without  treatment,  or  otherwise, 


i88  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System, 

after  a  dose  of  chloric  ether  in  cold  water.  Its  existence 
in  sporting  and  other  dogs  which  require  heavy  food  is  a 
serious  drawback,  the  use  of  light  and  highly  digestible 
food  only  being  tolerated. 

Inappetance,  or  absence  of  desire  for  food,  is  often  a 
s'gn  of  being  overfed  and  the  beginning  of  serious 
states,  and  may  arise  from  decayed  teeth,  sore  tongue, 
mouth,  or  gums,  choking,  or  muscular  inability  from 
paralysis  of  the  jaws.  The  treatment  must  be  based  on 
the  discovery  and  removal  of  the  cause. 

Indigestion  is  a  disease  of  common  occurrence  in 
canine  animals.  The  wandering  mongrel  alternately 
suffers  from  absolute  want  and  over-repletion  with 
unsuitable  and  highly  indigestible  food,  and  the  highly 
favoured  pets  are  the  victims  of  a  depraved  appetite 
brought  about  by  want  of  exercise,  over-repletion,  and 
often  most  unsuitable  aliment.  Allied  causes  are  disease 
of  the  mouth  or  irregularities  of  the  teeth,  a  torpid  liver, 
worms  or  foreign  substances  in  the  stomach. 

Symptoms. — A  depraved  appetite  associated  with 
frequent  vomition,  the  ejected  material  passing  down  the 
nostrils.  The  bowels  are  constipated  and  distended  by 
air,  the  result  of  fermentation,  giving  rise  to  colicky  pains, 
dulness,  and  often  excessive  peevishness  or  unusual  anger. 
The  patient  is  often  sensitive  to  coid,  and  seeks  absolute 
quiet  and  warmth ;  the  coat  is  rough,  harsh  and  staring, 
and  the  temperature  of  the  body  irreguiai  and  unequal. 
In  old-standing  cases  the  sufferer  la)s  on  much  fat,  the 
hair  falls  off,  and  the  state  becomes  one  of  general 
debility  or  anaemia. 

Treatment. — Change  of  food  and  regular  meals,  sub- 
stituting more  digestible  or  less  stimulating  varieties  as 
may  be  needed.  Fresh  air,  regular  exercise  on  foot. 
Purgatives  are  required  for  constipation  and  coHc,  assisted 
by  occasional  enemas ;  carbonate  of  soda  or  potash  in 
water  to  relieve  acidity  and  irritability  of  the  stomach, 
and  vermifuges  to  expel  worms  when  they  r.re  kno.vn  to 
be  present. 

Emesis  or  Vomition  in  the  dog  depending  upon 
special  nervous  endowment,  under  ordinary  conditions  is 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  1 89 

a  salutary  process,  intended  as  Nature's  safeguard  in  the 
many  dangers  to  which,  as  the  scavenger  of  the  earth,  he 
is  necessarily  exposed.  Thus  irritant  food  is  speedily 
ejected;  and  the  organ  also  becomes  specially  excited 
under  the  stimulus  of  numerous  aihnents,  when  enforced 
discharge  of  the  contents  has  the  effect  of  a  powerful 
sedative  on  the  system.  This  special  sensitiveness  has 
led  to  egregious  abuse  in  the  employment  of  emetics  for 
almost  every  disease,  irrespective  of  the  torture  to  which 
the  creature  is  subjected.  Their  adoption  should  be 
regulated  by  great  care  and  judgment,  as  they  are  likely 
to  produce  serious  gastric  disorder  with  Continuous 
Vomition^  a  condition  usually  indicative  of  acute 
irritation  when  it  arises  independently  of  medicinal 
agents. 

Gastritic  Catarrh,  or  Catarrh  of  the  Stomachy  vulgarly 
called  "  husk,"  consists  of  a  congested  and  irritative,  and 
more  or  less  inflamed  condition  of  the  extensive  mucous 
lining,  arising  from  injudicious  as  well  as  erroneous 
feeding,  the  presence  of  parasites  or  indigestible  foreign 
bodies. 

The  Symptoms  comprise  some  amount  of  fever, 
irritability  of  the  stomach,  with  frequent  vomition,  the 
fluid  being  of  an  acid  character,  and  contains  no  food. 
Pressure  over  the  region  of  the  stomach  causes  severe 
pain  in  most  cases.  The  animal  is  dull,  dispirited,  and 
tormented  by  a  constant  cough.  By  extension  of  the 
disease  to  the  bowels,  a  fatal  diarrhoea  sets  in,  and  the 
termination  is  usually  fatal. 

Treat me7it. — This  is  not  always  successful,  the  reten- 
tion of  food  or  medicine  by  the  stomach  being  a  matter 
of  extreme  difiiculty.  Small  quantities  only  of  anything 
should  be  given,  and  at  frequent  intervals.  The  best 
remedies  appear  to  be  prussic  acid,  chlorodyne,  or  opium, 
alternated  with  the  carbonates  of  potash  or  soda.  The 
injection  of  remedies  beneath  the  skin  offers  a  suitable 
method  of  treatment,  thus  avoiding  the  dilution  as  well  as 
waste  by  the  constant  vomition.  Some  practitioners  find 
great  benefit  from  the  administration  of  a  pill  containing 
one  to  three  grains  of  opium,  and  sulphate  of  iron  five  to 


190  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 

ten  grains  given  morning  and  evening.  If  the  vomition 
can  be  arrested,  the  use  of  vegetable  tonics,  as  gentian 
or  quinine,  will  be  called  for,  and,  in  chronic  cases,  nux 
vomica  in  small  and  repeated  doses. 

Gastritis,  or  Inflainination  of  the  Stomach  of  a  true 
character,  is  seen  only  in  connection  with  poisoning  by- 
irritants. 

The  Symptoms  greatly  resemble  those  of  indigestion, 
developing  slowly,  and  consist  of  thirst,  fever,  a  habit  of 
licking  cool  objects,  depraved  appetite,  and  subsequently 
frequent  vomition.  Pain  is  evinced  by  frequent  whining, 
restlessness,  moving  from  one  place  or  position  to 
another,  and  by  stretching  at  full  length,  to  present  the 
abdomen  to  the  ground.  Pressure  over  the  stomach 
causes  pain  ;  the  pulse  is  accelerated  and  small,  and 
animal  temperature  is  increased.  The  mouth  and  tongue 
are  dry,  dirty  and  foul,  breath  offensive,  mucous  mem- 
branes injected,  and  vomition  proceeds  first  by  the 
ejection  of  simple  fluid,  which  occasionally  contains 
blood. 

Treatment. — Precise  measures  consist  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  an  agent  which  by  chemical  union  with  the 
poison  renders  it  inert,  details  of  which  will  be  given 
under  Poisons.  Frequent  draughts  of  soothing  muci- 
laginous and  alkaline  solutions  are  advisable,  and  the 
application  of  counter-irritants,  as  mustard,  in  the  form  of 
plasters,  is  indispensable.  With  full  abatement  of  all 
the  symptoms,  the  animal  enters  upon  the  stage  of  con- 
valescence, when  vegetable  tonics  and  alkalies  will  serve 
to  promote  sound  recovery,  during  which  the  greatest 
care  must  be  exercised  in  feeding. 

ITleeration  of  the  Stomach  is  occasionally  seen  as 
the  result  of  malnutrition  dependent  upon  wasting  dis- 
eases, as  distemper,  or  bad  and  insufficient  food,  with 
confinement  in  unsanitary  places.  The  condition  of 
defective  health  thus  induced  also  secures  the  existence 
of  other  local  evidences,  the  cornea  being  the  common 
seat  of  the  disease. 

Foreign  Bodies  in  the  Stomach  of  the  dog  are 
common.     Their   name   also   is   legion  and  we  cannot 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  191 

enumerate  them.  The  more  comimon  are  stone?;,  &c., 
which  the  animals  are  taught  to  seize  or  carry,  which  may- 
be swallowed.  Others  have  sharp  prominences,  and  may 
seriously  wound  some  of  the  structures,  producing  a  train 
of  morbid  signs  not  always  of  simple  interpretation,  death 
only  revealing  the  true  nature  of  the  case  as  well  as  its 
cause. 

Worms  in  the  Stomacli. — These  consist  of  several 
varieties  of  round  as  well  as  tape-worm,  the  chief  of  the 
former  being  the  Ascaris  warginafa,  or  marginated  round 
worm,  and  the  Spiroptera  sangtdnokjita,  and  of  the  latter 
Tccnia  cucuinerina^  and  more  rarely  Tce?iia  camcriis^  or  gid 
tape-worm  of  the  sheep. 

Symptoms. — Nausea,  retching,  and  vomiting  proceed 
first  in  order,  accompanied  with  foetid  breath,  and  a  dry, 
troublesome,  husky  cough.  Subsequently  the  bowels  are 
irregular  and  colic  ensues,  with  increase  of  the  foregoing 
symptoms,  especially  gastric  disturbance,  often  termina- 
ting with  convulsions  and  death.  Some  dogs  exhibit  a 
voracious  appetite  in  the  early  stages  ;  notwithstanding  the 
animal  becomes  poor  and  even  emaciated,  and  towards 
the  close  there  are  signs  of  brain  disturbance. 

Treatment. — An  effective  remedy  consists  of  oil  of  tur- 
pentine, one  or  more  teaspoonfuls,  proportionate  to  the 
size  and  build  of  the  dog,  in  combination  with  one  to 
three  ounces  of  pure  glycerine,  followed  in  two  or  three  • 
hours  by  a  dose  of  olive  oil,  or  the  Castor  Oil  Mixture. 
{^See  Aperients.)  If  needful  these  medicines  may  be 
repeated  in  three  days. 

Colic  or  Spasms,  vulgarly  known  as  Gripes,  is  a  sign 
of  bowel  derangement,  spasmodic  in  nature,  and  unasso- 
ciated  with  tendency  to  inflammation.  The  Causes  are 
irritants  within  the  bowels,  or  the  spasms  may  be  due  to 
reflex  act  on  arising  from  morbid  derangement  in  other 
organs,  mostly  the  former,  the  irritants  being  foreign 
bodies,  impacted  food,  disease  of  stomach,  bowels,  liver, 
or  other  contiguous  organs.  Colic  is  often  present  in 
diseases  induced  by  mineral  poisons,  as  in  lead  colic,  and 
also  those  dependent  upon  animal  poisons  developed 
during  certain  diseases,  as  Distemper ;  it  is  also  a  common 


igi  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 

sign  of  worms.  Puppies  suffer  frequently  from  changes 
in  the  quaUty  of  the  mother's  milk,  and  it  also  appears 
in  pregnant  bitches  as  a  result  of  pressure  on  the  neck  of 
the  bladder. 

The  Syiiiptoins  usually  arise  suddenly,  the  animal  ex- 
hibiting signs  of  discomfort  by  moaning.  The  sleep  is 
disturbed  and  he  cries,  rises,  turns  round,  draws  himself 
together,  again  lies  down,  but  soon  rises  and  repeats  the 
various  acts.  Increase  of  pain  is  betokened  by  sharp  and 
frequent  cries;  he  is  more  restless  and  assumes  every 
variety  of  position ;  the  back  is  arched  upwards,  and  the 
abdomen  is  distended  when  the  colic  is  due  to  flatulence, 
or  small,  hard,  and  contracted  in  obstinate  constipation. 
Fever  is  not  present  in  true  or  simple  colic. 

Treatment. — Some  practitioners  resort  to  an  emetic  in 
the  first  instance.  Others  prefer  to  put  the  animal  at 
once  into  a  warm  bath  (90°  to  104°  F.),  which  frequently 
reduces  the  spasm,  and  promotes  free  action  of  the 
bowels,  especially  when  conjoined  with  smart  friction 
over  the  surface.  Jf  the  pain  is  severe,  anti-spasmodic 
draught  No.  2  may  be  given  at  intervals  of  two  or  three 
hours ;  and  mustard  plasters  may  be  applied  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  abdomen,  or  a  stimulating  liniment  should  be 
rubbed  in.  When,  however,  some  known  irritant  is 
present,  an  oleaginous  aperient  should  be  given  in  the 
first  instance,  as  removal  of  the  cause  is  specially 
curative. 

Diarrhoea  consists  of  a  frequent  passing  of  liquid 
faeces,  attended  with  pain,  spasm,  or  colic,  and  more  or 
less  straining.  Acute  cases  have  their  origin  in  the 
presence  of  some  irritant,  which  induces  a  catarrhal  state 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  and  inordinate  secretion  from 
the  numerous  intestinal  glands  as  well  as  the  membrane 
itself.  Such  irritants  are  food,  intestinal  worms,  &c. 
Diarrhoea  is  also  the  result  of  blood  disorder,  terminating 
in  wasting  disease,  or  "breaking  up  of  the  system."  It 
also  depends  upon  an  excessive  secretion  of  bile,  and 
may  be  caused  by  repeated  overdoses  of  purgative 
medicines,  inducing  super-purgation.  Chronic  cases  are 
denoted  by  intractable  indigestion,  and  great  debihty  in 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  Sy stein.  193 

addition  to  the  above,  with  more  or  less  ulceration  _  of 
the  bowels,  as  seen  near  the  anus,  the  opening  of  which 
is  relaxed  and  dilated. 

Treatment.— Th^  patient  demands  the  most  careful 
nursing  and  strict  cteanliness,  with  freedom  from  ex- 
posure to  cold,  otherwise  acute  cases  have  the  tendency 
to  assume  the  chronic  form.  A  suitable  dose  of  the 
castor-oil  mixture  {see  Aperients)  should  be  given  in  the 
first  instance,  which  by  removal  of  the  original  cause 
determines  the  recovery  of  the  patient.  If,  however,  the 
case  assumes  the  chronic  stage,  one  of  the  anodyne 
formulae  must  be  adopted,  with  astringent  diet,_  as  the 
symptoms  indicate.  Simple  glycerine,  vaseline,  or 
"Sanitas"  jelly,  especially  the  latter,  are  eminently  use- 
ful in  soothing  the  anus  and  bowel,  when  smeared  over 
it.  When  liver  disorder  is  evident,  calomel  or  podo- 
phyllin  will  be  of  service.  Younj  puppies  often  suffer 
from  a  form  of  diarrhoea  while  deriving  their  sustenance 
from  the  mother.  In  that  case  the  latter  should  receive 
a  mild  purgative ;  afterwards  lime-water  to  drink,  or  a 
solution  of  carbonate  of  soda  (5  to  10  grains  to  each  ounce 
of  water)  mixed  with  the  food.  The  disease  is  also  a 
common  associate  with  the  early  stages  of  distemper,  the 
probable  cause  being  the  ingestion  of  unsuitable  food 
and  filth,  or  inhalation  of  the  odours  arising  from  drains, 
accumulations  of  manure,  &c.  Worms  are  a  common 
cause.  The  usual  remedy  is  half  a  dose  of  castor  oil, 
with  one  to  three  drops  of  laudanum.  Chronic  forms 
degenerate  into  dysentery. 

Dysentery  consists  of  inflammation  of  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  large  bowels  as  a  rule,  followed  by 
ulceration  and  discharge  of  blood.  The  evacuations 
contain  no  fceces,  except  at  intervals,  when  solitary,  dark, 
small,  and  offensive  lumps  are  voided.  The  causes  are 
those  common  to  diarrhoea  largely  aggravated. 

Symptoms. — In  addition  to  the  above,  the  animal 
suffers  from  abdominal  pain,  with  rapidly  forming  de- 
bility and  emaciation,  also  emanations  of  sickly  odours 
from  the  skin  and  mouth.  Shreds  of  the  mtestinal 
mucous  membrane  pass  with  blood  among  the  offensive 

13 


t94  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  Sy stent. 

evacuations ;  the  pulse  and  respiration  are  quick,  nose 
dry  and  hot,  mucous  membranes  injected,  great  thirst, 
but  no  appetite,  gradual  sinking,  and  death. 

Ti-eaiment  must  be  careful  and  persistent. 

Constipation  or  Costiveness  is  the  result  of  tor- 
pidity or  comparative  inaction  of  the  bo\Yels,  the  animal 
passing  no  fasces,  or,  otherwise,  they  are  voided  with 
much  effort  and  pain,  and  are  dry,  small,  and  hard.  The 
disorder  is  common  to  animals  under  confinement,  es- 
pecially when  fed  solely  on  animal  food.  Constipation, 
associated  with  fever,  is  one  of  the  marked  symptoms  of 
liver  disorder,  but  constipation  pure  and  simple  is  not 
necessarily  attended  by  fever,  neither  is  it  of  long  dura- 
tion, and  is  amenable  to  ordinary  remedies. 

Treatment. — Change  of  diet  is  almost  always  essential. 
The  flesh  food  should  be  reduced  and  the  deficiency 
made  up  by  vegetables,  and  a  weekly  feed  of  boiled 
liver  will  be  helpful,  conjoined  with  regular  feeding  times 
2Xi6.  proper  exercise.  In  some  cases  the  accumulation  of 
faeces  in  the  rectum  is  large,  producing  colic,  and  they 
may  be  felt  on  manipulating  the  abdomen  by  the  hand  as 
well  as  being  evident  in  the  bulging  of  the  anus.  Accu- 
mulations of  this  extreme  nature  sometimes  prove  fatal 
within  a  few  hours  in  house  and  pet  dogs.  Removal  of 
the  accumulation  of  ingesta  must  be  effected  by  means 
of  the  oiled  finger,  or  when  necessary  broken  down  by 
he  handle  of  a  spoon,  assisted  by  injections  of  warm 
water.  A  dose  of  the  castor- oil  mixture  {see  Aperients) 
should  follow,  and  subsequently  an  occasional  dose 
should  be  given  if  the  disorder  does  not  abate. 

Impaction  of  the  Bowels  by  means  of  various  sub- 
stances, as  a  bone  of  considerable  size,  or  several  pieces, 
a  stone,  accumulations  of  hardened  f^ces,  or  fibrous 
vegetable  matter,  which  have  been  swallowed,  constitutes 
an  aggravated  form  of  constipation.  The  formation  of  a 
calculus  is  of  rare  occurrence,  but  one  such  proves  to 
be  the  cause  now  and  again.  Colic,  constipation,  and 
sometimes  vomiting  are  present,  especially  after  oleagi- 
nous purgatives  have  been  administered.  Enemas, 
assisted  by  external  manipulation  of  the  abdomen,  often 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System,  19^ 

facilitates  passage  of  the  mass  to  the  rectum  and 
removed.  A  few  days  may  be  required  for  this  purpose, 
during  which  the  animal  should  receive  only  fluid  laxa- 
tive ahment,  with  opiates  or  other  antispasmodics. 

Enteritis,  or  Inflcwimation  of  the  Intesti?ies. — The 
muscular  coat  of  the  tube  is  the  seat  of  the  malady,  the 
causes  being  impaction  by  indigestible  substances,  the 
passage  of  one  portion  passing  within  another,  or  some 
other  form  of  strangulation ;  exposure  to  excessive  cold 
and  wet  after  removal  of  the  coat ;  exhibition  of  poison- 
ous doses  of  medicine  or  dehberate  poisoning.  It  is  also 
apt  to  arise  from  the  absorption  of  local  remedies  used  in 
excess  for  the  eradication  of  mange. 

Symptoms. — Continued  pain  and  distress  is  evinced  by 
cries  and  the  appearance  also  of  the  eyes,  with  severe 
abdominal  pain,  high  fever,  and  increase  of  temperature. 
Pressure  on  the  abdomen  increases  the  suffering  j  yet  the 
animal  finds  some  comfort  in  stretching  himself  on  the 
ground,  courting  the  coolness  of  the  stones  or  earth  to 
counteract  the  heat  of  the  abdominal  muscles.  As  a  rule 
he  seeks  the  quiet  of  a  secluded  corner,  where  he  may  be 
found,  lying  in  perfect  agony  on  his  side  and  uttering 
piercing  cries.  The  bowels  are  confined  and  the  urine, 
voided  only  in  very  small  quantities,  is  highly  coloured 
and  has  a  strong  odour.  The  pulse  is  small,  hard,  and 
rapid ;  the  nose  is  hot,  thirst  is  considerable  and  the  tail 
is  firmly  contracted  over  the  anus  and  forward  upon  the 
abdomen.  When  the  disease  is  due  to  poisons,  vomiting 
is  constant,  the  ejected  fluids  being  mixed  with  blood. 
The  mouth,  ears,  and  legs  become  cold,  the  body  smells 
disagreeably,  the  abdomen  enlarges,  the  pulse  and  heart- 
beats becomes  faint  and  at  length  imperceptible,  and 
convulsions  terminate  in  death.  A  chronic  form  of  the 
disease  may  occur,  which  is  indicated  by  intermittent 
colic,  alternate  constipation  and  diarrhoea,  with  tense 
abdomen,  flatulence,  &c.,  and  more  or  less  continuous 
vomiting,  terminating  in  weakness,  collapse,  and  death. 

Treatment. — First  learn  the  cause.  If  the  disease 
arises  from  impaction,  foreign  objects,  worms,  &c., 
administer  a  miid  dose  of  salad  oil.     Enemas  of  warm 


196  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 

water  will  be  useful,  if  assisted  by  breaking  up  of  the 
f?eces  by  the  finger  inserted  within  the  rectum.  Crude 
opium  (one  to  three  grains),  chlorodyne,  Indian  hemp, 
&c,,  given  in  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls  of  barley  water, 
may  be  given  to  counteract  pain  and  spasm,  and  may  be 
repeated  hourly  as  needed.  Enemas  containing  one  of 
these  remedies  are  also  of  great  value.  A  warm  bath 
often  proves  highly  beneficial  if  due  care  in  drying,  &c., 
is  observed.  In  recovery  the  greatest  care  in  feeding, 
&c.,  must  be  observed,  or  the  animal  when  approaching 
convalescence  will  suddenly  change,  droop,  and  die  from 
a  recurrence  of  the  malady.  Poisoning  must  be  met  by 
appropriate  remedies  or  antidotes.     {See  Poisons.) 

Beef-tea,  broth,  milk,  or  cod-liver  oil  should  be  given 
with  the  medicines  by  the  mouth,  and  by  the  rectum 
with  astringents.  Violent  pain  must  be  met  by  opium 
(one  to  three  grains)  hourly,  or  at  longer  intervals  as 
needful  to  subdue  the  pain.  Some  practitioners  add 
sulphate  of  copper  with  manifest  benefit.  A  hot  linseed 
poultice,  or  the  spongio-piline  {see  Poultices)  applied  to 
the  abdomen  is  often  highly  beneficial,  and  suppositories, 
or  injections  of  an  astringent  nature  should  be  employed 
in  conjunction  ;  iced  water  is  sometimes  added.  Clean- 
liness, with  fresh  air,  are  all  important  in  the  means  of 
cure. 

Prolapsus  Ani,  or  Di'opping  of  the  Boivel,  appears  in 
the  form  of  an  unsightly  tumour  beneath  the  tail,  \\\\ic\\ 
often  suffers  considerable  enlargement  with  the  discharge 
of  fa;ces,  while  some  pain  and  difficulty  attend  the  act. 
The  usual  causes  are  debility,  the  result  of  age,  neglected 
constipation  of  a  general  character,  as  well  as  impaction 
of  the  rectum  itself.  It  is  also  common  in  over-fed  and 
idle  dogs.  It  may  be  partial,  consisting  of  the  mucous 
membrane  only,  or  the  entire  rectum  may  be  everted,  in 
which  case  swelling  ensues  with  more  or  less  strangula- 
tion, inducing  changes  which  greatly  mihtate  against  a 
speedy  and  successful  return  as  well  as  retention  of  the 
organ. 

Treatment  consists  of  returning  the  bowels  within  the 
abdomen  by  means  of  careful  side-pressure  and  manipu- 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  igy 

lation  with  the  fingers  (the  animal  being  held  with  the 
hind  quarters  raised  considerably  above  the  body),  and 
afterwards  dressed  with  cold  astringent  dressings.  Injec- 
tions or  suppositories  of  the  same  nature  should  also  be 
continued  for  several  days,  and  the  food  should  be  fluid 
and  laxative  until  the  evidences  of  cure  are  established. 
In  chronic  cases  the  organ  may  become  so  mutilated  and 
enlarged  as  to  call  for  excision.  To  prevent  the  disease^ 
avoid  constipation  of  the  bowels  by  a  periodical  feed  of 
uncooked  liver,  boiled  greens,  or  purgation. 

Hsemorrhoids  or  Piles  constitute  a  frequent  disease 
in  aged  dogs,  and  those  subject  to  constipation  and  a 
general  state  of  relaxed  fibre.  Primarily  they  appear  as 
simple  bulbs  or  tumours  located  on  the  outer-side  of  the 
anal  opening,  or  upon  the  lining  mucous  membrane 
within.  They  are,  therefore,  known  as  external  or 
internal  Piles,  and  consist  of  the  enlarged  veins  of  the 
locality,  their  condition  being  due  to  the  pressure  arising 
from  straining  to  void  faeces  during  constipation.  Such 
pressure  being  long  continued  induces  a  tendency  to 
ulcerate  or  slough,  by  which  a  number  of  sores  are  formed 
attended  with  more  or  less  haemorrhage  constituting 
"  bleeding  piles."  Further  aggravation  leads  to  the 
formation  oi  fistula,  \^\\\q\\  is  an  opening  in  amass  of 
condensed  or  diseased  tissue,  leading  to  a  cavity,  the 
situation  of  a  former  abscess.  The  lodgment  of  sharp, 
angular  bones,  or  impaction  by  hard  faeces  lacerating  the 
rectum,  are  also  common  causes.  The  liver  is  under 
disorder  in  most  cases. 

Treatment. — An  oleaginous  aperient  is  best  for  simple 
cases  ;  but  when  the  liver  is  at  fault,  an  aloetic  pill  with 
calomel  or  the  aperient  blue  pill  should  be  given.  In- 
digestion must  receive  appropriate  treatment  as  detailed 
under  that  head,  cod-liver  oil  forming  a  daily  portion. 
Local  treatment  should  consist  of  the  application  of  cold 
water  or  ice  for  both  forms,  the  latter  being  put  inside 
and  allowed  to  remain.  Lotions  of  alum  or  the  sulphates 
of  zinc,  copper,  or  iron,  are  also  highly  beneficial,  but  no 
permanent  good  can  result  unless  the  feeding  is  improved, 
and   sufficient   exercise    is    given    to    promote   healthy 


198  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 

function  of  the  digestive  organs  in  particular,  and  the 
system  generally. 

Atony  of  the  Rectum  is  common  to  old  dogs 
unable  to  take  exercise.  The  gut  is  enlarged  from 
constant  impaction,  and  the  glands  of  the  vicinity 
discharge  a  foul-smelling  fluid  ;  the  anus  is  also  enlarged 
and  ulcerated,  from  which  a  swelling  arises  and  is  con- 
tinued downwards  between  the  thighs  along  the  course 
of  the  abdomen.  It  is  common  also  to  other  diseases  as 
a  complication,  viz.,  chronic  diarrhoea  and  dysentery. 

Trcaimeiit  consists  of  supporting  and  improving  the 
system  by  internal  tonics  and  laxatives ;  the  regular 
removal  of  fsecal  accumulations,  and  constant  administra- 
tion of  tonic  astringent  enemas,  as  solutions  of  tannic 
acid,  sulphate  of  iron,  &c. 

Thickening  of  the  Bowel,  leadmg  to  Stricture^ 
sometimes  attended  by  dilation,  is  somewhat  common  to 
the  duodenum.  Such  cases  are  always  clearly  manifested 
during  life,  and  are  usually  traced  to  the  action  of 
some  chemical  or  other  irritant  on  the  tissues  of  the 
bowels. 

Hernia,  or  the  passage  of  some  portion  of  the  intes- 
tines and  their  appendages,  is  not  of  common  occurrence. 
In  puppies  hernia  of  the  navel  is  now^  and  again  seen.  It 
consists  of  the  omentum  or  caul,  which  may  be  returned 
within  the  abdomen,  and  maintained  by  a  bandage  or 
truss,  or  excision  of  the  whole  protrusion  by  means  of  the 
ligature  may  be  tried.  Other  forms  need  not  be  discussed 
here,  as  they  are  only  of  interest  to  the  scientific  operator 
in  surgery. 

Worms  in  the  Intestines. — Several  species  of  worms 
find  their  abode  within  the  intestines  of  the  dog,  being 
chiefly  of  the  classes  commonly  known  as  round  and  tape- 
worms. Their  presence  is  in  obedience  to  certain  laws 
which  regulate  and  ensure  their  being  called  into  exist- 
ence, as  well  as  subsequent  changes  and  developments. 

The  Symptoms  generally  denoting  the  presence  of 
worm.s  in  the  bowels  are  as  follows  :  irritation,  more  or 
less  persistent,  inducing  disorder,  as  variable  and  depraved 
appetite,  loss  of  hair,  and  a  rough  unhealthy  state  of  the 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  199 

slcin ;  irregularity  of  the  bowels,  producing  a  discharge  of 
fceces  and  fluid,  which  is  slimy,  exceedingly  offensive, 
and  contains  the  parasites ;  irritation  of  the  anus,  as 
shown  by  the  creature  licking  it,  or  endeavouring  to 
remove  the  annoyance  by  dragging  himself  in  a  sitting 
posture  over  the  ground.  As  these  signs  continue,  a 
state  of  general  ancemia  sets  in,  from  which  the  animal 
dies  or  otherwise  recovers  and  goes  through  similar 
suffering.  Occasionally  during  life  the  worms  migrate 
from  the  intestines  to  the  stomach,  from  which  they  may 
be  expelled  in  the  resulting  vomitiou  ;  instances  are  also 
on  record  in  which  they  have  been  known  to  pass  to  the 
windpipe  or  lungs  and  produce  fatal  consequences.  The 
remedies  for  worms  are  numerous,  formula  for  which  will 
be  found  in  Chapter  VIII.,  one  of  the  most  efficacious 
being  No.  3.  p.  137. 

Peritonitis,  inflammation  of  the  peritoneum  or  mem- 
brane which  lines  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen  and  invests 
the  bowels,  is  frequently  confounded  with  enteritis.  It 
may  be  only  partial ;  it  is  more  frequently  complete.  The 
causes  are  external  violence  as  severe  blows,  punctured 
wounds,  &c. ;  it  may  also  result  from  hernia,  constipation, 
or  exposure  to  damp  and  cold,  and  in  females  is  apt  to 
follow  parturition. 

Sy?fipfonis. — High  fever  with  rapid,  small,  hard,  and 
sharp  pulse.  Pressure  on  the  abdomen  induces  severe 
pain,  and  to  avoid  being  handled  the  sufferer  seeks  a 
quiet  spot  where  he  lies  on  his  side,  breathing  with  diffi- 
culty and  constant  pain,  as  evinced  by  frequent  sharp 
cries.  Constipation  is  present  from  the  first.  As  the 
disease  advances  these  signs  are  aggravated,  the  tongue 
is  furred,  dry,  and  offensive,  thirst  is  great,  and  the  urine 
is  scanty  and  highly  coloured.  The  abdomen  enlarges 
from  the  accumulation  of  fluid,  the  legs  and  ears  are 
cold,  and  death  follows  coma  or  delirium. 

Treatment. — Continued  fomentations,  poultices  (which 
see)  or  a  mild  stimulating  liniment  may  be  applied  to 
the  abdomen  under  gentle  care ;  leeches  often  prove  im- 
mediately beneficial.  The  only  safe  remedies  are  seda- 
tives {see  Febrifuges),  especially  aconite,  digitalis,  opium, 
or  belladonna,  given  every  four  hours  as  required. 


200 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System. 


Ascites,  or  Drops  of  the  Abdomen,  is  the  frequent 
result  of  peritonitis,  but  it  may  arise  from  conditions 
totally  apart  from  it,  as  anaemia  following  continued 
asthma  or  skin  diseases,  derangement  of  the  liver,  &c. 
Cold  and  damp  are  common  causes  in  young  dogs. 

Symptoms. — Unusual  enlargement  of  the  abdomen, 
pale  mucous  membranes,  general  coldness  and  wasting 
of  the  body,  rough  staring  coat,  and  falling  of  the  hair, 
nausea,  frequent  vomition,  and  indigestion  generally, 
husky  cough,  hurried  respiration,  subacute  fever,  intoler- 
able thirst,  dropsical  states  of  the  body  generally, 
oppressed  breathing,  sinking,  and  death. 

Treatment. — Tonics,  with  vegetable  bitters  and  mild 
diuretics  are  useful.  Absorption  of  the  fluid  may  be 
promoted  by  regular,  but  small,  doses  of  digitaHs  and 
iodide  of  iron.  Cod-liver  oil  is  highly  nutritive  and  suffi- 
ciently laxative  to  promote  free  action  of  the  bowels. 
The  whole  of  the  fluid  may  be  drawn  away  by  what  is 
known  as  "  tapping  the  belly,"  after  which  support  must 
be  afforded  by  a  bandage  placed  round  the  body,  and 
the  operation  may  be  required  on  future  occasions 
to  relieve  the  oppressed  breathing  from  repeated  accumu- 
lation of  the  fluid. 

Hepatitis,  or  Inflammation  of  tlie  Liver.,  is  common 
to  overfed  and  pampered  animals,  especially  house  pets 
taking  little  or  no  exercise.  The  disease  in  the  acute 
form  is  said  to  be  more  common  in  tropical  countries, 
and  even  the  South  of  France,  than  in  Great  Britain, 
where  it  more  frequently  assumes  the  congestive  form. 

Symptoms. — The  early  manifestations  are  a  dry  or 
husky  cough,  accelerated  pulse  and  respiration,  rigors,  or 
more  commonly  shivering  fits,  and  pain  on  the  right  side 
which  is  aggravated  by  pressure  ;  nausea  and  vomiting 
are  present.  In  later  stages  the  mucous  membranes  and 
the  skin  exhibit  a  tinge  of  yellow,  which  becomes  more 
intense  with  the  progress  of  the  malady.  The  bowels  are 
alternately  relaxed  or  confined,  and  the  evacuations  are 
pale,  the  urine  is  deficient,  having  an  orange  colour ;  the 
pain  of  the  right  side  is  increased,  and  enlargement  over 
the  region  of  the  liver  is  evident;  bile  mingles  with  the 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System.  201 

fluids  ejected  from  the  stomach.  The  animal  is  dull,  the 
mouth  and  tongue  are  furred  and  with  the  breath  are 
offensive,  the  abdomen  enlarges  and  is  pendulous,  the 
bowels  contain  much  flatus ;  there  is  intense  thirst, 
absence  of  appetite,  and  the  loss  of  flesh  is  very  rapid. 

Treatment. — Blood-letting  to  a  moderate  extent  by 
means  of  the  lancet,  or  abstraction  by  leeches  after  the 
hair  has  been  removed  is  useful,  especially  if  the  hot 
(spongio-piline)  poultice  is  immediately  applied.  Mustard 
plasters  promptly  are  beneficial,  or  the  hot  bath  may  be 
tried,  if  the  animal  can  be  well  protected  afterwards. 
As  medicines  the  salines,  or  febrifuge  No.  3,  may 
be  given  once  daily  for  three  or  four  days ;  or  the 
febrifuge  No.  6,  three  times  daily,  in  simple  water, 
thickened  with  treacle,  until  the  acute  symptoms  are 
overcome,  when  vegetable  tonics  may  be  resorted  to. 

Chronic  Hepatitis,  like  the  acute  form,  in  its  true 
nature  is  congestive,  due  to  similar  causes,  except  in 
India  and  other  hot  countries,  where  continued  high 
temperature  and  malaria  are  superadded. 

The  Symptoms  are,  in  the  main,  those  of  acute  hepatitis 
modified  or  less  severe,  making  little  progress  one  w^ay 
or  the  other  for  some  time.  Jaundice  and  a  peculiar 
haggard  or  dejected  appearance,  with  loss  of  power,  are 
prominent  signs.  The  liver  is  generally  increased,  hard, 
and  may  be  insensible  to  pressure.  The  belly,  particularly 
on  the  right  side,  is  swollen,  and  the  animal  is  tormented 
by  thirst,  indigestion,  flatulence,  vomition,  and  irregularity 
of  the  bowels.  The  skin  is  dry,  often  scurfy,  and 
discoloured  by  bile,  and  the  hair  is  erect.  Piles  are 
common  as  a  result  of  pressure  obstructing  blood 
circulation ;  and  asthma,  disease  of  the  spleen,  &c.,  are 
frequent  accompaniments. 

Treatfnent. — Promote  regular  action  of  the  bowels  by 
the  use  of  saline  aperient  and  febrifuge  No.  3,  or 
small  doses  of  calomel,  and  podophyllin,  rhubarb,  or 
aloes  on  alternate  days,  with  intermediate  doses  (two  to 
four  drops)  of  nitric  or  hydrochloric  acid  twice  daily,  or  the 
iodide  of  potassium  (five  to  ten  grains)  may  be  substituted 
for  a  time,     Great  benefit  may  arise  from  an  application 


202  Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System, 

of  strong  iodine  liniment,  or  ointment  of  blniodide  of 
mercury — half  strength,  and  repeated  as  needful — to  the 
side  after  removal  of  the  hair.  The  diet  must  be 
carefully  regulated  as  well  as  digestible,  and  the  action 
of  the  bowels  should  be  largely  maintained  by  enemas 
when  the  saHnes  are  not  employed.  Pet  dogs  recovering 
from  the  disease  may  prove  useful  as  previously,  but 
animals  from  which  constant  or  phenomenal  work  is 
required  are  rarely  capable,  and  for  breeding  purposes 
they  should  not  be  selected. 

Fatty  Degeneration  of  the  Liver  is  an  occasional 
result  of  hepatitis.  In  some  instances  it  is  enormously 
enlarged,  and  capable  of  being  manipulated  by  the  hand, 
causing  a  largely  distended  abdomen,  irregular  bowels, 
and  anremia,  the  patient  finally  becoming  excessively 
lean  and  weak,  with  all  the  indications  of  chronic 
hepatitis. 

Treatment. — Withdraw  food  containing  fat,  and  sub- 
stitute fibrine  biscuits  in  moderate  quantities,  with 
enforced  excercise  daily.  As  a  treat,  give  a  meal  of 
fresh  liver,  cut  up  and  mixed  with  the  usual  food,  and 
as  a  medicine  give  ten  grains  of  chlorate  of  potash  twice 
daily  for  some  time. 

Old  and  worn-out  dogs  frequently  exhibit  peculiar 
forms  of  malignant  disease  of  the  liver,  spleen,  mesentery, 
omentum,  &c.,  which  present  some  of  the  strangest 
combinations  of  incurable  states.  In  all  such  instances 
common  humanity  suggests  their  destruction  by  a  painless 
death,  as  prussic  acid  or  an  overdose  of  chloroform. 

Parasitic  Disease  of  the  Liver  is  due  to  the  presence 
of  the  fluke  Distonia  conjunctuni  in  the  bile  ducts,  inducing 
inflammation  and  numerous  small  abscesses.  Various 
cystic  or  bladder  forms  of  parasitism  are  also  common ; 
and  round  worms  {Fitaria  hepatica)  occupy  the  substance 
as  well  as  the  ducts  of  the  liver,  leading  to  the  formation 
of  cysts  in  the  walls  of  the  intestines. 

Obstruction  to  the  functions  of  the  liver  occasionally 
arises  from  the  formation  of  biliary  calculi,  or  gall-stones. 
Jaundice  is  a  common  sign,  with  more  or  less  indigestion, 
and   acute   pain,   evidenced   by  violence    during    their 


Diseases  of  the  Digestive  System .  203 

passage  along  the  gall-ducts  to  the  intestines,  is  not 
uncommon. 

Treatment. — The  pain  is  to  be  soothed  by  warm 
baths  and  the  internal  administration  of  opium,  chloric 
ether,  &c.,  measures  which  are  also  beneficial  in  the 
removal  of  the  obstruction  as  well  as  the  resulting 
jaundice.  The  presence  of  one  stone  suggests  the 
presence  and  constant  formation  of  many  others,  therefore, 
some  alteration  in  the  diet  should  be  made,  more 
frequent  exercise  being  enforced,  while  one  of  the  liver 
pills  {see  Aperients),  or  podophyllin  and  calomel  are 
regularly  given. 

Disease  of  the  Spleen  and  Pancreas  is  rarely 
recognised  except  in  conjunction  with  morbid  conditions 
of  the  liver,  and  chiefly  after  death.  We  have,  therefore, 
but  little  information  in  reference  to  morbid  signs  during 
life,  the  principal  being  enlargement  of  the  spleen,  which 
may  be  felt  on  the  left  side  of  the  front  of  the  belly. 
The  organ  is  then  sensible  to  pressure,  and  the  animal 
emits  cries  of  pain  when  he  is  moved.  A  husky  cough 
is  present ;  the  coat  is  rough  and  dirty ;  the  bowels  are 
relaxed,  and  the  evacuations  are  yellow  and  mixed  with 
froth,  a  state  which  alternates  with  constipation.  The 
mucous  membranes  are  pale,  and  fever  is  more  or  less 
present.  Emaciation  proceeds  with  the  continuance  of 
these  signs,  and  the  disease  is  practically  incurable,  de- 
pending on  conjoint  disease  of  the  liver  and  other  organs. 

Goitre,  or  Bronchocele,  is  not  unfrequent  in  newly 
born  pups,  associated  with  rickets,  the  probable  result  of 
parental  mal-nutrition.  Among  older  animals  pugs  are 
singularly  liable,  the  swellings  being  known  as  "Kernels." 
The  disease  consists  of  enlargement  of  the  thyroid 
glands,  situate  on  each  side  of  the  throat,  which  has 
been  known  to  cause  obstruction  to  the  flow  of  blood  in 
the  jugular  veins,  with  resulting  dulness,  and  even  death. 
Pressure  on  the  windpipe  has  also  been  known  to 
produce  suffocation.  The  diseased  enlargement  sometimes 
disperses  spontaneously  ;  otherwise  painting  with  iodine, 
after  removal  of  the  hair,  with  internal  administration  of 
the  drug,  will  accomplish  its  disappearance. 


204  Diseases  of  the  Urinary  System, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  URINARY  SYSTEM. 

Nephritis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Kidneys — Albuminous  Nephritis — Calculi,  or 
Stones  in  the  Kidney — Hsematuria,  or  Red  Water — Atrophy  and  Hyper- 
trophy—Worm  in  the  Kidney— Imp iction  of  the  Ureters — Cystitis,  or  In- 
flammation of  the  Bladder — Stone  in  the  Bladder — Rupture  of  the  Bladder 
—  Diabetes — Paralysis  of  the  Bladder— Disease  of  the  Prostate — Stone  in 
the  Urethra — Urethritis— Balanitis  and  Posthitis — Worm  in  the  Urethra. 

The  urinary  apparatus  of  the  dog  is  probably  subject  to 
a  greater  number  of  disorders,  occurring  with  greater 
frequency  than  is  generally  supposed  among  animals 
under  confinement,  especially  when  they  are  pampered 
and  fed  on  all  kinds  of  unsuitable  aliment.  Disorder  of 
the  digestive  process  is  likely  to  derange  the  action  of 
the  kidneys,  and  from  thence  the  various  organs  of  the 
system  are  more  or  less  influenced. 

Nephritis,  or  Infiammation  of  the  Kidney,  arises  from 
numerous  causes,  as  blows,  or  strain  on  the  loins ;  the 
action  of  cold  after  bathing  or  exposure  to  rain ;  irritation 
of  the  organ  by  calculi  or  stones,  abscess,  &c.,  and  direct 
or  indirect  action  of  special  remedies,  as  cantharides  or 
turpentine,  of  which  the  dog  is  peculiarly  susceptible, 
whether  given  by  the  mouth,  absorbed  by  the  skin,  or 
carried  to  the  stomach  by  the  tongue,  as  the  animal  licks 
off  external  applications. 

The  Symptoms  are  a  peculiar  gait  indicating  stiffness  in 
the  loins,  with  probable  pain  under  manipulation  or 
pressure.  Febrile  symptoms  are  present,  the  pulse  being 
rapid,  wiry,  and  hard,  nose  and  mouth  hot  and  dry, 
mucous  membranes  reddened,  and  the  bowels  are  acutely 
constipated.  In  females  the  act  of  urination  is  often 
attempted,  and  the  quantity  voided  is  small,  highly 
coloured,  and  sometimes  mixed  with  blood. 

Treatment. — Leeches  to  the  loins,  or  bleeding  from  the 
jugular  vein.     Castor-oil  mixture  as  a  laxative.     Linseed 


.Diseases  of  the  Urinary  System.  20 5 

mucilage  or  barley  water  should  be  used  as  a  vehicle  for 
medicines,  as  tartar  emetic  in  doses  of  a  quarter  or  half  a 
grain  twice  or  three  times  daily  ;  or  belladonna,  opium, 
and  camphor  as  anodynes  ;  enemas  containing  one  of  the 
three  latter  drugs;  hot  spongio-piline  poultices  to  the 
loins,  frequently  renewed.  Bicarbonate  of  soda  or  potash 
are  also  useful  in  rendering  the  urine  less  acid  and 
aseptic.  Perfect  quiet  is  essential,  and,  excepting  very 
moderate  exercise  when  the  patient  can  bear  it,  all  severe 
movement  must  be  carefully  avoided.  A  form  of  Albu- 
minous Nephritis  has  also  been  noticed,  constituting 
true  Brighfs  Disease. 

Calculi,  or  Stofies  in  the  Kidfuy,  are  by  no  means 
infrequent.  One  or  both  organs  may  be  affected.  They 
give  rise  to  inflammation  of  the  kidney,  for  which  the 
appropriate  treatment  is  required. 

Hsematuria,  or  Red  Water,  derives  its  name  from  the 
presence  of  blood  in  the  urine. 

The  Causes  are  those  which  induce  inflammation  ;  more 
commonly  calculi  are  present,  the  angular  projections  of 
which  may  seriously  wound  the  organ  or  cause  impedi- 
ments to  the  flow  of  blood,  set  up  inflammation,  and  even 
rupture  of  the  vessels. 

Syviptoms. — Urination  is  attended  with  pain  ;  heat, 
with  tenderness  of  the  loins ;  blood  is  discharged  in  three 
forms  :  during  the  act  of  urination,  subsequent  to  it,  or 
altogether  independent  of  it.  When  it  comes  from  the 
kidneys,  it  is  diffused  throughout  the  urine,  which  also 
contains  threads  of  fibrine,  not  unHke  small  worms,  either 
of  a  pale  pink  colour  or  white.  Bleeding  from  the 
bladder  is  known  by  the  first  discharge  of  urine  being 
free,  but  towards  the  end  the  blood  comes  floating  in  the 
urine.  Bleeding  from  the  urethra  is  unattended  by  signs 
of  disease  in  the  kidney  or  bladder.  The  blood  is 
discharged  pure  and  alone 

Treatment. — Avoid  blood-letting.  Mucilaginous  fluids, 
as  linseed  tea,  barley  water,  solution  of  gum,  beef  tea,  <S:c., 
should  be  given  freely,  in  which  iron  and  opiates  {see 
Styptics)  should  be  given.  Apply  hot  fomentations  to 
the    loins,   the    spongio-piline    poultice,    mustard,    or 


2o6  Diseases  of  the  Urinary  SysteiiL 

ammoniacal  embrocation.  Enemas  containing  belladonna 
or  opium  to  relieve  pain  and  spasms.  Tincture  of 
cantharides,  in  doses  of  two  or  three  drops  in  a  wine- 
glassful  of  water,  is  often  very  useful. 

Atrophy  and  Hypertrophy,  terms  which  signify 
Wasting  and  Enlargeme?it,  are  seen  in  the  kidney.  Few 
indications  occur  during  life. 

Worm  in  the  Kidney  is  an  occasional  occurrence. 
The  parasite  is  known  as  Eustrongylus  gigas,  a  round 
worm,  the  female  of  which  sometimes  attains  the  length 
of  three  feet,  and  as  large  as  the  little  finger.  Enormous 
enlargement  of  the  organ  is  one  of  the  common  results. 
The  presence  is  not  always  denoted  by  definite  signs 
during  life. 

Impaction  of  the  Ureters  may  arise  from  the  ac- 
cumulation of  small  portions  of  calculi  or  sandy  matter 
on  their  way  from  the  kidneys,  giving  rise  to  acutely 
painful  spasms,  which  yield  to  the  action  of  opiates,  or 
passage  of  the  obstruction  to  the  bladder. 

Cystitis,  or  Liflammation  of  tlie  Bladder,  may  arise 
from  the  absorption  or  imprudent  use  of  turpentine, 
cantharides,  &c.,  internally.  Enlargement  of  the  pros- 
tate gland  by  disease  is  the  more  frequent  cause,  as  it 
obstructs  the  flow  of  urine  from  the  bladder.  Stricture 
of  the  urethra,  calculi,  and  parasites  act  similarly. 

Symptoms. — Extreme  uneasiness,  colic,  frequent  change 
of  place  and  position,  and  putting  the  nose  to  the  flanks, 
tenderness  of  the  abdomen  under  pressure  ;  fever  is  also 
present,  with  intense  thirst ;  the  hind  limbs  tremble, 
urine  is  voided  in  small  quantities  and  under  great  pain, 
the  bowels  are  costive,  and  vomition  usually  follows. 
Chronic  forms  greatly  resemble  the  state  of  nephritis. 

Treatment. — Hot  baths,  or  the  spongio-piline  poultice 
round  the  abdomen  and  loins,  with  opiates,  belladonna, 
(Sec,  internally  {see  Anodynes),  to  overcome  spasm  of 
the  urethra,  and  permit  the  flow  of  urine.  Warm  enemas 
are  useful.  Mucilage  containing  the  carbonate  of  potash 
for  drink.  Pass  the  catheter,  and  remove  urine.  Ex- 
plore for  calculus,  and  regulate  the  bowels  by  means  of 
a  laxative  dose  of  castor-oil  mixture. 


Diseases  of  the  Urinary  System.  207 

Calculus  in  the  Bladder  occurs  in  both  males  and 
females.  More  than  one  are  usually  present,  the  smallest 
being  passed  with  sandy  matter,  forming  one  of  the  best 
diagnostic  signs. 

Symptoms. — Cystitis  of  an  active  kind  is  present  in  the 
stages  of  early  formation,  but  as  the  calculi  increase  in 
size  and  number,  the  disease  assumes  the  chronic  form. 
The  urine  at  first  varies  in  colour  :  when  blood  is  present 
it  is  red,  otherwise  it  may  be  yellow,  from  the  accumula- 
tion of  crystals  deposited  from  the  urine.  Later  the  flow 
of  urine  becomes  more  or  less  constant,  but  of  uncertain 
quantity,  sometimes  suddenly  suppressed,  and  giving  rise 
to  severe  pain  internally,  while  externally  the  skin  is 
excoriated  and  tender  over  which  the  fluid  passes. 

Removal  of  the  Stone  by  Operation  is  only  possible  in 
very  large  animals,  and  in  them  it  is  attended  with  risk, 
from  the  tendency  to  peritonitis,  which  is  somewhat  easily 
produced  in  the  dog. 

Rupture  of  the  Bladder  follows  the  obstruction  of 
the  urethra  by  pressure  from  diseased  prostate  gland,  or 
small  calcuU  becoming  wedged  within  the  urethra. 

Symptoms. — The  urine  for  some  time  passes  only  in 
drops ;  the  animal  moves  very  little,  and  always  care- 
fully ;  shortly  the  signs  of  acute  inflammation  of  the 
bladder  set  in,  and  the  sufferer  soon  sinks,  and  dies 
without  excitement  or  struggle.  After  death  the  cavity 
of  the  abdomen  contains  blood  and  fluid,  the  peritoneum 
is  congested,  and  the  mucous  coat  of  the  bladder  is 
acutely  inflamed,  the  walls  being  torn  in  various  direc- 
tions. When  calculi  have  had  some  share  in  the  pro- 
duction of  these  states,  one  or  more  may  be  found  in 
the  abdominal  cavity. 

Diabetes,  or  profuse  urination.,  is  rarely  seen  in  the 
dog,  except  as  the  result  of  the  injudicious  use  of  large 
doses  of  diuretic  medicines.  The  habit  of  the  animal  to 
void  urine  repeatedly  on  being  liberated  for  a  run  is  due 
to  the  excitement  of  pleasure,  and  perfectly  natural.  It 
must  not,  therefore,  be  associated  with  probable  disease. 

Paralysis  of  the  Bladder  is  the  common  result  of 
continued   retention   of,  and  inordinate  distension  by, 


2o8  Diseases  of  the  Urinary  System. 

urine,  in  which  cases,  by  removal  of  the  direct  cause,  and 
absolute  rest,  the  organ  resumes  its  natural  contractile 
powers.  When  it  depends  upon  nervous  diseases,  injury 
to  the  spinal  cord,  apoplexy,  &c.,  the  inability  to  dis- 
charge the  contents  remains,  when  nerve  stimulants,  as 
strychnine,  or  probably  the  iodide  of  iron  may  be  useful. 
Removal  of  the  urine  may  also  be  required  at  stated  inter- 
vals, which  the  canine  practitioner  will  accomplish  by 
means  of  a  suitable  catheter.  Animals  suffering  from  any 
urinary  complaint  should  be  removed  to  the  surgeon's 
premises,  where  special  attention  can  be  bestowed. 

Disease  of  the  Prostate  is  common  in  the  dog.  It 
is  generally  a  disease  of  senility,  and  as  such  proves  in- 
curable. The  age  of  the  patient  renders  treatment 
undesirable  and  a  study  of  the  causes  will  confirm  the 
decision. 

Calculus,  or  Stone  in  the  Urethra,  as  a  rule, 
originates  in  the  bladder,  but  is  retained  in  its  passage 
from  that  organ,  and  becomes  the  source  of  irritation 
and  stoppage  of  urine.  In  some  instances  it  is  situate 
in  that  portion  of  the  canal  lying  within  the  pelvis,  when 
removal  can  only  be  effected  by  an  operation,  for  which 
the  canine  surgeon  alone  is  competent. 

Urethritis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Urethra,  in  its 
extended  form,  arises  from  participation  in  disease  of  the 
bladder,  prostate  gland,  &c.,  and  the  presence  of  calculus. 
Balanitis  consists  of  a  similar  state,  but  confined  to  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  prepuce  or  hood-shaped  covering 
at  the  free  extremity  of  the  penis ;  and  Posthitis,  or 
Inflammation  of  the  Mucous  Membrane,  investing  the 
glans  penis,  are  two  local  forms  of  urethritis  dependent 
upon  causes  acting  locally,  as  dirt,  debility,  want  of  exer- 
cise, overfeeding,  &c.,  and  is  common  to  pet  and  watch- 
dogs, and  others  affected  with  mange.  These  forms 
are  common  to  dogs  which  are  constantly  at  large, 
roaming  our  streets,  and  often  as  worthless  mongrels,  are 
the  progenitors  of  the  mongrel  race.  The  disgusting 
scenes  which  ensue  are  a  disgrace  to  our  local  forms  of 
government,  and  their  continuance  is  mainly  respon- 
sible for  the  perpetuation  of  rabies.    In  the  urethral  form 


Diseases  of  the  Urinary  System.  209 

the  glans  penis  is  swollen,  extruded,  and  mostly  erect,  a 
small  quantity  of  pustular  fluid  oozing  from  the  opening. 
Pain  is  evident  in  urination,  and  the  animal  constantly 
licks  the  exposed  member.  In  other  forms  of  the  dis- 
ease the  prepuce  is  swollen  and  covers  the  glans  penis, 
retaining  the  discharge  to  the  further  detriment  of  the 
organ,  but  allowing  a  portion  to  escape  and  accumulate 
in  drying  on  the  hairs  around  the  orifice.  By  external 
pressure,  which  the  animal  stoutly  resists,  a  large  quantity 
of  discharge  may  be  obtained,  sometimes  having  a  dis- 
agreeable odour;  and  not  uncommonly  the  diseased 
parts  are  invaded  by  abscesses  and  sinuses  to  a  serious 
extent. 

Treatment. — After  a  thorough  cleansing,  the  long  hairs 
should  be  removed  to  avoid  the  accumulation  of  dis- 
charge and  dirt,  the  dog  should  be  immersed  in  a  warm 
bath,  or  fomentations  may  be  locally  applied.  In  either 
case  care  must  be  exercised  in  order  to  dry  the  patient 
and  prevent  his  taking  cold.  Astringent  lotions  are  then 
needed,  or  the  "Sanitas"  mixtures  (.fe'*^' Antiseptics)  will 
be  highly  beneficial.  The  bowels  should  be  moved  by 
the  castor-oil  mixture,  and  tonics,  combined  with  muci- 
laginous fluids,  are  essential. 

Parasitic  Invasion  of  the  Urethra  is  on  record. 
In  an  instance  faUing  beneath  the  notice  of  M.  Seon,  the 
worm  was  believed  to  be  the  male  Eiistrongylus  gigas^ 
upwards  of  four  inches  long,  and  was  detected  during  an 
attack  of  urethral  irritation  and  paroxysmal  retention  of 
urine,  occupying  the  entire  length  of  the  urethra.  Removal 
of  the  parasite  afi"orded  instant  relief. 


1^ 


210         Diseases  of  the  Generative  System* 


CHAPTER  XV. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  GENERATIVE  SYSTEM. 

Male  Organs  :  Gonorrhoea— Imperforate  Prepuce— The  Penis— Amputation 
— Scrotal  Inflammation — Orchitis- Abscess  of  the  Testicles — Scirrhus. — 
Female  Organs  :  Metritis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Womb — Dropsy — 
Inversion,  or  Prolapsus — Hasmorrhage,  or  Flooding— Amputation — Tumours 
in  the  Vagina — Inversion,  or  Prolapsus — Amputation — Use  of  the  Catheter. 
— Diseases  of  the  Organs  of  Lactation  :  Retention  of  Milk— Mam- 
mitis,  or  Inflammation  of  the  Milk.  Gland — Malignant  Tumours— Warts— 
CEstrum  or  Heat — Parturition. 

Male  Organs. — Gonorrhcsa,  improperly  so-called  in 
the  dog,  has  been  already  described  in  the  chapter  on 
Diseases  of  the  Urinary  Organs,  under  the  term  Posthitis. 
The  affection  does  not  seem  to  arise  from  the  trans- 
mission of  contagious  principles  in  canine  animals,  as 
in  the  human  subject,  therefore,  the  latter  term  is  pre- 
ferable. 

Imperforate  Prepuce  occurs  as  a  congenital  mal- 
formation. The  patient  is  unable  to  void  urine  in 
consequence  of  the  penis  being  entirely  invested  by  the 
prepuce,  which  has  no  opening.  Retention  of  urine  gives 
rise  to  considerable  distress,  with  probable  swelUng  of  the 
prepuce  and  contiguous  parts  from  infiltration,  &c.,  of 
fluid.  Such  cases  should  receive  prompt  attention  from 
the  canine  surgeon,  who  will  secure  relief  by  an 
operation. 

The  penis  of  the  dog  is  subject  to  various  forms  of 
non-malignant  growths,  largely  composed  of  the  hyper- 
trophied  cells  common  to  the  epidermis,  &c.,  sometimes 
also  spreading  over  the  glands,  and  inner  as  well  as  the 
outer  surfaces  of  the  prepuce.  Such  Warts,  as  they  are 
commonly  designated,  may  be  small,  single,  hanging  by  a 
neck  or  cord,  or  otherwise  flattened  and  diffused,  formmg 
large  masses  of  a  spongy  and  irritable  nature,  liable  to 
bleed  or  discharge  a  thin,  watery  fluid.    The  necessary 


Diseases  of  the  Generative  System.         211 

ireaiment  consists  of  removal  by  amputation  with  knife  or 
scissors  when  suitable,  those  of  diffused  character  being 
freely  as  well  as  regularly  dressed  with  caustic  potash, 
nitrate  of  silver,  or  the  mineral  acids.  Acetic  acid  has, 
however,  special  preference.  Subsequently  great  care  is 
required  in  order  to  avoid  the  injury  of  adjacent  struc- 
tures, which  the  ignorant  in  these  essentials  are  apt  to 
ignore. 

Amputation  of  the  Penis  may  be  required  as  a 
result  of  the  consequences  just  referred  to,  or  by  reason 
of  abscess  from  neglected  warts,  cancer,  &c.,  an  operation 
calling  for  care  and  skill,  which  the  qualified  canine 
surgeon  only  can  be  expected  to  possess. 

Scrotal  Inflammation, — The  bag  or  covering  of  the 
testicles  is  liable  to  become  inflamed,  and  under  circum- 
stances of  neglect,  undue  plethora,  or  other  adverse  states 
of  the  system,  the  disease  is  aggravated,  and  the  tissues 
assume  a  hard,  leathery,  or  semi-cartilaginous  nature,  and 
if  wounded  or  abraided,  the  process  of  ulceration  is 
established,  and  a  condition  not  unlike  that  of  cancer  is 
the  inevitable  result  of  all  such  neglected  cases.  One  of 
the  early  causes  is  probably  excessive  copulation  in 
animals  of  a  senile  condition,  an  abnormal  congestion  of 
the  tissues  being  established.  The  scrotum  is  acutely 
reddened,  swollen,  and  sensible,  and  in  a  few  days  the 
surface  is  covered  with  pimples.  These  subsequently 
burst  and  discharge  a  thin  fluid,  which  accumulates,  and 
drying,  forms  a  thick  encrustation,  but  ultimately  falls  off 
and  exposes  an  acutely  inflamed  and  sensitive  surface 
beneath.  Further  neglect  ensures  rapid  ulceration,  con- 
tinued enlargement  with  malformation,  and  finally  drying, 
with  change  to  a  cartilaginous  state  of  the  whole  of  the 
scrotum ;  or  the  parts  may  remain  in  the  ulcerative 
condition  until  death  carries  off  the  patient. 

lyeatment. — Brisk  cathartics  to  open  the  bowels  at 
once,  with  one  to  four  or  five  leeches  to  the  inflamed 
scrotum,  and  after  the  lapse  of  twenty-four  hours  diligent 
bathing  with  hot  water  will  be  beneficial.  When  the 
pimples  have  formed  apply  frequently  glycerine,  to  which 
boracic  acid  is  added  in  the  proportion  of  ten  to  fifteen 


2 1 2  Diseases  of  t/ie  Generative  System. 

grains  to  the  ounce.  Internally,  use  the  iodide  of  potassium 
three  to  ten  grains  twice  daily.  When  ulceration  has  set 
in  use  lotions  of  alum,  zinc,  boracic  acid,  or  "  Sanitas  " 
Oil  in  glycerine.  Sometimes  the  knife  may  be  required 
to  remove  diseased  masses,  or  it  may  be  advisable  to 
amputate  completely  the  scrotum  and  testicles  with 
it,  for  which  the  canine  operating  surgeon  is  competent. 

Orchitis,  or  Liflamed  Testicle^  usually  arises  from  pres- 
sure, blows,  and  possibly  from  unusual  secretion  stimu- 
lated by  access  to  many  females,  or  repeated  stimulation 
without  actual  connection. 

Symptoms. — The  scrotum  is  full,  tense,  hot  and 
shining,  beneath  which  the  swollen  and  inflamed  testicles 
are  detected  by  the  fingers,  simple  pressure  causing 
acute  pain, 
widely  apart. 

Treatment. — Administer  a  brisk  cathartic,  and  apply 
leeches  as  desirable.  At  a  later  period  cold  applications, 
followed  by  iodide  of  potassium  internally. 

Abscess  of  the  Testicles  may  follow  orchitis,  for 
which  castration  may  be  necessary.  In  other  instances 
one  or  both  may  become  scirrhous,  and  therefore  useless, 
finally  wasting  considerably,  but  not  always  calling  for 
removal. 

Female  Organs. — Metritis,  or  Inflavwiation  of  the 
Womb.,  is  not  a  common  disease. 

Symptoms. — Acute  fever,  accompanied  by  an  inflamed 
condition  of  the  external  genitals,  from  which  a  purulent, 
as  well  as  fetid,  discharge  escapes.  Such  are  the  signs 
consequent  on  the  absurd  system  of  injecting  fluids 
within  the  uterus  and  vagina,  the  object  being  to  bring 
on  the  condition  termed  "heat."  The  disease  may 
follow  parturition,  when,  in  addition  to  the  above  signs, 
the  animal  becomes  acutely  sensitive  to  pressure  over 
the  abdomen.  Internally  the  finger  will  detect  intense 
heat  in  the  vagina  and  os  uteri.  Vomition,  with  great 
prostration  is  common,  but  the  creature  persists  in  sitting 
on  her  haunches  ;  later  the  discharge  proceeds  from  the 
vagina,  the  lips  of  which  are  tumefied,  projecting,  and 
hot,  states  which  are  aggravated  by  frequent  attempts  to 


Diseases  of  the  Generative  System.  213 

urinate.  When  the  disease  accompanies  parturition,  or 
sets  in  soon  after,  the  secretion  of  milk  is  usually  absent, 
and  the  disease  is  likely  to  be  associated  with  peritonitis. 

Treatment. — The  comfort  of  the  patient  must  be 
ensured  on  every  hand.  The  hot  spongio-piline 
poultice  is  indispensable  as  long  as  the  acute  symptoms 
remain.  Opium  (one  to  three  grains)  is  required  to  subdue 
the  pain,  with  which  extract  of  gentian  should  be  com- 
bined, or  a  few  drops  of  the  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia 
may  be  added  when  the  animal  is  prostrate.  The  dis- 
charge from  the  womb,  &c.,  may  be  promoted  by  warm 
enemas,  containing  ten  to  twenty  grains  of  boracic  acid, 
administered  with  great  care,  particularly  if  the  swelling 
of  the  passage  is  great. 

Dropsy  of  the  Womb,  technically  known  as  Hydrops 
Uteris  and  Hydro7netra^  is  often  associated  with  indi- 
gestion and  a  state  of  obesity,  especially  in  old  animals 
which  have  bred  largely,  and  indicate  suppression  or 
irregularity  of  the  oestrum. 

Symptoms. — Gradual  enlargement  of  the  abdomen, 
which  may  be  mistaken  for  pregnancy,  but  is  distin- 
guished by  the  elastic,  yielding  sensation  instead  of  the 
hard  masses  which  the  fcetal  bodies  present  to  the 
hands.  Somewhat  later  the  abdomen,  in  addition  to 
further  enlargement,  becomes  pendulous  and  heavy ;  the 
animal  is  excessively  thirsty,  feverish,  and  the  appetite 
is  very  poor  or  absent ;  weakness  and  emaciation  pro- 
ceed, and  at  length  she  dies  from  exhaustion,  when  the 
womb  is  discovered  to  be  charged  with  fluid,  sometimes 
mere  serum,  or  at  others  white  and  thick,  from  the 
admixture  of  cells  derived  from  the  lining  membrane  of 
the  organ. 

Treatment  should  be  instituted  early.  When  it  is 
decided  the  fluid  is  the  cause  of  the  distension,  it  should 
be  drawn  off  by  means  of  the  catheter  passed  through 
the  contracted  mouth  of  the  womb,  followed  by  regular 
washings  with  a  solution  of  chloride  of  zinc  (three  grains 
to  the  ounce  of  water),  the  strength  being  supported  by 
the  regular  administration  of  tonics,  as  iron,  with 
gentian. 


214         Diseases  of  the  Generative  System. 

Inversion,  or  Prolapsus  of  the  Uterus,  is  not 
infrequent,  in  the  partial  form,  but  protrusion  of  the  entire 
organ  rarely  occurs.  It  constitutes  one  of  the  serious 
accidents  of  parturition,  being  dependent  on  causes 
which  lead  to  violent  straining  during  the  act,  such  as 
improper  traction,  irritation  of  the  organ,  as  wounds, 
bruises,  (S:c.  It  may  be  mistaken  for  polypus,  and  also 
inversion  of  the  vagina  only. 

Hemorrhage,  or  Flooding,  after  parturition  is  not 
common  in  female  dogs.  If  it  should  arise  the  womb  may- 
be stimulated  to  contraction  by  an  astringent  injection  of 
one  or  two  pints  of  cold  water  containing  two  or  four 
drachms  of  tincture  of  oak  galls. 

Amputation  of  the  V/omb  may  be  called  for  by 
reason  of  injury,  or  threatened  mortification,  &c.  It 
has  been  successfully  performed  by  qualified  canine 
surgeons,  the  animals  making  good  recovery.  It  is, 
however,  a  formidable  operation,  should  be  undertaken 
only  after  grave  consideration,  and  by  skilful  hands. 

Tumours  in  the  Vagina  or  birth  passage  are  not 
uncommon,  sometimes  proving  troublesome,  and  even 
serious.  They  occur  in  sizes  varying  from  small  warty 
excrescences  to  large  developments  capable  of  obstruct- 
ing the  passage  entirel)'.  Polypus  is  the  most  common, 
being  a  smooth,  vascular  body,  covered  by  the  mucous 
membrane,  and  attached  by  a  constricted  neck,  or  pediclcj 
to  the  wall  of  the  vagina,  or  womb.  Care  is  especially 
needed  in  order  that  the  growth  may  not  be  mistaken 
for  inverted  womb  or  vagina.  Removal  may  be  effected 
in  one  of  several  ways,  as  the  situation  or  other  circum- 
stances may  direct — viz.,  ligature  applied  to  the  neck, 
wh'ch,  causing  death  of  the  tumour,  leads  to  its  final 
removal ;  twisting  of  the  neck  is  another  form  of  strangu- 
lation, and  attended  with  removal  by  severing  the  attach- 
ment ;  the  tumour  may  be  torn  away  when  the  neck  is 
small )  or  by  means  of  a  suitable  instrument,  named  the 
ecraseur,  the  neck  is  compressed  and  partially  sawn 
through,  a  safe  preventive  of  subsequent  haemorrhage. 
Tumours  having  a  large  base  or  diffused  growth  and 
attachment,  will    require   the   constant    application    of 


Diseases  of  the  Generative  System.         2  i  ^ 

caustics,  the  patient  being  meanwhile  supported  by  good 
food  and  tonic  medicines. 

Inversion  or  Prolapsus  of  the  Vagina  occurs  in 
aged  or  debiUtated  animals  during  "  heat,"  and  after 
frequent  pregnancy,  especially  in  those  of  the  "  bull " 
breed.  Protrusion  appears  in  various  stages  as  a  smooth, 
soft  tumour,  between  the  lips  of  the  vagina,  when  careful 
distinction  must  be  made,  the  appearances  being  liable 
to  be  confounded  with  tumour,  or  inversion  of  the  womb 
(which  see). 

Treatment  consists  of  first  clearing  the  organ  from 
extraneous  matters,  and  noting  the  existence  of  abrasions, 
&c.,  by  the  animal's  movements,  or  sitting  on  it ;  after 
which  it  must  be  returned  as  described  under  Inversion 
of  the  Womb,  its  retention  being  also  secured  by  the 
injection  of  astringents,  as  there  detailed. 

Amputation  of  the  Vagina  is  resorted  to  in  cases 
where  the  organ  has  received  severe  injuries,  &c.,  for 
which  the  canine  surgeon  will  be  required. 

The  Use  of  the  Catheter  is  often  called  for  in  the 
female  during  pregnancy,  and  prolapsus,  polypus,  &c., 
of  the  vagina,  the  act  of  urination  being  interfered 
with  by  pressure  or  change  of  position  in  the  organs. 
The  passage  to  the  bladder  is  situated  within  the  vagina, 
distant  from  half  an  inch  to  two  inches,  depending  on 
the  size  of  the  animal,  and  is  easily  reached  by  first 
opening  the  lips  by  the  finger  of  the  left  hand,  and  pass- 
ing the  tube  carefully  forwards  along  the  floor.  Entrance 
to  the  bladder  is  denoted  by  the  stream  of  urine  which 
flows  through  the  tube. 

Diseases  of  the  Organs  of  Lactation. — Reten- 
tion of  Milk. — The  process  of  milk  secretion  in  its 
ordinary  course,  is  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  period  of 
parturition.  The  mammarv  glands,  of  which  there  are 
eight  or  ten,  become  cha  ged  with  blood,  and  are  per- 
ceptibly enlarged,  extending  from  the  breast  backwards 
to  the  space  between  the  thighs.  Subsequently,  near  the 
time  of  delivery,  milk  is  actually  secreted  in  readiness 
for  the  young  family  shortly  requiring  it.  Possibly  the 
secretion  may  be  somewhat  in  advance  of  birth,  over- 


2i6         Diseases  of  the  Generative  System. 

abundant,  or  the  pups  being  small  in  number,  do  not 
drain  the  whole  of  the  teats  ;  sometimes  also  several  teats 
are  rejected,  although  there  are  sufficient  young  to  drain 
the  whole.  There  are  also  additional  causes,  as  cold, 
damp  quarters  and  unsuitable  food,  which  by  setting  up 
disorder  of  digestion,  seriously  alter  the  quality  of  the 
secretion,  probably  also  its  constitution,  when  its  undue 
retention  becomes  an  additional  source  of  irritation  and 
disorder,  the  end  of  which  is  inflammation.  To  prevent 
this  early  attention  should  be  given  to  the  animal,  the 
overcharged  glands  being  relieved  by  removal  of  the  milk, 
as  the  teats  are  carefully  drawn,  pressure  commencing 
from  above  and  continued  downwards  to  the  apex. 

Mammitis,  or  Inflammatio7i  of  the  Milk  Gland^  arises 
from  injuries,  retention  of  milk,  and  exposure  to  cold, 
damp,  &:c.,  during  lactation.  Whatever  tends  to  arrest 
the  process  also  disorders  the  secretion,  which  curdles, 
forming  hard  masses  composed  chiefly  of  caseine,  of 
which  the  milk  of  canine  animals  contains  a  considerable 
quantity. 

Symptoms, — Febrile  disturbance  is  severe  from  the 
outset  to  the  end  of  the  disease  ;  the  affected  glands  being 
red,  hot,  hard,  and  excessively  painful.  The  milk  when 
pressed  out  contains  clots,  and  later  is  mixed  with  blood, 
subsequently  pus,  when  the  milk  disappears.  An  abscess 
forms  in  the  part  most  actively  inflamed,  and  in  some 
cases  involves  every  section  of  the  gland,  terminating  in 
lacteal  fistidcE^  openings  or  sinuses  which  refuse  to  heal, 
constantly  discharging  a  mixture  of  pus,  blood,  milk,  &c. 
The  terminations  are  induration  and  functional  destruc- 
tion of  the  gland,  probably  causing  death  of  the  sufferer. 

Treat^nent. — Bleeding  by  leeches  in  the  early  stages, 
followed  by  a  saline  aperient  and  the  hot  spongio-piline 
poultice  diligently  applied  for  hours.  Perfect  quiet  must  be 
maintained,  with  fresh  air  and  a  comfortable  bed.  The 
pups  should  be  encouraged  to  suck,  or  in  case  of  their 
death,  the  gland  must  be  drawn  frequently  in  order  to 
avoid  abscess.  Injection  within  the  gland  of  a  solution 
of  carbonate  of  potash  is  highly  useful,  but  is  a  somewhat 
diflicult  task  for  amateurs  minus  a  proper  syringe.     Some 


Diseases  of  the  Gcncraiive  System.         217 

good  may  be  effected  by  administering  the  solution  by  the 
mouth.  Open  abscesses  as  soon  as  pointing  is  present, 
observe  cleanliness,  and  use  the  "  Sanitas "  Antiseptic 
Mixture  as  a  dressing. 

The  disease  is  apt  to  assume  the  chronic  form  when 
the  ordinary  substance  of  the  gland  becomes  indurated, 
or  hard,  having  a  gristly  constitution.  Some  cases  also 
assume  the  cancerous  state.  Induration  must  be  met  by 
outward  application  of  iodine  ointment,  or  the  gland  may 
be  painted  by  the  tincture.  Hand  friction  is  also  useful. 
AVhen  the  enlargement  is  considerable  the  weighty  parts 
may  be  suspended  in  a  bandage  passed  round  the  back. 

Malignant  or  Lacteal  Tumours  are  the  result  of 
injury  to  the  gland  inflicted  by  the  pups  in  suckling,  or 
by  human  violence.  They  are  characterised  by  enormous 
and  rapid  growth,  and  their  disposition  to  ulceration 
from  even  slight  bruises  or  other  forms  of  simple  injury. 
Treaimcfit  by  excision  under  chloroform  is  the  only 
effectual  course,  although  specially  severe,  as  the  whole 
of  the  affected  section  of  the  gland  must  be  removed. 

Warts  are  also  common  to  the  milk-gland,  being  con- 
fined to  the  skin  as  a  rule,  and  are  neither  malignant  nor 
extensive.     {See  Skin  Diseases.) 

Parturition. — We  have  now  to  notice  certain  condi- 
tions relating  especially  to  the  female  of  the  canine  race, 
which  are  of  essential  importance  with  reference  to 
breeding. 

CEstrum  or  Heat  is  purely  a  physiological  condition 
of  the  system,  manifested  by  signs  indicative  of  desire  for 
connection  with  the  male.  Its  occurrence  and  duration 
varies  with  climate  and  other  conditions,  as  health,  &c. 
Spring  and  autumn  are  the  seasons  in  which  it  is  seen  in 
this  country,  the  manifestations  being  excitability,  unusual 
liveliness,  desire  for  the  company  of  males,  with  whom  the 
bitch  is  playful.  For  this  she  will  steal  away,  if  unob- 
served, frequently  preferring  the  attentions  of  a  number  of 
the  ugliest  curs,  and  if  allowed  full  liberty,  her  progeny  will, 
as  a  natural  consequence,  be  a  mixture  of  breeds.  The 
greatest  watchfulness  is,  therefore,  needed  at  such  times 
if  purity  is  desired.     From  the  same  cause  also  super- 


2i8         Diseases  of  t lie  Generative  Systeuu 

fiviation  is  common,  the  animal  '•'  throwing  "  or  giving  birth 
to  pups  at  intervals  of  two,  three,  four,  or  even  seven 
days,  each  bearing  unmistakable  evidences  of  separate 
parentage.  Epileptic  fits  occur  in  some  animals  during 
the  prevalence  of  oestrum,  but  subside  with  the  attendant 
excitement  and  as  impregnation  proceeds.  It  is  also 
remarkable  in  closely  kept  and  unimpregnated  animals, 
that  after  the  subsidence  of  the  venereal  excitement,  say 
from  the  fortieth  to  the  sixtieth  day,  they  behave  as 
though  they  were  pregnant  and  about  to  give  birth ; 
they  make  their  bed,  are  uneasy,  constantly  moving  about, 
&c.,  while  the  mammary  glands  appear  swollen,  the  vulva 
is  dilated,  and  the  lining  membrane  is  reddened,  a  dis- 
charge of  viscid  mucus  escaping  from  the  passage.  Milk 
is  also  obtained  from  the  teats,  and  such  animals  have 
been  known  to  rear  the  puppies  of  other  females  as 
tenderly  as  those  of  her  own  body.  Pregnajicy  is  usually 
detectable  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  week,  by  exploration 
of  the  abdomen.  At  this  period  the  teats  enlarge,  the 
abdomen  becomes  round  and  drooping,  and  by  succes- 
sive stages  the  signs  are  more  pronounced ;  when  at  the 
end  of  about  the  ninth  week,  or  within  a  period  of  from 
fifty-five  to  seventy  days,  delivery  is  effected.  Meanwhile 
the  signs  already  alluded  to  are  present  as  conducive  to 
the  process. 

Parturition  usually  takes  place  as  the  creature  lies 
upon  her  side,  the  process  extending  over  variable  time, 
and  is  attended  by  severe  muscular^throes  which  cause  the 
sufferer  to  cry  piteously.  Owing  to  the  cartilaginous  con- 
dition of  the  bony  framework,  the  pups  are  exceedingly 
elastic  and  yielding,  a  state  often  highly  conducive  to 
delivery  in  malposition,  which  however  is  somewhat  rare  in 
this  animal.  When  such  occurs  it  may  be  usually  traced  to 
the  mother  being  served  by  animals  of  larger  breed  than 
herself,  or  when  she  exhibits  the  tendency  of  "  throwing 
back,"  that  is,  giving  birth  to  pups  which  resemble  former 
sires.  Untimely  and  persistent  interference  during  par- 
turition is  often  attended  with  fatal  results.  Canine 
patients  possess  an  exceedingly  nervous  temperament, 
and    more   than   actual   assistance   is  baneful.     Simple 


Diseases  of  the  Generative  System.         2I9 

exploration  with  the  forefinger  well  oiled,  will  usually 
suffice  to  indicate  the  state  of  aflairs ;  more  than  this 
will  often  induce  severe  fever,  and  interruption  to  the 
natural  process.  Removal  of  faeces  and  urine  by 
assisted  means,  or  the  use  of  a  warm  enema,  may 
conduce  to  a  more  favourable  state  by  affording  room 
for  the  fcetus.  As  a  rule,  direct  interference  for  the 
removal  of  the  pups  is  not  called  for ;  when  it  otherwise 
happens,  the  services  of  an  experienced  canine  surgeon 
should  be  secured,  especially  when  the  sufferer  is 
valuable.  Abnormal  positio7is^  as  a  rule,  occur  when  the 
pup  approaches  the  vaginal  passage,  where  its  progress  is 
impeded  by  various  causes,  but  finally  yields  to  the 
application  of  various  forms  of  traction.  This  should  be 
always  and  only  exerted  during  the  natural  throes, 
otherwise  the  strength  of  the  patient  may  be  exhausted. 
The  presentation  of  one  forefoot  only,  when  the  head  is 
properly  placed  may  not  prevent  delivery,  providing 
good  hold  is  obtained.  Unusually  large  heads  sometimes 
prove  insurmountable,  and  such  call  for  reduction  before 
delivery  can  be  effected.  As  traction  agents,  a  piece  of 
tape,  or  small  cord,  a  loop  of  wire,  &c.,  have 
frequently  done  good  service  in  the  absence  of  direct 
suitable  instruments;  but  the  canine  surgeon  has  his 
repertoire  from  which  he  can  make  useful  selection. 

After-treatme?it  of  the  Patient  consists  of  careful 
feeding,  avoidance  of  excess  or  deficiency,  good  beds, 
comfortable  quarters,  (Sec,  above  all  taking  care  that  the 
mother  has  no  more  pups  than  she  can  properly  find 
milk  for.  Any  excess  of  these  should  be  suckled  by  a 
foster-mother.  But  this  requires  great  care,  otherwise 
the  milk  so  conveyed  may  contain  the  seeds  of  some 
constitutional  taint,  by  which  the  hopes  of  the  owner 
may  be  grievously  frustrated.  Should  any  objection  be 
made  by  the  foster-mother  towards  the  stranger,  it  is  a 
common  practice  to  remove  her  own  pups  temporarily, 
and  present  the  stranger  over  which  her  milk  has  been 
sprinkled.  It  also  happens  occasionally  that  the  natural 
mother  will  devour  the  foetal  membranes  or  "  cleansing," 
so-called,  and  the  morbid  appetite  may  also  extend  to 


220  Diseases  of  the  Eyes  a? id  Ears. 

her  pups.  Such  animals  repeat  the  vice  at  each  parturi- 
tion, the  cause  being  assigned  to  a  disordered  digestion. 
If  this  be  correct,  the  exhibition  of  a  cathartic  will  be  of 
service,  and  she  should  be  zealously  watched,  but  kept 
as  quiet  as  possible. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  EYES  AND  EARS. 

Organs  of  Vision  :  Simple  Ophthalmia,  or  Conjunctivitis — Cataract — Iritis— 
Amaurosis,  or  Gutta  Serena — Staphyloma — Hydrophthalmia^Distension, 
and  Dislocation  of  the  Eyeball— Tumour  of  the  Haw— Dermatoid  Con- 
junctiva—Ulceration of  the  Eyelids — Ectropion — Entropion— Watery  Eyes. 
Organs  of  Hearing:  Otitis  —  Internal  Canker  —  External  Canker  — 
Abscess  of  the  Ear-flap,  or  Blood  Abscess — Polypi,  or  Tumours  within 
the  Ear — Squamula,  or  Scurfiness  of  the  Ear-flap— Ticks — Mange  of  the 
Ear. 

Organs  of  Vision. — Simple  Ophthalmia,  commonly 
known  as  Conjunctivitis,  or  inflammation  of  the  investing 
membrane,  the  conjunctiva,  arises  from  external  injury, 
as  blows,  stings,  insinuation  of  foreign  bodies,  cold 
winds,  foul  emanations  in  the  kennel,  and  a  chronic  form 
is  apt  to  arise  from  mal-nutrition  dependent  on  disordered 
stomach  and  digestion ;  it  is  also  an  accompaniment  of 
distemper. 

Symptoms. — Intolerance  of  light,  closed  eyelids,  from 
which  flows  an  abundant  watery  secretion.  On  separation 
of  the  lids,  which  the  sufferer  strenuously  opposes,  the 
membranes  are  observed  to  be  highly  injected,  and  the 
organ  is  susceptible  to  pressure  or  light.  Unless  the 
disease  is  speedily  arrested,  permanent  blindness  by 
destruction  of  the  organ  is  certain. 

Treatment. — Carefully  remove  all  foreign  substances 
when  present.  Avoid  the  stimulus  of  light  by  placing 
the  patient  in  a  darkened  room,  allowing  ample  fresh  air. 
Cover  the  affected  member  with  the  hot  spongio-piline 


Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears.  22  r 

poultice,  and  administer  a  mild  aperient.  Ordinary 
cases  readily  yield  to  this  treatment.  Severe  forms  call 
for  the  application  of  leeches,  the  spongio-piline,  first 
soaked  in  a  hot  infusion  of  poppy-heads,  or  it  may  be 
saturated  with  hot  water,  pressed  out,  and  a  few  drops  of 
laudanum  poured  on.  The  cathartic  also  must  not  be 
omitted.  Chronic  cases  are  denoted  by  watery  eyes, 
opacity  of  the  eyeball,  and  red  membranes.  Such  call 
for  the  use  of  astringent  lotions  of  zinc  or  nitrate  of 
silver.  Paint  the  eyelids  outwardly  with  iodine,  and 
intermediately  use  cold  water  applications.  Some  prac- 
titioners place  a  seton  behind  the  poll.  When  ulceration 
of  the  cornea  is  present,  blow  upon  the  spot  a  little  dry 
Oxide  of  zinc,  and  repeat  daily  as  required.  Total  loss 
of  vision  in  these  cases  results  from  implication  of  the 
humours  as  well  as  the  deeper-seated  tissues  of  the  eye- 
ball. 

Cataract. — Several  forms  of  this  affection  are  observed. 
It  consists  of  the  opaque  deposit  of  inflammation  more 
or  less  interfering  with  the  transparency  of  the  optical 
tissues,  of  the  lens,  and  occurs  in  three  forms,  viz., 
lenticular,  or  opacity  of  the  lens ;  capsular,  opacity  of 
the  capsule  of  the  lens,  and  capsulo-lenticular,  signifying 
that  both  the  lens  and  its  capsule  are  involved.  Cataract 
may  be  peripheral  or  central,  limited  or  diffused,  and  on 
these  peculiarities  depend  the  interference  or  otherwise 
with  the  vision.  Cataract  is  common  to  old  dogs,  but  it 
may  occur  at  any  age.  The  first  is  due  to  want  of 
t-itality ;  the  second  arises  from  causes  inducing  inflam- 
mation. 

Symptoms. — Defective  vision,  or  absolute  blindness  in 
proportion  to  the  position  and  extent  of  the  cataract. 
On  examination  of  the  eye,  an  opaque  speck,  or  body,  of 
variable  size  is  seen  through  the  pupil  by  daylight,  or 
better  in  a  dark  place  by  the  aid  of  a  lighted  candle. 

Treatme?it. — Recent  cases  in  suitable  subjects  may  be 
benefited  by  an  operation  for  which  special  talent  is 
required.     Few  dogs  are  worth  the  expense. 

Iritis. — Inflammation  of  the  iris,  or  circular  membrane 
of. the  eye,  is  the  result  of  injury,  or  the  membrane  is 


222  Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears, 

involved  in   the  inflammation   in   common   with   other 
tissues  of  the  organ. 

Symptoms. — The  colour  of  the  iris  is  changed  to  a 
reddish  brown,  by  the  presence  of  blood  and  the 
bringing  into  view  blood-vessels  not  discernible  in  the 
healthy  state,  and  the  colour  spreads  also  beyond  the 
circle  of  the  cornea.  The  patient  cannot  bear  the  light, 
and  to  shut  it  out  the  pupil  contracts,  and  is  more  or 
less  immovable  by  reason  of  the  inflamed  condition  of 
the  structures.  The  unopposed  progress  of  the  disease 
leads  to  extravasation  of  blood,  deposit  of  opaque  lymph, 
possibly  the  formation  of  pus,  and  total  destruction  of 
the  organ  as  far  as  vision  is  concerned. 

Treatment. — Local  bloodletting  by  lancet  or  leeches  ; 
hot  fomentations ;  secure  free  action  of  the  bowels,  the 
patient  being'kept  in  a  dark,  but  airy  room.  Considerable 
ifever  is  usually  present,  which  must  be  met  by  febrifuges  ; 
and  when  it  has  subsided  daily  doses  of  iodide  of 
potassium  with  extract  of  gentian  may  be  given  to 
remove  the  deposit  of  inflammation.  A  seton  behind 
the  head  is  often  beneficial. 

Amaurosis,  or  Gutta  Serena,  also  known  as  Glass 
Eye,  is  a  serious  impairment  of  vision,  due  to  disordered, 
if  not  structural,  changes  in  the  condition  of  the  optic 
nerve,  retina,  or  brain,  the  result  of  violent  shocks,  as 
falls,  blows,  &c.  The  first  effect  is  probably  paralysis, 
or  inflammation  accompanied  with  extravasation  of  blood, 
lymph  deposits,  or  formation  of  tumour,  with  ultimate 
suspension  or  total  loss  of  nerve  power.  The  disease 
may  be  associated  with  extreme  debility,  the  result  of 
ancemia,  hsemorrhage,  inordinate  lactation,  or  other 
causes. 

Symptoms. — Defective  vision,  in  some  instances  de- 
veloping slowly,  and  in  otliers  very  suddenly.  In  the 
first  instance  the  animal  fails  to  see  objects  until  he  is 
close  upon  them,  and  in  the  latter  he  approaches  with 
great  caution  and  uncertainty,  usually  relying  on  his 
acute  sense  of  smell  as  he  moves  about  alone.  Ulti- 
mately the  power  of  vision  is  entirely  absent.  Any  signs 
of  unusual  heat,  pain,  or  redness  of  the  eyes,  or  cloudi- 


Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears.  223 

ness  of  the  pupil,  which  may  have  been  observed  in  the 
early  stages,  have  now  passed  away.  The  pupil  is  dilated, 
the  eyelids  are  also  widely  apart,  the  strongest  light  may 
be  thrown  upon  the  organ,  but  it  remains  motionless, 
bright,  clear,  and  reflecting  from  the  posterior  surface  of 
the  rays  as  they  fall  upon  it.  Only  one  eye  may  be 
affected  at  the  outset,  but  as  a  rule  both  become  diseased 
eventually.  Generally  both  are  implicated  from  the 
beginning. 

Treatment  is  most  unsatisfactory,  except  in  very  slight 
cases,  and  when  the  disease  has  been  attacked  in  the 
earliest  stages.  The  approved  remedies  are  blisters  or 
setons  behind  the  head ;  the  former  may  be  rubbed  in 
around  the  orbits,  or  strong  ointment  or  liniment  of 
iodine  may  be  substituted.  As  the  nervous  system  is 
greatly  at  fault,  nux  vomica  or  strychnine  may  prove 
useful,  in  conjunction  with  nutritious  and  easily  digested 
food,  fresh  air,  and  other  stimuli  of  healthy  function. 

Staphyloma,  so-called  from  its  resemblance  to  a  grape, 
is  the  result  of  ulceration  of  the  cornea,  an  accompani- 
ment of  simple  ophthalmia  associated  with  distemper.  A 
circular  depression  on  the  outer  surface  is  first  formed, 
and  shortly,  as  a  result  of  pressure  from  within,  the  in- 
ternal membrane  is  pushed  forwards,  assuming  a  conical 
form,  opaque  from  infiltration,  and  often  very  irritable. 
When  it  is  associated  with  escape  of  the  aqueous  humour 
and  subsequent  granulation  and  disease  of  the  eyeball,  the 
latter  may  call  for  extirpation.  Simple  staphyloma  may, 
however,  yield  to  the  action  of  astringents,  as  nitrate  of 
silver;  sometimes  opacity  of  a  permanent  character 
remains. 

Hydr ophthalmia,  or  Dropsy  of  the  Aqueous  Chamber^ 
is  usually  confined  to  one  organ,  the  cause  being  direct 
injury.  When  the  disease  is  congenital,  both  eyes  may 
be  involved. 

Symptoms. — The  eyeball  is  prominent,  enlarged,  and 
protrudes  from  the  orbit ;  it  is  also  tense  and  unyielding 
beneath  the  fingers.  The  cornea  is  opaque,  and  presents 
a  dull  appearance  from  infiltration  of  fluid,  the  pupil  is 
stationary  and  the   vision   impaired,  if  not  lost.     The 


224  Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears. 

disease  may  originate  in  the  anterior  chamber,  but  as  a 
rule  both  eventually  suffer. 

Treatmoit  consists  of  draining  off  the  fluid  by  means 
of  the  trocar  and  cannula,  at  various  intervals,  followed 
by  the  application  of  cold  water,  or  astringent  and 
evaporating  lotions. 

Distension  of  the  Eyeball  from  extravasation  of 
blood  and  serous  effusion  as  the  result  of  direct  injury, 
was  successfully  treated  by  Blaine,  evacuation  being 
secured  by  means  of  a  couching  needle.  He  proposed 
to  consider  such  states  as  traumatic  dropsy. 

Dislocation  of  the  Eyeball  is  common  to  small 
animals  having  large  and  prominent  organs,  being  caused 
by  injuries  from  other  dogs  in  combat,  or  by  the  claws 
of  a  cat. 

Treatment  is  by  operation,  which  must  be  performed 
by  the  practised  canine  surgeon. 

Tumour  and  Enlargement  of  the  Haw,  or  Car- 
iilago  Nictitans. — The  formation  of  tumour  may  find 
attachment  to  the  substance  of  the  cartilage,  interfering 
greatly  with  vision,  and  producing  a  copious  flow  of  tears 
known  as  watery  eye.  They  are  caused  by  various  forms 
of  irritation,  and  are  also  congenital.  Removal  by  knife 
or  scissors  is  the  only  effectual  plan. 

Enlargement  is  caused  by  cold,  injuries^  irritation, 
&c.,  or  it  may  be  congenital,  inducing  pain,  becoming 
acutely  inflamed,  and  producing  abundant  lachrymation. 
Treatment  consists  of  scarifications  to  the  membrane, 
followed  by  hot  fomentations,  or  the  spongio-piHne 
poultice,  aided  by  a  laxative  internally.  Subsequently, 
astringent  lotions  to  the  aftected  parts.  Complete  ampu- 
tation may  be  called  for. 

Dermatoid  Conjunctiva. — This  is  usually  a  con- 
genital defect.  A  portion  of  the  conjunctival  membrane 
covering  the  eyeball  is  thickened,  and  organised  similar 
to  the  skin,  bearing  a  tuft  of  strong  hairs.  Early  atten- 
tion is  called  to  the  defect  by  a  profuse  lachrymation  and 
inconvenience,  amounting  to  opacity  of  the  eyeball  with 
absolute    loss    of  vision.     The  tuft,  together  with    the 


Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears.  225 

thickened  membrane,  should  be  subjected  to  complete 
extirpation  with  the  knife. 

Ulceration  of  the  Eyelids  is  a  frequent  accompani- 
ment of  mange,  but  more  frequently  arises  from  persistent 
scratching  the  parts  with  the  feet,  when  the  eyes  are 
*'  watery."  It  is  attended  by  swelling,  with  loss  of  hair 
and  the  formation  of  numerous  small  sinuses.  The  best 
application  is  the  ointment  of  nitrate  of  mercury,  the 
animal  being  secured  against  injuring  the  parts. 

Ectropion,  or  Eversio7i  of  the  Eyelids,  consists  of  a 
turning  outwards  of  the  extreme  edges,  w^ith  exposition 
and  bulging  of  the  conjunctival  membrane.  It  is  rare  in 
the  dog. 

'En.tvo^ion  is  the  reverse  of  Ecfropio7i.  The  edges  of 
the  lids  curl  inwards,  the  eyelashes  creating  continued 
painful  irritation  of  the  eyeball. 

Watery  Eyes  are  the  result  of  the  latter  malforma- 
tion, which  leads  the  dog  to  scratch  with  his  hind  feet, 
and  commit  serious  injury  to  the  parts. 

Treat?ne?it  consists  of  a  surgical  operation,  by  which 
an  eliptical  portion  of  the  lid  is  removed  from  the  skin, 
and  the  parts  are  drawn  together  and  maintained  by 
sutures.  Healing  of  the  wound  causes  shortening  of  the 
lid,  and  consequent  removal  of  the  lashes  from  contact 
with  the  eyeball. 

In  ectropion  excision  of  the  internal  or  lining  membrane 
is  effected,  and  this  brings  the  eyelid  into  close  apposi- 
tion with  the  surface  of  the  eyeball. 

Organs  of  Hearing. — Otitis. — Inflammation  of  the 
internal  structures  of  the  ear,  although  in  common  with 
other  affections  of  the  organ,  is  not  so  frequent  as 
formerly,  yet  it  is  by  no  means  rare.  It  may  be  justly 
termed  the  precursor  of  canker,  having  its  origin  in  the 
same  conditions,  being  an  irritable  state  of  the  local 
nerves,  evinced  by  pain  and  high  vascularity  of  the 
internal  organs. 

Symptoms. — The  head  is  carried  towards  one  side,  and 
the  feet  are  often  used  to  scratch  the  ear  on  the  affected 
side,  or  he  rubs  it  on  the  ground,  against  the  wall,  and 
other  stationary  objects.     He  also  suddenly  shakes  the 

15 


226  Diseases  of  the  Ears  and  Ears. 

I 

head,  and  flaps  the  ears  with  violence,  as  the  paroxysms 
of  pain  occur.  The  roots  of  the  ears  are  hot  and  painful 
in  the  acute  stages,  and  the  patient  is  feverish  ;  occasion- 
ally also  some  amount  of  brain  disturbance  is  evident 
in  the  appearance  of  signs  not  unlike  those  of  epilepsy  in 
more  advanced  cases  {see  Mange  of  the  Ear),  having 
their  origin  in  disease  of  the  internal  osseous  structures. 
Simple  cases  have  been  known  to  be  frequently  rendered 
formidable  by  the  use  of  improper  remedies,  especially 
caustics,  one  of  the  most  common  results  being  deafness^ 
which  is  also  a  sequel  of  internal  canker  and  absurd 
mutilation  of  the  ears.  The  needful  remedies  for  otitis 
will  be  detailed  under. 

Internal  Canker,  which  may  be  defined  as  an  acute 
inflammation  of  the  skin  which  forms  at  the  inner  lining 
of  the  external  ear.  In  long-standing  cases,  the  disease 
is  associated  with  External  Canker  (which  see).  The 
early  forms  of  derangement  consist  of  swelling  of  the 
skin,  with  blocking  of  the  natural  opening,  by  which  the 
secretion  of  the  ceruminous  glands  is  retained,  creating 
pain  and  irritation,  especially  from  its  liability  to  undergo 
decomposition,  forming  at  first  a  red,  but  soon  changing 
to  a  black,  and  offensive  matter  which  oozes  from  the 
canal.  The  discharge  also  dries  on  the  surface  of  the 
ears,  induces  ulceration,  the  formation  of  abscess  and 
discharge  of  pus.  Cases  aggravated  by  neglect  exhibit 
the  formation  of  fungoid  tumours,  which  block  up  the 
passage,  and  discharge  matter  which  accumulates  among 
the  hair,  and  creating  irritation,  induces  the  formation 
of  ulcers  over  the  entire  face.  Canker  is  especially  a 
disease  common  to  dogs  with  long  hair.  The  Causes 
are,  accumulation  of  dirt  and  cerumen  in  the  ear,  or,  in 
water  dogs,  the  entrance  of  water,  producing  irritant  and 
cooling  effects,  disturbing  the  circulation  as  well  as  the 
nervous  power.  Thus  soapsuds  carelessly  allowed  to 
enter  during  washing  have  a  similar  effect.  Dogs  suffer- 
ing from  mange  are  liable  to  canker  from  extension  of 
the  irritation  to  the  organ.  External  canker  is  also  a 
further  complication. 

Treatment  comprises  perfect  quiet,  keeping  the  animal 


Diseases  of  the  Eyes  and  Ears,  227 

from  entering  the  water,  absolute  cleanliness  of  the  ears, 
with  repeated  application  of  suitable  remedies,  and, 
meanwhile,  securing  the  ears  from  damage  by  flapping 
by  means  of  a  suitable  cap  or  bandage.  Diligent  atten- 
tion only  will  be  rewarded  by  improvement  and  cure. 
The  best  applications  are  the  ointments  of  carbonate  or 
oxide  of  zinc,  applied  once  or  even  twice  a  day,  after 
the  ears  have  been  carefully  syringed,  or  "  mopped  out " 
by  means  of  a  small  piece  of  sponge  on  the  end  of  a 
stick,  "  Sanitas  "  Fluid  forming  an  admirable  agent  for 
purifying  and  stimulating  the  parts  to  healthy  action. 
In  simple  Otitis  a  diligent  use  of  the  Fluid,  with  a  dose 
of  laxative  medicine  will  be  probably  all  that  is  required. 
The  fever  of  Internal  Canker  is  also  beneficially  treated 
by  means  of  a  laxative,  as  the  castor-oil  mixture,  or,  if 
unusually  severe,  a  saline  cathartic  may  be  called  for. 

External  Canker  is  the  term  used  to  denote  the 
diseased  changes  which  take  place  on  the  lower  margins 
of  the  ear-flaps.  As  already  pointed  out,  the  aftected 
animal  shakes  his  head  violently,  by  which  the  ends  of 
the  ears  are  caused  to  strike  the  sides  of  tb-e  face  and 
top  of  the  head,  or  the  collar,  if  such  is  worn,  with 
violence.  They  are  bruised  and  inflamed;  shortly 
swelling,  thickening,  and  ulcerative  changes  follow,  and 
the  disease  from  the  first  assumes  an  obstinate  or  chronic 
character.  As  these  conditions  arise  from  the  irritation 
due  to  the  existence  of  Internal  Canker,  that  disease 
must  receive  appropriate  attention.  The  flaps  of  the 
ears  in  recent  cases  may  be  first  cleansed  from  all 
accumulations  of  dried  pus,  dirt,  &c.,  and  afterwards 
covered  with  an  application  of  "Sanitas  "  jelly,  calamine, 
or  oxide  of  zinc  ointment.  Oldei-standing  cases  may 
call  for  the  application  of  the  nitrate  of  silver  to  stimu- 
late healthy  healing  power,  the  ears  being  secured  from 
injury  by  means  of  a  cap  properly  fitted  and  secured 
over  the  head. 

Abscess  of  the  Ear-Flap,  or  Blood  Abscess,  is 
large,  painful  swelling,  of  sudden  appearance,  due  to 
bruising  by  violent  shaking  of  the  head.  The  tumour  is 
tense,  but  is  found  to  contain  a  yielding  substance  within, 


:23  Diseases  of  tJie  Eyes  and  Ears, 

which  proves  to  be  a  large  clot  of  blood,  with  a  thin  red 
fluid,  the  result  of  rupture  of  the  vessels  and  escape  of 
the  contents  within  the  areolar  tissue.  Treaimeiit  consists 
of  opening  the  abscess  by  free  incision  across  its  entire 
extent,  and  liberation  of  the  contents,  dressing  the 
wound  regularly  several  times  daily  with  "  Sanitas " 
Fluid,  or  compound  tincture  of  aloes  and  myrrh,  and 
putting  on  the  cap. 

Polypi,  or  Tinnours  within  the  Ear,  consisting  of 
fibrous  or  cartilaginous  growths,  are  common  results  of 
internal  canker,  situate  near  the  auditory  canal.  Treat- 
ment  consists  of  removal  by  excision,  ligature,  or  torsion, 
and  the  subsequent  application  of  lunar  caustic. 

Squamula,  or  Sciirfiness  of  the  Ear-flap,  may  exist  in 
conjunction  with  irritation  and  bru,ising  as  the  result  of 
internal  canker  in  the  early  stages,  also  from  dirt  and 
the  presence  of  parasites,  one  of  which  is  the  common 
tick,  Ixodes  reticulatus,  usually  found  on  the  margin  of 
the  ear.  The  best  remedy  is  the  following  mixture  : — 
Olive  oil  and  turpentine,  equal  parts,  one  or  two  drops 
being  sufficient  for  each  tick. 

Mange  of  the  Ear,  or  Auricular  Acariasis,  is  a 
form  of  parasitic  disease  common  to  sporting  dogs,  in- 
ducing persistent  irritation,  recurring  fits  of  extreme 
uneasmess,  and  sometimes  epileptiform  seizures,  or 
violence  which  has  been  mistaken  for  rabies,  the  animals 
being  dealt  with  accordingly.  The  best  remedies  are  a 
five  per  cent,  solution  of  sulphide  of  potassium,  which 
should  be  frequently  injected  within  the  ear;  and,  as 
used  by  Nocard,  olive  oi',  loo  parts,  naphthol,  lo  parts, 
sulphuric  ether,  30  parts  :  mix,  and  keep  in  a  well- 
stoppered  bottle.  A  portion  to  be  injected  into  the  ear 
daily,  after  which  the  orifice  is  to  be  closed  with  cotton 
wool  to  prevent  loss  of  effect  by  evaporation.  Deafness 
is  a  common  result 


Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System.  229 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

Epilepsy— Vertigo — Neuralgia— Apoplexy— Tetanus,  or  Lock ed- jaw— Chorea- 
Cramp— Injaries  to  the  Head:  Concussion— Cpmpressioa — Apoplexy— 
Encephalitis— Hydrocephalus— Paralysis— Parasitism. 

The  brain  of  the  dog  species  is  generally  well 
developed,  and  in  some  breeds  it  is  of  a  remarkable 
character,  being  very  much  larger  in  many  of  the  pet 
varieties,  and  in  proportion  to  their  bodies,  than  in  the 
dogs  of  larger  breeds  and  massive  corporeal  development. 
The  natural  intelligence  is  also  acute,  and  many  instances 
occur  from  time  to  time  in  the  experience  of  the  canine 
surgeon  which  are  evidences  of  a  high  order  of  animal 
instinct.  Some  animals  are  very  clever  in  simulating 
illness  or  lameness,  and  succeed  in  the  clever  deception 
as  to  excite  human  pity  for  their  apparently  urgent  and 
serious  malady.  Numerous  instances  of  this  kind  have 
come  under  our  observation.  Recognising  such  acute- 
ness,  and  the  evidences  also  of  contemporary  nervous 
sensibility  in  various  forms,  we  shall  be  prepared  to 
admit  the  necessity  for  careful  regulations  in  the  form 
and  dose  of  all  the  remedies  we  are  called  upon  to 
administer;  and  likewise,  as  strangers,  our  mode  of 
approach  or  handling  the  patient.  Neglect  of  these  has 
often  had  the  effect  of  raising  a  tumult  of  excitement,  or 
developing  a  fit  of  convulsions. 

Epilepsy,  or  Fits,  is  a  state  of  nervous  disorder 
characterised  by  a  loss  of  consciousness,  and  accom- 
panied by  violent  convulsions,  dependent  upon  some 
peculiar  form  of  irritation  of  the  brain  or  other  distant 
parts  of  the  nervous  system.  The  Causes  may  be  due  to 
the  state  of  the  blood  in  such  diseases  as  anaemia, 
plethora,  distemper,  &c.     It   has    also   been   traced   to 


236  Diseases  of  the  Nervous  Systen'i, 

lesions  of  the  spinal  cord.  Worms  in  the  stomach  are 
also  set  down  as  common  causes. 

Symptoms. — During  severe  exertion  or  unusual  excite- 
ment the  sufferer  ceases  his  efforts,  or  they  are  perceptibly 
controlled,  exhibits  a  look  of  distress  and  suddenly  falls, 
foaming  at  the  mouth  with  convulsive  movements  of  the 
jaws,  often  attended  with  injury  to  the  tongue  ;  the  limbs 
being  stretched  at  full  length  are  rigid  and  tremulously 
shaking,  or  they  are  violently  convulsed.  The  eyes  are 
unusually  prominent,  but  covered  with  the  lids,  which  if 
separated  admit  of  our  seeing  the  rapid  rolling  movement 
of  the  organs,  or  otherwise  the  state  of  strabismus  or 
squinting.  The  respirations  are  loud  or  stertorous,  and 
the  pulse  is  unusually  rapid  and  irregular  if  not  totally 
imperceptible.  Faeces  and  urine  are  voided  involuntarily, 
but  signs  of  perspiration  are  not  common.  A  succession 
of  attacks  may  prove  fatal ;  but  in  early  or  slight  cases 
the  fit  passes  off  in  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  conscious- 
ness returns,  leaving  the  animal  dazed  and  weak,  some- 
times desiring  to  sleep  or  to  run  away  from  the  cause  of 
his  seizure.  Epilepsy  is  frequently  confounded  with 
rabies. 

Vertigo. — This  disease  may  be  also  mistaken  for 
epilepsy.  The  Symptoms  are  short  fits  of  insensibility  or 
fainting,  seldom  occupying  more  than  a  few  minutes, 
which  may  be  preceded  by  a  staggering  gait,  irregular 
movements  of  the  limbs,  and  entire  absence  of  convul- 
sions. As  the  animal  falls,  so  he  lies,  and  on  regaining 
consciousness,  appears  as  well  as  before  the  attack.  Dogs 
in  confinement  wearing  a  tight  collar  and  heavy  chain 
are  sometimes  sufferers.  In  the  days  of  dog  carts,  when 
the  breast  collar  was  fitting  badly  and  too  tightly, 
pressing  on  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  vertigo  was 
common  in  this  country ;  but  now  we  look  for  other 
causes,  as  possible  disease  of  the  stomach,  liver,  heart, 
pericardium,  &c.,  and  the  mechanical  effect  of  broncho- 
cele.  In  the  tropics,  softening  of  the  liver  is  the  common 
cause. 

Ti'catment. — In  both  the  foregoing  affections  the 
application  of  cold  water  to  the  head  will  be  useful.    The 


Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System.  231 

collar,  if  worn,  should  be  removed.  In  epilepsy  the  owner 
should  first  secure  the  sufferer  to  prevent  his  running 
away,  and  as  soon  as  the  fit  is  over  cold  water  should  be 
applied  to  the  head,  protection  from  the  sun  being 
meanwhile  secured.  A  dose  of  purgative  medicine  should 
speedily  follow,  and  perfect  quietude  must  be  enjoined. 
The  dieting,  &c.,  must  be  careful,  regular  meals  and 
digestible  food  in  moderate  quantity  being  allowed  ;  the 
nervous  irritation  and  resulting  fever  may  be  controlled 
by  regular  doses  of  chloral  hydrate,  or  belladonna.  In 
chronic  cases  the  blister  or  a  seton  may  be  advisable, 
applied  to  the  head,  or  the  continued  internal  adminis- 
tration of  bromide  of  potassium,  nitrate  of  silver,  or 
sulphate  of  iron. 

Neuralgia. — It  is  beyond  all  doubt  that  dogs  under 
certain  circumstances  are  occasionally  liable  to  neuralgia. 
The  victim  of  the  malady  is  seized  very  suddenly,  the 
violent  pain  being  indicated  by  fits  of  howling  or  scream- 
ing, arising  suddenly  during  states  of  apparent  ease  and 
composure.  The  head  is  drawn  towards  the  side  or 
upwards,  the  animal  gradually  rising  upon  the  hind  feet, 
finally  falling  over,  and  remaining  on  the  ground,  crying 
with  intense  pain. 

Apoplexy. — This  disease  is  common  to  the  hot 
months  of  summer  when  dogs  are  put  to  severe  exertion. 
It  also  follows  sunstroke,  especially  in  long  and  tedious 
cases.  Tightly  fitting  collars,  and  heavy  chains,  espe- 
cially when  the  dog  pulls  heavily,  or  when  the  neck  is 
short,  are  common  causes.  Plethoric  and  idle  dogs, 
especially  when  old,  are  predisposed  to  the  disease.  It 
occurs  as  an  effect  of  severe  straining  in  parturition ;  but 
it  may  depend  also  upon  sudden  suppression  of  milk 
immediately  before,  or  at  the  time  of  giving  birth,  when 
the  animal  is  too  plethoric,  or  as  a  result  of  removing 
the  young,  and  of  constipation. 

Symptoms. — In  the  early  or  partial  stages  of  uncon- 
sciousness, the  pulse  is  slov/  and  full,  the  eyes  are  blood- 
shot and  fixed,  and  the  pupil  dilated  ;  breathing  heavy 
and  stertorous.     The  animal  is  sometimes  delirious. 
Treatment. — Blood  should   be   abstracted    from   the 


232  Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System. 

jugular  vein  by  preference.  Subsequently,  if  the  animal 
lives  so  long,  a  blister  should  be  applied  to  the  same 
part  and  along  the  spine.  The  best  internal  remedy 
is  ammonia.  Cold  water  condnuously  apphed  to  the 
head  is  also  of  great  serrlce.  Ammonia  should  be  held 
to  the  nostrils  for  inhalation,  and  the  gums  may  be  rubbed 
with  spirit  o^  wine.  In  the  parturient  form  of  this 
disease  many  complications  arise,  and  the  animal  does 
not  succumb  so  early.  A  brisk  purgative  should  be 
promptly  administered,  the  action  of  which  may  be 
stimulated  and  nervous  power  restored  by  small  and 
frequent  doses  of  the  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia.  The 
milk  should  also  be  continuously  drawn  from  the  gland. 

Tetanus,  or  Locked  Jaw. — Notwithstanding  the  high 
state  of  development  in  the  nervous  system,  and  his 
liability  to  nervous  disorders,  the  dog  is  rarely  affected 
with  tetanus.  The  form  with  which  we  are  most  familiar 
is  that  induced  by  poisoning  with  strychnine,  in  which  the 
jaws  are  fixed,  tightly  closed,  and  often  including  the 
tongue,  which  is  seriously  injured. 

Treatment  is  unsatisfactory,  perfect  quietude  being  all- 
essential. 

Chorea,  commonly  known  as  St.  Vitus's  dance,  is  a 
spasmodic  form  of  nervous  derangement,  most  probably 
due  to  a  low  state  or  debility  of  the  system  generally  and 
the  nervous  centres  in  particular.  It  may  assume  the 
local  or  general  form. 

The  Symptoms  consist  of  a  series  of  sudden  spasms  or 
contractions  which  are  confined  to  a  set  of  muscles,  or 
sometimes  to  one  muscle,  or  even  the  part  only  of  one, 
followed  immediately  by  relaxation.  Thus,  one  limb  or 
other  part  of  the  body  may  be  seized,  the  alternate  con- 
tractions and  relaxations  being  continuous,  induces  a 
varied  appearance,  sometimes  even  grotesque,  but  always 
evidently  attended  with  severe  strain  and  discomfort. 
The  most  searching  investigations  hitherto  carried  out 
have  failed  to  point  out  the  exact  condition  of  the  nerv& 
structures  involved,  or  the  means  of  absolute  cure. 

Treatment. — We  have  found  strychnine  a  valuable 
remedy,  and  under  its  judicious  use  better  results  have 


Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System.  233 

been  attained  than  with  others.  The  dose  is  from  one- 
fortieth  to  one-tenth  of  a  grain,  or  of  nux  vomica  one  to 
two  grains,  twice  daily  in  bolus,  and  always  after  a  meal. 
Some  practitioners  prefer  the  liquor  sirych?iia,  one  fluid 
drachm  of  which  contains  half  a  grain  of  the  alkaloid,  as 
being  more  effective  as  well  as  more  readily  administered. 
The  seton  is  also  employed,  together  with  blisters,  and 
sometimes  mercurial  ointment  in  chronic  cases,  the  parts 
selected  being  the  back  of  the  head,  along  the  spine,  &c., 
as  indicated  by  the  symptoms.  The  hot  bath  often  soothes 
and  rests  the  patient.  Fresh  air  and  walking  exercise 
must  be  given  according  only  to  ability,  never  to  tire  or 
distress  ;  and  when  the  strychnine  can  be  safely  dispensed 
with,  a  change  to  cod-liver  oil  and  iron  tonics  will  be 
advisable.  Give  plain  nourishing  diet,  always  ensuring 
an  appetite  for  the  following  meal.  Remove  constipation 
by  enemas  only  as  a  safe  precaution  against  exhausting 
the  little  strength  of  the  patient. 

Cramp  differs  from  chorea  in  the  continuance  of 
painful  spasm  in  a  portion  only  of  a  muscle,  arising  from 
some  cause  local  or  general  in  its  nature.  Thus  it  may 
be  due  to  poisoning,  rheumatism,  or  the  effects  of  cold 
after  being  in  the  water.  The  hind  limbs  are  most 
commonly  seized. 

Treatment  consists  of  the  hot  bath,  followed  by  swath- 
ing in  heated  rugs  or  flannel  until  the  body  is  thoroughly 
dried,  and  afterwards  removed  singly.  The  best  remedy 
is  the  anodyne  mixture  No.  6,  followed  by  friction  to 
the  part.  Subjects  of  the  malady  should  have  dry  beds 
and  quarters,  with  freedom  from  cold  draughts. 

Injuries  to  the  Head,  usually  result  in  signs  which 
vary  with  the  amount  of  actual  damage  inflicted,  and 
the  area  over  which  the  effects  are  distributed.  The 
indications  are  those  of  concussion  and  compression  of  the 
brain^  with  more  or  less  datnage  to  the  coverings,  and 
apoplexy.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  frequently  a 
question  of  difficulty  to  estimate  to  what  extent  these 
conditions  may  exist. 

In  Concussion  of  the  Brain  the  animal  is  said  to  be 
stunned,  that  is,  motionless  and  insensible  ;  respiration 


234  Diseases  of  tJie  Nervotis  System. 

is  slowly  performed,  pulse  small,  rapid,  and  feeble ;  eye- 
lids separated,  pupils  contracted  as  a  rule,  but  insensible 
to  the  stimulus  of  light.  Sensation  slowly  returns,  and 
the  patient  usually  vomits  ;  the  movements  in  progres- 
sion are  deliberate  and  dreamy,  the  head  is  carried  below 
the  level  of  the  spine,  and  the  animal  moves  in  an 
uncertain  way  reeling  or  falling  against  objects,  having 
no  power  to  avoid  them. 

Recent  Conipressio7i  is  indicated  by  the  existence  of 
fracture  of  the  bones  of  the  skull,  the  plates  of  which  are 
depressed  upon  the  brain  substance.  Insensibility  is 
partial  or  complete  according  to  the  extent  of  the  injury; 
respiration  slow,  oppressed,  and  noisy ;  the  pulse  also 
slow,  and  probably  intermittent ;  eyelids  separated, 
pupils  dilated  and  unaffected  by  light ;  the  whole 
muscular  system  is  relaxed;  thus,  the  limbs  are  subject 
to  no  control,  but  lie  as  when  the  animal  fell  to  the 
ground,  and  both  urine  and  foeces  are  voided  without 
effort. 

Apoplexy  from  injury  to  the  head  is  due  to  compres- 
sion by  the  bones  of  the  cranium,  and,  as  in  the  ordinary 
form,  spontaneous  recovery  of  consciousness  may  result 
from  the  brain  accommodating  itself  to  the  situation; 
but  the  recovery  is  attended  with  unequal  power  in  pro- 
gression, the  animal  always  moving  to  the  right  or  left  as 
the  position  of  the  injured  parts  will  indicate. 

In  these  cases  the  animal  gradually  acquires  conscious- 
ness, and  with  it  the  liability  to  Encephalitis,  or  an 
inflammatory  condition  of  the  coverings  of  the  brain, 
otherwise  known  as  Meningitis,  which  is  indicated  by 
unusual  excitement  and  probably  convulsions,  terminat- 
ing in  insensibility,  paralysis,  and  death,  according  to  the 
extent  to  which  the  organs  are  involved.  The  animal 
should,  therefore,  be  kept  perfectly  quiet  throughout  the 
apoplectic  stages,  frequent  applications  of  cold  water  to 
the  head  being  desirable.  Blood-letting  by  leeches,  or 
the  usual  method,  may  be  adopted,  and  the  dormant 
pov/ers  restored  by  small  and  frequent  doses  of  liquor 
ammonia.  The  injured  cranium  must  also  receive  atten- 
tion by  the  attendant  surgeon,  appropriate  after-treatment 


Diseases  of  the  Nervous  System.  ^35 

having  the  object  of  preventing  the  recurrence  of  in- 
flammation. 

When  Encephalitis  has  set  in,  the  applications  of  cold 
water  to  the  head  should  be  diligently  pursued;  the 
bowels  should  be  moved  by  mild  aperients  and  enemas, 
the  violence  of  the  attack  being  controlled  by  aconite, 
prussic  acid,  &c.  Chronic  states  should  be  met  by  blis- 
ters or  setons  externally,  and  internally  by  the  bromide 
of  potassium. 

Hydrocephalus,  or  Dropsy  of  the  Brain,  usually 
common  in  delicate,  highly-bred  toy  dogs,  as  terriers 
and  French  poodles,  is  doubtless  due  to  a  senseless  plan 
of  mating  without  regard  to  stamina  of  constitution.  The 
result  is  either  a  monstrosity  or  weakly  and  attenuated, 
never  useful,  but  always  worthless  and  positive  pests  in 
the  household.  Such  creatures  are  fit  subjects  of  dropsy 
of  the  brain,  and  after  suffering  from  confirmed  lethargy, 
somnolence,  inability  for  any  exertion^,  paralysis  of  a 
partial  or  complete  nature  sets  in,  and  the  owner  dis- 
covers he  is  possessed  of  an  object  of  real  misery,  which, 
however,  soon  terminates  in  death. 

Paralysis  in  the  dog  more  frequently  arises  as  the 
result  of  other  diseases  or  injuries  than  as  a  distinct 
affection,  the  usual  course  being  through  their  serious 
effects  upon  the  spinal  cord. 

Symptoms. — Weakness,  unsteady  gait,  crouching  and 
reeling  of  the  hind  quarters,  accompanied  with  twitchings 
of  the  muscles  locally  or  generally.  The  acute  form  pro- 
gresses rapidly,  all  power  being  lost  in  a  few  hours  or  less, 
and  the  animal  falls,  and  lies  in  a  helpless  condition. 
Palsy  or  paralysis  signifies  disablement  by  loss  of  power, 
of  sensation,  or  of  both.  In  chronic  cases  the  weakness 
continues,  other  signs  are  delayed,  and  the  animal  loses 
flesh  and  becomes  a  spectacle  of  misery  and  suffering. 
Complete  paralysis  is  common  when  the  brain  is  the  seat 
of  the  injury  or  disease  as  the  exciting  cause.  Partial 
paralysis  arises  from  disease  of  one  side  only,  and  it  is  in 
the  reverse  side  of  the  body.  In  injuries  or  diseases  of  the 
spinal  cord  the  paralysis  is  limited  to  the  parts  behind  the 
seat  of  disease.     Vomition  is  a  conspicuous  sign  in  acute 


2 2,6  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

paralysis,  and  is  often  associated  with  severe  abdominal 
pain.  Blindness  may  be  also  present.  The  disease 
supervenes  upon  all  forms  of  debility  and  ansemia,  being 
as  common  in  the  extreme  condition  of  obesity  as  in 
other  instances. 

T?-eatment  of  the  patient  should  be  entrusted  to  the 
canine  surgeon. 

Parasitism  of  the  nervous  system  of  the  dog  is  some- 
what rare.  The  common  form  is  the  gid  hydatid 
Ccenurus  cerebralis,  derived  from  the  sheep,  which  is 
located  in  the  brain,  and  is  indicated  by  dulness,  gradual 
loss  of  sight,  and  an  increasing  tendency  to  move  in  a 
circle,  which  point  to  compression  of  the  brain.  It  is 
questionable  whether  the  animal  lives  long  enough  to 
enable  the  parasite  to  effect  its  liberation  by  the  usual 
process  of  growth,  invasion,  and  ulceration  of  the  tissues; 
if  so,  the  time  of  suffering  may  be  shortened  by  an  opera- 
tion for  liberating  the  offender.  This  is,  however,  some- 
what doubtful. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  SKIN. 

Alopecia,  or  Baldness — Anasarca,  or  Dropsy  of  the  Cellular  Tissue — Eczema, 
Surfeit,  or  "  Ked  Mange  " — Erj'thema — Warts. — Parasitic  Diseases  of 
THE  Skin,  Animal  Parasites  :  Scabies,  or  Sarcoptic  Mange — Follicular 
Mange — The  Harvest  Bug — Fleas — Lice — Ticks.  Vegetable  Parasites  : 
Tinea  Tonsurans,  or  Ringwoim— Tinea  Favosa,  or  Honey-Comb  Ringworm. 

The  literature  of  skin  disorders  in  canine  animals  has 
remained  incomplete  during  long  periods  ;  but  in  recent 
years  observant  men  have  laid  all  lovers  of  the  race  under 
perpetual  obligation  by  their  diligent  investigations,  and 
the  liberal  publication  of  their  views  and  discoveries.  It 
was  formerly  thought  that  the  dog  could  not  perspire. 
This  statement  implied  the   total  absence  of  sudorific 


Diseases  of  /he  Skin.  237 

glands,  whose  especial  office  is  the  production  of  the 
secretion  commonly  known  as  sweat.  Physical  condi- 
tions gave  the  denial  to  this  theory,  as  it  became  evident 
under  certain  forms  of  disease  in  which  the  functions  of 
the  kidneys  were  suspended,  that  the  skin  vigorously 
eliminated  in  an  aeriform  state  the  effete  products  which 
imperilled  the  animal's  existence.  The  progress  of  his- 
tology, or  the  study  of  the  ultimate  tissues  of  the  animal 
body,  has  decided  the  existence  of  sudoriparous  glands  in 
the  skin  of  canine  animals,  which  assume  an  activity  of 
secretion  proportionate  to  muscular  exertion.  Neverthe- 
less, the  office  mainly  consists  of  sending  forth  the  waste 
and  useless  products  of  decomposition  in  the  form  of 
exhalation  or  vapour,  any  appreciable  moisture  being 
probably  the  after-result  of  cooling  and  condensation. 
As  we  recognise  the  existence  of  these  organs,  we  look 
in  other  directions  for  the  causes  which  secure  the  genesis 
of  maladies  formerly  attributed  to  their  absence.  The 
skin  of  the  dog  requires  especial  care.  It  is  liable  to 
various  forms  of  disease  which  owe  their  origin  entirely 
to  the  absence  of  proper  regimen  and  sanitary  excellence. 
Deficiency  of  air,  exercise,  or  food,  as  well  as  excess  of 
the  latter,  and  especially  when  unsuitable,  work  out  their 
results  in  disaster  and  peril  to  general  health.  Mis- 
7nanageme7tt  of  this  kind  is  the  sure  road  to  the  end 
alluded  to,  general  fouhiess  of  the  skin  being  a  significant 
danger-signal.  Immediately  it  is  observed  the  proprietor 
should  resort  to  a  thorough  cleansing  by  water  and 
"  Sanitas  "  Dog  Soap,  using  warm  water  in  winter,  and  on 
all  occasions  taking  especial  care  to  remove  moisture 
from  the  skin  as  much  as  possible  by  friction  with  dry 
cloths,  and  with  protection  from  cold  draughts.  Con- 
jointly a  vegetable  diet  should  be  substituted,  along  with 
regular  exercise.  Spratt's  Beetroot  cakes  admirably  come 
to  the  rehef  of  the  owner  under  these  circumstances,  often 
saving  the  lives  of  useful  servants  when  they  are  being 
ignorantly  killed  with  kindness. 

Alopecia,  Baldness^  or  Loss  of  Hair ^  may  be  partial  or 
complete,  sometimes  being  confined  to  a  few  or  single 
patches  on  various  parts  of  the  head,  body  or  legs,  or  it 


238  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

may  extend  to  a  large  surface  by  the  destruction  of  the  hair 
follicles  in  various  forms  c  f  skin  disorder,  which  operate 
through  the  medium  of  blood  supply.  The  state  is  that 
of  local  congestion,  and  death  of  the  hair  bulb  in  severe 
instances,  which  ensure  permanent  baldness.  The  disease 
is  the  common  result  of  mismanagement,  as  improper 
food,  want  of  exercise,  fresh  air  and  grooming.  The 
most  efficient  remedy  is  one  part  of  the  ordinary  ointment 
of  cantharides  reduced  by  mixing  four,  six,  or  eight  of 
pure  lard,  which  should  be  well  rubbed  in  twice  or  three 
times  weekly.  Iron  and  vegetable  tonics  should  be  given 
internally. 

Anasarca,  or  Dropsy  of  the  Cellular  Tissue  beneath 
the  skin,  is  generally  seen  below  the  jaws,  on  the  breast, 
and  along  the  abdomen.  The  cause  is  some  form  of 
local  irritation,  as  colds  from  entering  ice-cold  water,  the 
effects  of  irritating  mud  or  limy  soil.  It  is  also  due  to 
debilitating  influences,  especially  diseases  of  a  prostrat- 
ing character. 

Treatffient. — Remove  the  cause ;  followed  by  the  ad- 
ministration of  nitric  ether,  ten  to  thirty  or  sixty  drops, 
with  five  to  twenty  grains  of  powdered  gentian.  In  other 
cases  the  treatment  will  be  regulated  by  the  disease  with 
which  it  is  associated. 

An  acute  form  of  inflammation  of  the  skin  of  the 
scrotum,  probably  of  the  nature  of  erysipelas,  has  been 
described  in  Chapter  XV.,  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Male 
Organs  of  Generation  (which  see).  The  disease  has 
been  considered  as  a  form  of  cutaneous  tuberculosis  by 
Continental  veterinarians. 

Eczema,  Dermatitis,  or  Surfeit,  commonly  known  as 
"Red  Mange,"  and  technically  jE'*:^^/;/^ rubrum,  consists  of 
a  vesicular  inflammation  of  the  skin,  sometimes  acute,  or 
otherwise  chronic  in  its  character.  It  is  a  common  dis- 
ease of  canine  animals,  being  a  frequent  attendant  upon 
other  affections,  as  indigestion,  distemper,  and  in  females 
after  pupping.  Sudden  chills  after  being  heated  are 
common  causes  in  sporting  dogs.  Two  forms  are 
observed,  the  local  and  general.  The  first  usually  affects 
the  head,  neck,  and  back ;  in  the  latter  all  parts  of  the 


Diseases  of  the  Skin,  ^239 

body  suffer,  but  especially  the  thin  skin  on  the  inner 
sides  of  the  arms,  thighs,  and  over  the  belly.  The  skin 
is  very  red,  and  covered  with  vesicles  or  small  bladders, 
which  are  sometimes  isolated,  or  otherwise  running  to- 
gether form  larger  vesicles,  which  shortly  burst,  and 
drying  on  the  surface,  agglutinates  the  hairs  into  tufts  or 
masses  of  various  size.  Somewhat  later  they  decompose, 
emitting  a  putrid  odour.  Severe  irritation  follows,  to 
allay  which  the  dog  bites,  scratches,  or  tears  himself 
severely,  producing  sores  which,  in  many  cases,  yield  to 
no  treatment.  This  is  especially  the  case  with  those 
which  occur  on  the  loose  skin  in  the  bend  of  joints,  a 
chronic  state  being  general  throughout  the  disease. 
Ultimately  the  skin  assumes  one  or  other  of  the  following 
forms,  viz.,  a  constant  state  of  scurfiness  with  loss  of  hair, 
or  the  skin  is  immensely  thickened,  drawn  into  folds 
destitute  of  hair,  and  exhibiting  ugly  cracks,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  ulceration,  with  more  or  less  discharge,  proceeds. 
At  certain  local  points  also,  large  and  bare  tumours  of 
similar  callous  substance  are  found,  as  on  the  elbows  and 
buttocks,  states  especially  common  to  animals  kept  in 
confinement  and  subjected  to  neglect. 

Treatment. — First  open  the  bowels  by  a  dose  of  the 
castor-oil  mixture ;  or  in  the  early  stages  of  the  acute 
form  reduce  the  dose  one-third,  and  subsequently  give 
salines,  as  Epsom  salts.  Some  prefer  opium  and  calomel 
in  one-grain  doses  of  each  daily,  a  remedy  seldom  used 
with  safety  in  the  hands  of  amateurs  in  medicine.  Such 
remedies  secure  the  reduction  of  fever,  after  which  tonics, 
as  iron  and  gentian,  or  the  liquor  arsenicalis^  are  indi- 
cated, especially  if  debility  sets  in  early.  Special  forms 
of  fever  arising  from  the  severity  of  the  skin  affection 
may  call  for  very  active  measures,  as  opium  and  calomel 
internally,  with  repeated  fomentations,  or  baths  of  hot 
water  containing  glycerine  and  boracic  acid,  or  even 
opium.  Chronic  cases  are  not  always  manageable,  yet 
good  may  be  done  by  repeated  dressings  with  lunar 
caustic,  and  the  skin  generally  dressed  with  zinc  oint- 
ment. The  disease  is  apt  to  exhibit  phases  of  severe 
excitement,  the  result  of   change  in  temperature  and 


240  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

derangement  of  the  digestive  functions.  The  animal  is 
maddened  by  severe  itching  of  the  skin,  and  can  scarcely 
be  restrained  from  injuring  himself.  For  this  fomenta- 
tions with  warm  water  containing  opium  may  suffice  ;  in 
some  cases  they  afford  no  relief,  and  remedies  of  an 
entirely  opposite  nature  are  required — viz.,  lotions  of 
nitrate  of  silver,  ointment  of  nitrate  of  mercury,  &c., 
applied  as  circumstances  require.  The  diet  must  be 
carefully  regulated,  less  animal  food  being  allowed,  the 
exercise  regular  and  duly  proportioned  to  the  strength 
of  the  patient.  Neglect  of  these  precautions  is  sure  to 
bring  on  a  fresh  attack  of  the  complaint.  A  common 
practice  exists  in  the  use  of  mercurial  or  blue  ointment 
for  the  cure  of  this  malady.  The  owner  who  is  wise  will 
avoid  the  remedy  entirely  except  under  the  care  of  the 
canine  surgeon. 

Erythema  is  a  diffused  form  of  irritation  of  the  skin, 
usually  considered  to  be  of  a  congestive  character,  pre- 
ceding true  inflammation,  and  affecting  such  parts  as 
receive  a  large  quantity  of  blood  for  the  supply  of  the 
sebaceous  glands  within  the  structure.  It  arises  from 
disorder  of  the  stomach  or  system  generally,  as  indiges- 
tion, worms,  teething,  chills,  &c.  As  the  active  symptoms 
decline,  the  skin  throws  off  a  considerable  number  of 
scales  or  scurf,  and  shortly  the  affected  parts  resume 
their  natural  appearance.  This  is  the  usual  course  under 
ordinary  management,  but  persistence  of  the  cause 
eventually  develops  true  inflammation  or  eczema,  already 
described. 

Treatment  consists  of  replacing  animal  food  by  a 
variety  less  stimulating  and  partially  vegetable ;  giving 
regular  exercise,  especially  in  the  open  air,  and  away 
from  home.  Irritation  of  the  skin  may  be  allayed  by 
water  containing  a  few  drops  of  laudanum,  or  a  lotion 
containing  five  grains  of  the  sulphate  of  zinc  to  the 
ounce  may  be  used.  Boracic  acid,  five  to  ten  grains  to 
the  ounce  of  water,  is  also  highly  effectual. 

Warts,  technically  termed  VermccE,  often  prove 
troublesome  to  the  dog.  Tiiey  consist  of  inordinate  as 
well  as  deformed  growths  of  the  dermis,  or  deeper  layer 


Diseases  of  the  Skin.  241 

of  the  skin,  and  appear  to  be  due  to  some  special  form 
of  local  irritation.  They  are  to  be  seen  on  the  free 
edges  of  the  ears,  lips,  and  especially  the  eyelids ;  and 
in  some  animals  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth 
and  prepuce  is  a  common  location.  Other  parts  of  the 
skin  are  also  iliable  to  invasion,  but  probably  not  so 
frequently  as  those  already  named.  The  enlargements 
partake  of  a  variety  of  forms.  They  are  sometimes 
diffuse,  or  spread  over  the  surface  of  the  skin,  at  others 
they  rise  erect,  and  subsequently  assume  a  spherical  or 
other  form,  being  very  mobile,  and  united  to  the  tissues 
of  the  true  skin  by  a  narrow  cord-like  neck.  Their 
presence  gives  rise  to  various  forms  of  inconvenience, 
such  as  friction  against  other  objects,  laceration,  &c., 
and  considerable  irritation  in  old-standing  cases  by  the 
cracking  of  the  scales,  and  subsequent  ulceration  between 
them. 

Treatment. — In  the  diffused  variety  the  regular  appli- 
cation of  caustic,  as  the  nitrate  of  silver,  or  strong  acetic 
acid,  will  be  required.  Those  attached  to  the  skin  by  a 
constriction  or  neck,  are  easily  removed  by  ligature, 
torsion,  or  the  ecraseur.  Early  attention  when  the 
growths  are  small  is  likely  to  be  of  greatest  service. 

Parasitic  Diseases  of  the  Skin. — The  affections  of 
this  class  are  numerous  and  important.  They  arise  from 
the  irritation  produced  as  the  result  of  the  efforts  of  the 
animal  parasites  in  obtaining  a  nidus  or  hatching-place 
for  their  eggs.  Some  of  these  occupy  their  position  for 
such  a  length  of  time  when  undisturbed  as  to  indicate 
the  permanence  of  their  home ;  others  are  ephemeral  in 
their  visits,  being  endowed  with  organs  of  free  loco- 
motion, as  legs  and  wings  of  considerable  power.  In 
the  first  order  we  place  the  various  forms  of  mange,  or 
itch  animalcules,  and  in  the  latter,  fleas,  ticks,  lice,  and 
other  insects,  amongst  which  the  harvest  bug  is  a  common 
example.  In  addition  to  these,  we  have  also  to  notice 
another  variety — viz.,  vegetable  parasites,  which  likewise 
prove  exceedingly  troublesome  to  canine  animals,  as 
well  as  disappointing  to  the  hopes  and  aspirations  of  the 
owner. 

16 


5 42  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

Animal  Parasites  of  the  Skin. — These  are  included 
under  the  term  Dermatozoa,  which  embraces  a  great 
variety  in  the  forms  of  animal  life.  Their  movements 
are  directed  in  the  search  for  suitable  breeding-places,  as 
well  as  for  their  natural  sustenance,  and  thus  a  large 
amount  of  tissue  is  destroyed,  accompanied  by  severe 
irritation,  which  induces  a  form  of  active  inflammation, 
or  true  dermatitis.  We  call  the  disease  mange,  as  es- 
pecially the  result  of  the  presence  of  the  acarus,  or  mange 
insect ;  it  is,  notwithstanding,  true  inflammation  of  the 
skin.  Contagion  plays  the  essential  part,  as  true  mange 
cannot  exist  without  the  parasite.  It  may  attack  the 
best  of  animals,  but  the  common  subjects  are  those  de- 
bihtated  by  want  of  food  and  necessary  care,  whose 
hunger  leads  them  to  prowl,  and  ferret  out  from  the 
dirtiest  places  the  wherewith  to  appease  their  hunger,  and 
there  meet  with  the  acari ;  or  it  may  be  in  the  company 
of  infected  dogs  that  the  disease  is  contracted.  The 
differences  exhibited  by  various  forms  of  parasitic  disease 
in  their  potency  of  contagion,  depends  on  the  habits  of 
the  acarus.  Infection,  as  we  understand  it,  is  not  a  term 
of  suitability;  the  parasite  does  not  become  aeriform, 
nor  is  it,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  carried  by  the  air. 

Scabies,  or  Mange  of  the  Bog,  technically  known  as 
Sarcoptic  Scabies,  is  the  analogue  of  "  itch  "  in  mankind, 
and  the  "  scab  "  of  sheep.  The  producing  parasite  is 
the  Sarcoptes  cams,  which  usually  first  invades  the  parts 
least  disturbed  by  the  feet  of  the  sufferer ;  thus  we  find 
the  back  of  the  neck  is  the  spot  where  the  earliest  signs 
may  be  looked  for.  From  thence  it  spreads  rapidly,  as 
the  army  of  acari  have  multiplied  by  thousands  or  even 
miUions.  Their  operations  give  the  subject  no  rest.  He 
loses  his  appetite,  is  depressed,  puts  on  a  haggard  look, 
and  is  feverish.  He  is  continually  scratching,  and  the 
wildest  paroxysms  are  usually  evident  after  eating,  drink- 
ing, or  lying  in  the  warmth  of  a  fire.  He  enjoys  being 
scratched  by  the  fngers,  and  places  himself  suitably  for 
its  being  continued  over  the  entire  body.  From  this 
point  the  disease  becomes  intensified,  as  every  spot,  bed, 
&c.,  frequented  by  the  patient,  and  also  the  sufferer's 


Diseases  of  the  Skin.  243 

claws,  become  infected,  and  shortly  provide  a  fresh 
colony  of  acari  ready  for  further  attack  when  the  dog 
again  visits  the  spot.  If  the  reader  has  attentively 
studied  the  paragraphs  dealing  with  the  symptoms  of 
erythema  and  eczema^  he  will  be  able  to  realise  by  the 
changes  produced  by  the  parasite  how  rapidly  the  dis- 
organisation proceeds,  constituting  true  forms  of  those 
diseases.  The  parasite  burrows  beneath  the  cuticle,  and 
may  be  found  on  raising  the  scabs  which  cover  the 
wounded  parts.  This  is  the  sure  diagnostic  sign  of  the 
disease,  and  the  essential  proof  that  it  is  not  simple 
eczema  or  "  red  mange." 

Treatment. — Successful  issues  attend  only  diligent  and 
orderly  application  of  the  remedy.  The  hardened  cuticle 
and  protecting  scabs  are  safe  refuges  to  the  acari,  there- 
fore, if  we  desire  to  destroy  them,  the  above-named 
barriers  must  be  removed.  The  affected  animal  should 
be  placed  in  a  warm  bath,  and  washed  thoroughly  with 
*'  Sanitas  "  Dog  Soap,  taking  care  to  remove  or  break  up 
the  encrustations  or  scabs,  as  they  are  swollen  and 
raised  by  the  water.  An  ounce  of  potash  placed  in  the 
water  will  greatly  promote  the  operation.  Not  a  spot, 
however  small,  must  be  omitted.  The  ears  and  feet 
also  must  come  in  for  their  share  of  the  general  scrutiny 
and  cleansing.  The  owner  need  not  be  in  haste  to 
remove  the  dog  from  his  bath.  The  warmth  will  comfort 
him,  and,  with  fresh  additions  of  heated  water  after  the 
first  washing,  it  will  be  advisable  to  include  one  or  two 
teaspoonfuls  of  "  Sanitas  "  Oil  mixed  with  an  equal  bulk 
of  glycerine.  Next  comes  the  operation  of  dressing. 
The  dog  is  removed  from  the  bath,  carefully  drained 
under  protection  from  the  cold,  and  the  dressing,  what- 
ever it  may  be,  is  patiently  and  carefully  rubbed  in.  In 
order  to  realise  how  much  of  both  is  required,  the  opera- 
tor must  endeavour  to  think  how  he  would  like  to  have 
it  done  to  himself  under  similar  circumstances.  The 
process  will  be  needed  at  intervals  of  at  least  three  or 
four  days,  long  hair  being  carefully  removed,  or  even 
entire  shaving  must  be  resorted  to.  A  muzzle  should  be 
in  readiness  to  prevent  the  animal  using  his  teeth.     We 


244  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

also  recommend  care  in  its  selection,  as  some  of  these 
appliances  are  perfect  tortures,  fitting  badly  and  inflict- 
ing pain  on  the  suffering  creature.  For  various  forms  of 
mange  dressings  see  Chapter  VIII.  under  Parasiticides. 

Follicular  Mange  differs  from  Sarcoptic  Mange  both 
in  respect  of  the  parasite  and  its  location.  The  former 
is  the  analogue  if  not  the  identical  parasite  Demodex 
folliculoriim  common  to  mankind ;  indeed,  this  form  of 
human  itch  has  been  transferred  to  the  dog,  and  back 
agaia  to  mankind.  The  location  of  the  parasite  is  the 
bag  or  pouch-like  sebaceous  glands  and  hair  follicles  ;  it 
is  microscopical,  possesses  a  large  abdomen,  several  pairs 
of  short  legs,  elongated  after  the  form  of  a  shrimp,  and  is 
endowed  with  remarkable  powers  of  multiplication.  The 
disease  produced  is  much  less  susceptible  of  medical 
treatment,  and  there  is  also  at  first  much  less  irritation 
and  resulting  fever.  It  appears  in  patches,  first  about 
the  head,  face,  lips,  &c.,  and  later  it  invades  the  legs, 
loins,  belly,  sides,  and  scrotum  in  the  male.  The  dis- 
charge from  the  sebaceous  glands  partakes  of  pus  as  well 
as  the  excess  of  a  morbid  secretion,  by  reason  of  which 
the  sufferer  presents  a  loathsome  appearance  and  highly 
offensive  odour.  The  animal  shakes  himself  instead  of 
using  his  feet,  and  he  refuses  to  be  handled.  When  the 
hairs  are  plucked  singly  from  the  follicles,  the  parasite 
may  be  detected  at  the  root  by  means  of  a  microscope ; 
the  pus  and  also  the  secretion  from  the  gland  likewise 
furnish  the  same  conclusive  evidence.  The  first  signs  of 
the  malady  consist  of  small  bare  patches,  on  which 
appear  red  spots,  which  proved  to  be  the  enlarged  ducts 
of  the  sebaceous  glands,  filled  with  serum,  and  later,  with 
pus.  These  subsequently  burst  and  form  scales,  and 
occasionally  one  or  more  pustules  become  confluent,  or 
united,  especially  when  the  skin  is  acutely  inflamed  ;  the 
hair  is  also  freely  shed  over  the  entire  body,  and  the 
animal  suffers  much  from  cold,  requiring  ample  clothing, 
especially  in  adverse  seasons.  Further  aggravation  arises 
from  the  formation  of  sores  and  cracks,  the  result  of  death 
of  the  tissues  of  the  skin,  blood  and  pus  flowing  freely 
from  the  discharging  surfaces. 


Diseases  of  tJie  Skin.  245 

The  principles  of  Treatment  laid  down  for  sarcoptic 
mange  must  be  rigidly  adopted  in  this  disease.  Frequent 
and  thorough  dressing  must  be  persisted  in,  especial  at- 
tention being  directed  to  removal  of  the  crusts  in  order 
that  the  dressings  may  reach  the  parasites  within  the  hair 
follicles.  Suitable  formulae  will  be  found  in  Chapter  VIII. 
under  the  head  of  Parasiticides.  As  in  sarcoptic  mange 
the  removal  of  hair  by  close  clipping,  or  even  shaving, 
must  be  carried  out  efficiently  and  without  hesitation 
when  desirable.  The  advice  concerning  removal  of  the 
crusts  given  under  sarcoptic  mange  is  especially  needed, 
frequent  baths  and  subsequent  dressings,  probably  con- 
tinued for  months,  being  needed  before  any  improvement 
is  evident.  As  v/e  have  already  remarked,  the  parasites, 
by  reason  of  their  location,  are  extremely  difficult  to  attack, 
and  even,  if  we  are  successful,  yet  another  problem  awaits 
us,  viz.,  the  ova,  which  may  be  hiding  away  on  such  parts 
as  have  been  restored  by  destruction  of  the  parents.  Care 
must  be  exercised  also  with  regard  to  lodging  and  beds. 
Kennels  require  cleansing,  and  nothing  answers  so  effec- 
tually as  strong  and  boiling-hot  solutions  of  caustic  potash 
or  soda,  which  should  be  used  liberally  by  means  of  a 
large  painter's  brush.  The  best  bed  is  pine  shavings, 
frequently  renewed  ;  when  they  are  not  accessible,  clean 
hay  or  straw  may  be  used,  which  should  be  regularly 
dressed  with  water  containing  one-twentieth  part  of  crude 
"  Sanitas,"and  allowed  to  dry  before  being  put  into  use. 
Beds  of  whatever  kind,  having  served  their  purpose,  should 
be  summarily  burned. 

The  Harvest  Bug,  or  Leptus  autumnalis^  the  larval 
hexapod  of  the  Tetra?iychus  aiittwinalis,  proves  a  trouble- 
some parasite  to  the  human  subject,  giving  rise  to 
painful  boils.  It  also  attacks  animals,  especially  dogs, 
during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August,  afterwards 
passing  through  other  developmental  changes,  and  is  lost 
sight  of.  When  it  reaches  the  skin  it  may  be  detected 
by  its  bright  red  colour,  and  if  not  speedily  removed  it 
shortly  burrows  in  the  sicin,  giving  rise  to  irritation. 
When  the  parts  are  rubbed  the  parasite  ejects  an  acrid 
secretion,  which,  with  the  burrowing  operations,  produces 


24^  Diseases  of  the  Skin. 

severe  pain.  In  the  dog  it  may  be  usually  found  on  the 
head,  neck  and  back,  which  are  involved  in  severe 
eczema,  and  on  the  inflamed  parts  the  offenders  may  be 
readily  observed  by  means  of  an  ordinary  lens.  The  disease 
yields  veiy  tardily,  perhaps  owing  to  the  difUculty  of 
reaching  the  parasite.  Paraffin  has  been  found  effectual; 
carbolic  acid  in  glycerine  is  not  certain^  as,  owing  to  the 
susceptibility  of  the  dog  to  the  action  of  the  drug,  only 
weak  solutions  could  be  used. 

Fleas,  Fidex  irriians,  are  terrible  pests  to  the  dog. 
Their  presence  in  pet  dogs  is  a  serious  drawback,  and 
their  extermination  becomes  a  disideratum.  If  not 
removed  they  cause  severe  and  continued  irritation, 
seriously  affect  the  health,  and  reduce  the  animal  to  a 
state  of  ansemia  and  debility.  Cleanhness  in  the  kennel, 
as  in  all  other  respects,  is  absolutely  essential  to  prevent 
the  attack,  regular  washing  of  the  animal  with  "Sanitas" 
Dog  Soap  being  effectual.  For  especial  remedies,  see 
Parasiticides,  in  Chapter  VIII. 

Lice,  pedicnli,  do  not  prove  so  troublesome  or  painful 
as  fleas.  They  are,  however,  more  loathsome,  and  we 
shudder  to  think  of  the  possibility  of  their  transmission  to 
ourselves.  Weil-kept  dogs  receive  them  only  by  contact 
with  others  infected.  Mongrels  and  wandering  curs 
obtain  them  in  the  dirt  and  filth  among  which  they  seek 
their  food,  or  by  contact  with  their  infected  fellows. 
They  always  retire  before  the  resolute  acts  of  cleanliness. 
Simple  cases  are  cured  by  ordinary  washing  with 
^'Sanitas"  Dog  Soap.  Confirmed  cases  require  the 
application  of  a  special  Parasiticide. 

Ticks  are  summer  visitants,  which  not  only  produce 
severe  irritation  by  boring  into  the  skin,  but  debilitate  the 
sufferer  by  sucking  his  blood,  and  by  their  effects  on  the 
nervous  system  have  been  known  to  induce  paralysis. 
The  species  common  to  our  dogs  is  the  Ixodes  ricinus^  an 
innocent  offender  as  compared  with  certain  varieties 
common  to  South  Africa,  which  are  known  to  kill  not  only 
dogs,  but  also  oxen.  They  are  usually  found  in  the  ears, 
but  may  attach  themselves  to  other  parts  where  the  hair 
is  thin=     The  best  remedy  is  to  cut  each  tick  in  half  by 


Diseases  of  the  S Jan.  247 

scissors,  after  which  the  embedded  portion  may  be  re- 
moved by  forceps,  or  a  drop  of  turpentine  will  answer  the 
purpose. 

Vegetable  Parasites. — Of  this  class  two  are  common 
to  canine  animals.  They  are  true  fungi  in  nature,  attach 
themselves  to  the  epithelium  or  scarf  skin,  as  well  as  the 
hairs  proceeding  from  it,  and  are  readily  detected  under 
an  ordinary  microscope.  They  prevail  in  damp,  dark, 
and  ill-drained  places,  and  young  animals  are  especially 
susceptible  of  attack ;  but  in  all  cases  want  of  condition 
and  general  cleanliness  predisposes  the  animal  to  their 
effects.  They  are  also  communicable  from  other  species 
of  animals  to  the  dog,  and  he  may  convey  them  to  others 
besides  his  own,  or  even  to  mankind  by  contagion  alone. 
This  may  be  mediate  or  immediate,  and  from  the  nature 
of  the  spores,  it  is  believed  that  the  air  may  act  as  a 
suitable  medium.  After  being  deposited  on  the  skin, 
the  process  of  incubation  commences,  and  occupies  from 
eight  or  ten  to  fourteen  days,  when  they  produce  a 
colony  of  spores,  and  from  the  circumstance  of  their 
common  arrangement  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  the  disease 
they  produce  is  familiarly  known  as  Ringworm. 

Tinea  Tonsurans,  or  Ringivorni,  is  occasionally  seen 
in  the  dog.  It  occurs  in  circular  patches,  destitute  of 
hair,  except  a  few  which  by  the  action  of  the  fungus,  are 
broken  and  lifeless,  standing  among  the  enlarged  cells, 
and  projecting  irregularly.  Growth  is  on  the  external 
margin  ;  thus,  the  skin  first  affected  is  left  smooth,  and 
covered  with  glistening  scales,  or  an  aggregation  forming 
a  grey  crust,  each  of  which  contain  the  spores  of  the 
fungus  Achorion  hbertii,  or  Ti'icJwphyton  tonsura?is. 
Constant  cleansing  with  "  Sanitas  "  Soap  and  warm  water, 
and  subsequent  dressings  with  the  tincture  of  cantharides, 
or  iodine  ;  dilute  mineral  and  acetic  acids,  mercurial,  or 
nitrate  of  silver  ointment,  tincture  of  iron,  &c.  &c.,  usually 
effect  a  cure.  The  disease  is  liable  to  be  mistaken  for 
Herpes  circinatus,  or  vesicular  ringworm,  a  form  of  local 
eczema  common  in  young  dogs  as  a  result  of  indigestion, 
teething,  &c.,  on  the  cessation  of  which  it  disappears. 

Tinea    Favosa,  or   Honeycomb  Ringworm^  variously 


248  Local  Inju  ries. 

known  as  Achorioji  Schofikim'i  ox  Tricophytoji  favosa/\s 
a  parasitic  fungus  of  peculiar  form  and  growth.  It  has 
a  special  preference  for  the  hairs.  Having  entered  the 
hair  follicle  it  throws  out  a  mass  of  fungoid  cells  around 
the  base,  and  growing,  encircles  the  hair  in  such  a 
manner  that  the  latter  appears  to  be  growing  out  of  a 
cup.  A  number  of  these  may  unite,  and  thus  a  large 
and  unsightly  tumour  is  formed,  with  the  loss  of  sur- 
rounding tissue  by  resulting  absorption.  It  is  supposed 
the  dog  catches  the  complaint  from  mice,  in  which  it  is 
quite  common.  The  tumour  is  usually  located  about 
the  head.  It  is  also  peculiar  as  emitting  a  smell  not 
unlike  the  urine  of  the  cat,  probably  derived  from  the 
course  of  destruction  of  animal  tissue. 

T?-eat//iefit  cons\s,\.s  of  entire  removal  of  all  the  diseased 
hairs  and  fungus  crusts  by  means  of  a  paper  knife  or 
suitable  instrument,  and  immediately  burned.  The  bare 
fingers  viitst  not  come  into  contact  with  the  diseased  mass. 
Appropriate  dressings  will  be  found  in  the  list  enumerated 
for  Tinea  tonsurans.  The  most  effective  are  solution  of 
corrosive  sublimate  (poison)  and  the  nitrate  of  silver 
ointment. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
LOCAL  INJURIES. 

Anchylosis,  or  Stiff  joint— Sprain  of  Muscle  and  Sinew— Congenital  Deformity 
— Dislocations — Fracture  of  Bone — False  Joint — Lameness — Sprain  of 
MuFcle— Sprain  of  Tendon — Lameness  of  the  Feet — Carpet  Fever— In- 
juries by  Thorns,  Naih,  &c. — Raw,  Bruised  and  Bleeding  Feet — Mange  of 
the  Foot — Overgrown  Claws — Wounds — Hsemorrhage,  or  Bleeding. 

Aneliylosis,  or  Stiff-Joint,  is  not  uncommon  in  canine 
animals,  being  due  to  some  injury  and  consequent  in- 
flammation, with  the  formation  of  exostosis,  or  bony 
deposit.  The  latter  accumulates  largely  at  the  ends  of 
the  bones,  eventually  uniting  them,  causing  the  animal 


^  Local  Injuries.  249 

to  carry  the  limb  in  a  more  or  less  flexed  position,  and 
is  unable  to  put  it  to  the  ground,  or  bear  any  weight 
upon  it.  The  parts  commonly  affected  are  the  phalanges, 
or  small  bones  of  the  feet,  which  suffer  from  being  trodden, 
run  over,  or  bruising  from  falling  objects.  The  elbow 
also  suffers  as  a  result  of  dislocation  which  has  not  been 
reduced.  Sprains  of  ligament  also  end  in  exostosis  and 
anchylosis,  and,  on  that  account,  all  such  injuries  should 
receive  prompt  attention.  Blisters  frequently  applied, 
and  the  actual  cautery,  are  often  attended  with  good 
results  in  the  early  stages. 

Sprains  of  Muscle  and  Sinew  are  common  to  sport- 
ing dogs,  especially  greyhounds.  They  are  met  with  in 
all  forms,  varying  from  slight  extension,  or  laceration  of 
fibre,  to  "breaking  down,"  or  rupture  of  the  sinews. 
Cure  is  effected  by  complete  rest,  the  administration  of 
laxative  medicine,  and  cold  water  externally. 

Congenital  Deformities  of  the  extremities  are  not 
uncommon  in  puppies.  They  present  such  a  variety  of 
forms  that  intelligible  description  fails  in  the  small  space 
allotted.  When  the  animal  is  of  valuable  or  special 
strain,  the  best  course  is  to  submit  the  case  to  a  well- 
known  canine  surgeon  for  opinion  as  to  procedure. 

Dislocations. — Displacement  of  bones  in  their  union 
to  form  joints  is  common  in  dogs  of  all  ages.  They 
present  various  aspects  as  well  as  difficulties,  and  the 
patient  should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  skilled 
canine  surgeon. 

Besides  reduction,  the  after-treatment  of  dislocation  is 
often  important.  Bandages  and  splints,  as  for  fractures, 
may  be  required,  being  retained  by  starch,  melted  pitch, 
&c.,  until  the  parts  have  assumed  a  healthy  condition, 
the  use  of  the  limb  being  also  suspended.  Blisters,  or 
even  firing,  may  be  called  for  at  a  later  stage  in  order  to 
hasten  the  cure. 

Fracture  of  Bone  is  frequent  in  dogs.  They  origi- 
nate from  falls,  blows,  kicks  from  horses,  or  being 
run  over  by  vehicles ;  and,  as  a  rule,  are  readily  distin- 
guished by  the  crepitus,  deformity,  pain  on  movement  of 
the  injured  member,  inability  to  use  it,  with  subsequent 


250  Local  Injuries, 

swelling  and  inflammation.  The  power  of  reparation  is 
ample  in  the  dog,  he  is  also  less  liable  to  systemic  dis- 
turbance, and  on  this  account  an  attempt  to  restore  by 
treatment  is  always  advisable  in  ordinary  cases. 

The  treatment  of  these  cases  should  be  entrusted  to 
the  canine  surgeon. 

False  union  may  arise  from  bones  improperly  set, 
when  the  appliances  are  too  slack,  or  the  animal  has 
used  the  limb  too  soon.  In  such  cases  the  limb  is  bent, 
unsightly,  and  gives  rise  to  lameness.  The'common  plan 
is  to  destroy  the  recent  callus  by  fracture,  and  reset  the 
hmb  with  care,  when  good  results  may  be  obtained. 
Such  a  severe  operation  should  call  for  the  use  of  an 
anaesthetic  as  chloroform. 

Lameness  arising  from  various  causes  is  common  in 
canine  animals.  The  usual  signs  consist  of  inability  to 
support  the  weight  of  the  body  without  limping,  or  the 
limb  may  be  carried,  and  during  rest  the  affected  part  is 
indicated  by  the  dog  as  he  licks  or  even  bites  it. 

Sprain  of  Muscle  is  usually  denoted  by  heat,  and 
swelling  and  great  tenderness  over  the  seat  of  injury,  the 
limb  being  carried  in  a  semi-flexed  state,  and  the  foot 
near  the  ground.  The  severe  forms  are  attended  with 
more  or  less  fever  and  inaction  of  the  bowels;  the 
injured  spot  is  often  licked. 

Treatmefit. — Sprain  of  muscle  usually  yields  readily  to 
absolute  rest,  and  the  hot  spongio-piline  poultice 
frequently  renewed  to  maintain  heat.  Pain  may  be 
reduced  by  adding  a  drachm  of  the  tincture  of  belladonna 
or  opium  to  the  material  after  being  slightly  wrung  out. 
The  bowels  should  be  moved  as  directed,  and  w^hen  the 
state  of  the  animal  calls  for  it,  give  a  febrifuge. 

Sprain  of  tendon  may  be  detected  in  a  somewhat 
similar  manner  to  the  above,  with  the  exception  of 
the  evidence  of  immediate  swelling.  Pressure  will,  as  a 
rule,  elicit  the  existence  of  pain,  or,  when  a  joint  is 
sprained,  flexion  and  extension  will  succeed. 

Treatment. — Cold  water  applications  continually  are 
indicated ;  or  evaporating  lotion  may  be  used  to  saturate 
a  thin    bandage    surrounding    the   injured   part.     The 


Local  Injuries.  251 

bowels  win  also  need  attention  as  already  referred  to 
in  preceding  paragraphs. 

Subsequent  treatment  for  Sprains  is  carried  out  as 
follows :  When  the  heat,  pain,  and  inflammation  are 
subdued  the  parts  may  be  smartly  rubbed  two  or  three 
times  daily  by  the  hand,  using  soap  liniment  seven  parts, 
and  laudanum  one  part.  Five  or  six  minutes  may 
suffice  for  the  operation,  the  last  portions  being  rubbed 
to  dryness  of  the  hair,  &c.  When  swelling  or  thickening 
remains,  and  is  cool,  the  following  liniment  should  be 
employed :  Soap  liniment  four  ounces,  tincture  of 
iodine  one  ounce.  Apply  morning  and  evening  with 
friction  as  already  directed. 

Lameness  of  the  Feet  arises  from  several  causes. 
Foot-founder  consists  of  inflammation  of  the  skin  between 
the  balls  or  pads,  arising  from  the  irritation  of  dust, 
sand,  or  wet,  during  long  and  tedious  journeys,  especially 
in  dogs  which  have  been  at  rest  some  time.  It  is  also  a 
common  result  of  "frost-bite."  In  such  instance  the 
resulting  pain  and  fever  are  sufficient  to  throw  the  dog 
off  work  entirely  for  some  time. 

House  mid  Pet  Bogs  likewise  suffer  from  a  similar  but 
slightly  chronic  form  by  long  confinement  indoors,  in 
which  indigestion  and  the  irritation  from  the  heat  and 
dust  of  carpets  equally  contribute.  The  disease  has  been 
facetiously  termed  "carpet  fever,"  as  indicating  the 
systemic  character,  the  accompaniments  being  redness, 
soreness,  and  pain  of  the  skin  in  the  spaces  between  the 
pads.  A  cure  is  effected  in  these  foot  diseases  by  first 
opening  the  bowels,  and  applying  several  times  daily  a 
lotion  of  zinc  or  alum  in  slight  cases.  The  "  Sanitas  " 
Jelly  also  answers  well  for  the  purpose.  When  the  pain 
is  severe,  and  fever  runs  high,  the  hot  spongio-piline 
poultice  is  the  best  application  frequently  renewed,  after 
a  patient  fomentation  with  hot  water,  or  a  hot  bath  in 
which  the  animal  may  be  placed  if  able  to  stand.  As 
soon  as  he  is  able  to  walk,  he  should  wear  boots  or  some 
other  protection  until  the  feet  assume  their  former  cool- 
ness and  hardness.  The  disease  is  apt  to  recur  on 
application  of  the  causes. 


252  Local  Injuries. 

Lijufies  by  Thorfis,  Nails,  (>v.,  are  best  treated  by 
removal  of  the  offending  substance,  dirt,  &c.,  and  the 
appHcation  of  "  Sanitas  "  Jelly  or  the  "  Sanitas  "  Veteri- 
nary Ointment,  with  the  exhibition  of  a  laxative,  &c.,  as 
already  pointed  out. 

Raw,  Bruised  and  Bleeding  Feet  are  the  result  of 
long  journeys  and  the  irritating  dust,  &c.,  of  the  roads, 
and  usually  yield  to  continued  rest,  laxatives,  and  the 
applications  already  advocated. 

Mange  of  the  Foot  is  the  common  result  of  using  the 
member  to  allay  the  irritation  of  the  body,  and  presents 
the  usual  local  indications,  with  ulceration  of  the  toes 
and  loosening  of  the  claws.  The  latter  should  be  re- 
moved, and  the  usual  dressings  for  mange  applied,  or 
the  foot  may  be  enveloped  in  tow  saturated  with  "  Sani- 
tas "  Fluid,  or  well  smeared  with  the  "  Sanitas  "  Veteri- 
nary Ointment. 

Overgroivn  Claws  are  the  usual  result  of  a  luxurious 
life,  especially  on  carpets.  In  the  absence  of  wear  they 
grow  rapidly,  and  curling  beneath  eventually  wound  the 
pads  or  the  interspaces.  They  should  be  severed  a 
little  in  advance  of  the  pad,  by  means  of  stout  wire 
cutters,  and  regular  outdoor  exercise  enjoined. 

Wounds  of  various  kinds  are  inflicted  on  the  skin  of 
dogs,  and  include  all  the  varieties  known  in  animal 
surgery — viz.,  incised,  lacerated,  contused,  d^n^  punctured. 

Incised  Wounds  are  produced  by  some  cutting  instru- 
ment, the  skin  being  evenly  divided  without  loss  of 
substance.  They  may  prove  serious  by  contemporaneous 
wounding  of  blood  vessels. 

Lacerated  Wounds  are  caused  by  hooks,  nails,  &c., 
which  tear  the  skin  unevenly,  and  sometimes  seriously 
interfere  with  the  vitality  of  the  parts,  and  subsequent 
healing.  Sloughing  is,  therefore,  not  an  uncommon 
result. 

Contused  Wounds  are  the  effects  of  blows,  falls,  &c.,  in 
which  the  tissues  are  more  or  less  disorganised  and  the 
vitality  destroyed.  Sloughing  is  a  frequent  after-occur- 
rence. 

Punctured  Wounds  are  caused  by  the  entrance  of  sharp 


Local  Injuries.  253 

bodies,  as  nails,  thorns,  or  splinters  of  wood,  &c.  They 
are  dangerous  according  to  the  depth,  especially  as  some 
of  the  internal  organs  and  cavities  may  be  injured. 

Treatment  consists  of  closing  incised  wounds  by  means 
of  sutures,  always  first  ensuring  the  absence  of  foreign 
bodies.  Some  lacerated  wounds  will  also  admit  of  this 
treatment,  but,  as  a  rule,  sutures  do  not  answer  effectu- 
ally. Bandages,  or  other  forms  of  support  may  be 
needed  according  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  case. 
These,  as  well  as  contused  wounds,  are  often  benefited 
by  stimulating  applications  to  the  surrounding  parts,  as 
soap  liniment,  containing  a  few  drops  of  ammonia, 
alternated  with  fomentations,  or  the  spongio-piline 
poultice.  Punctured  wounds  call  for  the  prompt  re- 
moval of  the  offending  instrument,  for  which  incision 
may  be  required,  Inject  healing  fluids  by  means  of  a 
syringe. 

Wounds  of  Arteries  and  Veins. — These  are  distin- 
guished by  the  colour  of  the  blood,  that  from  an  artery 
being  scarlet,  and  venous  blood  is  a  modena  red. 
Remedies  known  as  styptics  are  used  to  stop  the  flow 
of  blood  by  forming  a  plug  over  the  situation  of  the 
wounds.  Such  are  astringents  which  act  by  coagulating 
the  fibrine,  of  which  the  blood  is  largely  composed. 
Examples  are,  cotton  wool,  German  tinder,  as  mechani- 
cal agents ;  tannic  acid,  lunar  caustic,  and  perchloride  of 
iron,  are  chemical  styptics ;  and  the  hot  iron  a  corrosive 
agent.  A  simple  method  of  arresting  blood  in  a  limb 
consists  of  passing  a  cord  or  handkerchief  round  and 
above  ths  wound,  and  tying  to  form  a  loose  loop.  A 
stick  is  then  passed  through  half  way,  forming  two  con- 
venient handles  for  twisting  the  ligature,  the  result  being 
pressure,  and  arrest  of  the  flow  of  blood.  This  being 
accomplished,  the  local  wound  can  be  treated  more 
efi^iciently,  the  animal  being  saved  from  severe  loss  of 
blood. 


2  54  Poisons. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
POISONS. 

Empirical  Poisoning — Accidental  Poisoning — Wilful  and  Malicious  Poisoning — 
Symptoms  of  Poisoning — Treatment — Mineral  Poisons — Vegetable  Poison- 
ing—Animal Poisons— Snake,  or  Viper  Bite— Wasps,  Hornets,  and  Bees — 
Destruction  of  Dogs. 

The  death  of  animals  by  poisoning  arises  in  three 
ways  : 

In  Empirical  Practice  many  persons  make  use  of 
remedies  the  nature  and  action  of  which  they  know 
little  or  nothing  ;  they  also  continue  the  use  of  a  remedy 
without  being  able  to  perceive  that  it  is  unsuitable,  or 
probably  dangerous.  In  this  way  an  ordinary  medicine 
acts  with  the  virulence  of  a  poison. 

Accidental  Poisoning  takes  place  in  a  variety  of  ways, 
chiefly  through  the  absolute  carelessness  on  the  part  of 
those  who  have  the  custody  of  remedies.  They  are 
sometimes  carelessly  left  within  reach  of  the  animal,  or 
become  mixed  with  the  food ;  and  preparations  for 
external  use  may  be  given  internally.  Vermin  poisons 
reach  the  meal-tub  or  the  feeding-trough ;  large  doses 
of  medicines  are  also  given  too  frequently;  thus,  the 
remedy  which  might  have  effected  a  cure  proves  a 
deadly  poison. 

Wilful  and  Malicious  Poiso7ii?ig,  happily,  is  not 
frequent.  Yet  one  hears  now  and  again  of  a  favourite 
pet,  or  the  first  animal  of  a  special  strain,  having  won 
high  honours,  is  found  dead  or  dying  at  the  time,  or 
before,  he  reaches  his  home.  Such  acts  characterise 
fiends  and  fools  who  fail  to  see  that  others  read  them 
accurately  by  their  daily  lives,  which  have  a  full  renown 
for  many  similar  accomplishments. 

The    Symptoms  of  Poisonings   as  a  rule,   are  quickly 


Poisons,  ^55 

developed,  generally  after  a  meal,  or  they  may  be  asso- 
ciated with  some  special  act  or  circumstance,  as  the 
giving  of  a  tit-bit  by  an  admiring  stranger,  or  immediately 
after  the  external  use  or  internal  administration  of  a 
remedy.  Such  facts  being  kept  in  mind,  precise  attention 
may  be  directed  to  the  probable  cause  with  the  result  of 
showing  whether  the  signs  are  due  to  malicious  intent, 
poisonous  agents,  or  mistakes  in  medicines.  Concise 
information  on  these  points,  as  far  as  they  are  elucidated, 
should  always  be  sent  in  writing  to  the  canine  surgeon 
when  summoned. 

The  precise  Treatment  of  Poiso7iing  must  always  be 
left  with  the  canine  surgeon.  He  alone  can  provide  the 
acknowledged  antidote.  The  owner  may  alleviate  to  an 
extent  the  pangs  and  sufferings  of  the  patient,  for  instance 
in  diarrhoea  or  dysentery,  by  the  giving  of  milk  with  egg 
beaten  up,  thick  flour  or  starch  with  water  will  be  useful ; 
and  when  abdominal  pain  is  acute  a  dose  of  laudanum, 
twenty-five  or  thirty  drops,  or  three  to  five  grains  of  the 
gum.  Syrup  of  white  poppies,  one  to  three  or  four  drachms, 
also  proves  a  useful  agent.  If  vermin  powder  has  been 
taken,  give  broth  or  thick  soup  ;  and  when  hellebore  or 
colchicum  is  the  cause,  add  to  the  milk  and  eggs  nitrous 
ether,  ammonia,  or  spirits,  as  gin,  whisky  or  brandy,  to 
obviate  the  extreme  depression  which  ensues. 

Mineral  Poisons. — These  comprise  a  variety  of  sub- 
stances used  in  medicine  or  otherwise,  the  most  active  of 
which  are  preparations  of  arsenic,  lead,  mercury  and  zinc, 
and  copper. 

The  General  Symptoms  of  Poisonmg  by  Minerals  are  as 
follow  :  irritation  and  violent  pain  in  the  stomach  and 
bowels,  with  vomiting,  diarrhoea,  painful  straining,  the 
evacuations  being  mixed  with  blood,  cramps  of  the  limbs 
and  collapse.  The  membrane  of  the  bowels  is  sometimes 
also  removed,  and  may  be  found  in  the  evacuations,  as 
in  the  case  of  arse?iic,  the  compounds  of  mercury^  and  even 
mercurial  ointment  when  largely  used  to  the  skin.  To 
the  latter  metal  also  is  ascribed  the  mercurial  eczema 
which  arises  from  long  continuance  of  its  use  externally 
as  well  as  internally.     Salivation  is  also  present,  and  the 


256  Poisons. 

breath  as  well  as  the  secretions  of  the  skin  are  highly 
offensive.  Poisoning  by  had,  or  plumbism^  is  denoted  by 
general  failure  of  function  in  the  digestive  apparatus,  a 
blue  line  forming  along  the  gums,  vomition,  colic,  vertigo, 
with  gradual  paralysis  and  death.  Acute  poisoning  by 
copper  resembles  that  of  violent  irritants  generally,  as 
already  detailed  ;  the  Chronic  form  greatly  resembles  that 
of  slow  arsenical  poisoning,  as  impaired  appetite,  consti- 
pation, imperfect  nutrition,  weakness,  and  occasionally 
bloody  urine.  In  this  class  of  poisons  carbolic  acid  must 
be  included.  Few  remedies  in  medicines  have  had  a 
greater  responsibility  as  a  toxic  agent  than  this,  especially 
in  dogs  and  cats.  Whether  used  externally,  internally, 
or  licked  by  the  animal,  it  produces  severe  and  immediate 
depression,  weakness  of  the  heart,  with  ultimate  paralysis 
of  the  organ,  convulsions  and  speedy  death.  In  our 
experience  dogs  have  simply  laid  down,  become  quite 
listless,  breathing  slowly,  with  evident  oppression,  and 
died  in  unconsciousness,  when  the  medicine  has  been 
largely  applied  to  wounded  surfaces.  Whatever  may  be 
its  vaunted  virtues  as  a  sanative  dressing  in  other  animals, 
the  serious  drawback  to  employment  in  the  same  direction 
among  canine  and  feline  animals  is  that  its  general  effects 
are  those  of  a  powerful  poison. 

In  case  of  absorption  of  the  remedy  sufficient  to  produce 
poisoning.  Broad,  of  Bath,  recommends  the  continued 
application  of  cold  water  as  a  spray,  or  by  means  of  the 
rose  on  a  watering-pot,  until  convulsions  cease.  The 
animal  should  also  be  thoroughly  cleansed  by  means  of 
cold  water  and  hard  soap,  or  the  whole  of  the  skin  may 
be  well  rubbed  with  oil.  The  animal  should  receive 
stimulants  internally. 

In  Vegetable  Poisoning  the  symptoms  are  mainly  dif- 
ferent to  those  induced  by  the  metallic  salts.  Strychnine, 
is  perhaps  the  most  common  of  dangerous  drugs,  and 
being  recognised  as  one  of  the  most  fatal,  is  ignorantly 
selected  by  the  wilful  poisoner.  Death  sometimes  arises 
from  overdoses  or  long  continuance  of  the  drug.  Dogs 
are  specially  susceptible  of  its  effects,  the  symptoms 
being  severe  tetanic  convulsions,,  rigidity,  and  straighten- 


Poisons.  257 

ing  of  the  spine,  with  elevation  of  the  head  and  tail, 
rigidity  of  the  legs,  retraction  of  the  muscles  of  the  face 
and  mouth,  inducing  a  remarkable  grin  of  the  features. 
All  the  symptoms  are  sudden  and  simultaneous.  Many 
antidotes  have  been  tried,  the  most  effectual  being  the 
monobromide  of  camphor  in  doses  of  one  to  one-and-a- 
half  drachms,  given  by  the  stomach.  Recovery  has  also 
been  effected  by  the  continued  use  of  chloroform,  and 
subsequently  belladonna  and  opium ;  also  hydrocyanic 
acid  somewhat  later. 

Tobacco,  and  also  Hellebore  Infusions^  sometimes  used 
as  Parasiticides  in  Mange,  &c.,  prove  dangerous  as 
violent  poisons,  being  absorbed  through  the  skin, 
especially  where  it  is  rendered  sore  by  the  parasites. 
The  signs  are  great  depression,  with  vomition,  failure  of 
the  heart's  action,  and  death.  To  counteract  these  states 
the  animal  should  be  immediately  washed  in  clean  cold 
water. 

Snake  and  Viper  Bites  are  forms  of  A?timal  Poisoning, 
The  first  is  common  abroad,  and  exceedingly  fatal; 
the  latter  is  seen  in  England,  and  is  likewise  dangerous 
in  the  dog.  The  aftected  animal  suffers  from  extreme 
distress,  depression  and  difficult  respiration,  with  rapid 
decomposition  of  the  blood,  local  swelling,  paralysis, 
terminating  in  violent  convulsions.  If  the  part  bitten  is 
a  limb,  a  ligature  should  be  applied  above  the  wound, 
sufficiently  tight  to  prevent  absorption.  Strong  solution 
of  ammonia,  largely  diluted,  should  be  administered 
internally  at  frequent  intervals,  and  the  wound  promptly 
cauterised,  or  dressed  freely  with  the  undiluted  ammonia. 
Artificial  respiration  must  be  persistently  carried  on  from 
ihe  first,  and  conjointly  with  cold  afiusions,  with  the 
object  of  producmg  stimulus  to  the  nervous  system.  The 
Bite  of  ihe  Dog  should  also  receive  the  same  treatment, 
especially  if  he  be  suspected  of  rabies.  In  mankind  the 
ligature,  with  prompt  suction  of  the  wound  as  an 
encouragement  to  bleeding,  is  essential. 

It  now  appears  to  be  fairly  demonstrated  that  great 
similarity  of  action  in  the  poison  of  snake-bite  also  ex'sts 
in  the  Indian  arrow-head  poison,  or,  technically,  curare 

17 


258  Poiso7ts. 

and  wourali,  death  arising  from  paralysis  of  the  muscles 
of  respiration,  in  addition  to  the  action  upon  the  heart. 
In  order  to  avert  death,  the  utmost  endeavours  must  be 
made  to  promote  artificial  respiration,  contemporaneous 
with  other  means  described,  by  which  hfe  is  preserved 
long  enough  for  the  other  remedies  to  act  in  the  neutraU- 
sation  of  the  toxic  agent. 

IVasps,  hornets^  bees,  Sic,  in  this  country,  are  trouble- 
some pests  to  the  dog.  Those  animals  used  for  hunting 
purposes,  and  others  which  act  as  marauders,  disturb  the 
insects  by  accidentally  upsetting  the  nests.  The  hornet's 
sting  is  often  rapidly  fatal,  giving  no  opportunity  for 
treatment.  To  escape  an  attack  from  the  infuriated 
insects  it  is  common  to  raise  a  dense  smoke,  or  take 
refuge  behind  thick  bushes,  and,  best  of  all,  to  rush  into 
water  when  at  hand.  The  best  local  as  well  as  internal 
remedy  is  ammonia ;  the  common  washing-blue  is  also 
effective  externally;  and  a  third  popular  agent  is  carron- 
oil,  a  compound  of  linseed  oil  and  lime-water  in  equal 
parts.  Such,  however,  is  the  severity  of  the  poison, 
especially  that  of  the  hornet,  that  the  dog  frequently  dies 
before  anything  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  treatment. 

The  Destruction  of  Dogs. — An  effective  and  speedy 
method  of  putting  useless  and  other  animals  out  of 
existence  is  a  subject  of  importance.  When  they  have 
served  us  faithfully,  having  also  grown  old,  decrepit,  and 
often  offensive,  a  burden  to  themselves  also,  we  grieve  to 
witness  their  condition,  and  desire  to  see  their  misery 
terminated.  Euthanasia,  an  easy  or  calm  death,  is  what 
we  prefer ;  many  methods  are  speedy,  but  the  results  are 
agonising.  Thus,  pnissic  acid  is  probably  the  most 
speedy  and  powerful  poison,  but  the  convulsions  are 
horrifying.  An  electric  shock,  sufficiently  powerful,  is 
surprisingly  effective,  but  is  cumbrous  in  its  application. 
Fithifig  and  droivning  2XQ  objectionable  on  grounds  so 
obvious  that  their  discussion  is  unnecessary.  The 
hypodermic  method,  or  simply  injecting  the  lethal  dose 
beneath  the  skin,  is,  perhaps,  the  most  speedy ;  but  we 
object  to  the  evidences,  although  it  is  probably  certain 
the  animal  is  totally  unconscious  of  all  suffering.      For 


Poisons.  259 

large  numbers  of  animals  nothing  supersedes  the  lethal 
chafuber,  in  which  death  comes  on  as  quietly  as  ordinary 
slumber ;  yet  we  hesitate  to  send  our  favourite  to  die  in 
such  motley  company.  Dr.  Gordon  Stables  recommenas 
first  a  dose  of  chloral  in  the  form  of  syrup  to  induce  sound 
sleep,  during  which  the  animal  is  caused  to  inhale  an 
over-dose  of  chloroform.  In  our  practice  we  omit  the 
chloral  as  an  unnecessary  delay,  and  simply  place  the 
animal  recumbent,  cover  him  with  a  woollen  rug,  doubled, 
then  introduce  beneath  it  a  sponge  fully  saturated  with 
chloroform,  which  is  held  close  to  the  nostrils.  He  thus 
breathes  only  the  vapour  of  chloroform.  Death  is 
speedy  and  minus  all  suffering,  occupying  less  time  than 
is  required  for  writing  the  few  and  imperfect  lines  dis- 
cussing this  special  method. 


INDEX. 


Abdomen,  dropsy  of  the,  200 
Abscess,  112 

,,      of  the  ear-flap,  227 
Abuse  of  medicines,  115 
A  chorion  lebertii,  247 

„      Schbnleinii,  248 
Active  aperient,  162 
Alopecia,  237 
Alteratives,  119 
Amaurosis,  223 
Ansemia,  140 
Anasarca,  238 
Anchylosis.  209 
Anodynes,  120 
Anthrax,  147 
Antispasmodics,  121 
Antiseptics,  i2t 

,,         importance  of,  115 
Antiputrescents,  121 
Aperients,  122 
Aphonia,  174 
Apnoea,  146 
Apoplexy,  231 
Appetite,  109 
Arrow-head  poison,  257 
Arteries,  wounds  of,  253 
Ascaris  ntarginata,  191 
Ascites,  200 
Asthma,  179 
Astringents,  122 
Atony  of  the  rectum,  198 
Auricular  acariasis,  228 


Bakkwell's  Motto  for  Breed- 

ING,  31 
Baldness,  237 
Bandy-legs,  144 
"  Barry,"  story  of,  59 
Beagle',  34 

Bedlington  Terrier,  75 
"  Belton  Greys,"  10 
"  Bernard  de  Meuthon,"  58 
Black  Poodle,  99 
M      Pug,  95 


Black  and  Tan  Terrier,  69 
Bladder,  paralysis  of,  207 
,,         rupture  of,  207 
,,         stone  in,  207 
Bleeding  from  the  nostrils,  173 

,,         piles,  197 
Blenheim  Spaniel,  88 
Blister  fluid,  123 
,,       ointment,  123 
,,       sweating,  124 
Blisters,  123 
Blood  abscess,  227 
,,      diseases,  138 
Bloodhound, 28 

,,  breeding  of  the,  31 

M  origin  of,  29 

Blood  poisoning,  167 
"  Bloom  of  Health,"  io8 
"  Blue  Peter,"  93 
Blue  pill,  122 
Bob-tailed  Sheepdog,  81 
Bolus,  the,  117 
,,      for  diabetes,  122 
,,        ,,    haemorrhage,  133 
,,       stomachic,  137 
Bone,  disease  of,  249 
Borzoi,  50 

Bowel,  stricture  of  the,  199 
,,     atony  of  the,  198 
,,     dropping  of  the,  196 
,,     thickening  of,  198 
Bowels,  infiammation  of  the,  194 
Brain,  injuries  of  the,  233 
„       compression  of  the,  234 
,,       dropsy  of  the,  235 
Breaking-down,  249 

, ,         the  Fox  lerrier,  41 
Breeders  of  the  Blenheim  Spaniel, 
89 
,,  ,,      Bloodhound,  31 

,,  ,,      Dandie  Dinmont, 

69 
,,      Old  English  Mas* 
tiff,  52 
Breeders  gf  Pi'^,  90,  91; 


262 


Index. 


Breeding,  nakewcH's  plan,  31 
Bright's  Disease,  205 
Broken-haired  Terrier,  70 
Bronchitis,  175 

,,  verminous,  178 

Bronchocele,  203 
"  Bull-cross  "  in  Fox  Terrier,  41 
Bull-dog,  63 

,,    Terrier,  65 
Bruises,  or  cuts,  lotion  for,  134 


Canine  H^matozoa,  182 

Canis  cordis,  183 

Canker,  external,  226 
,,  internal,  227 
,,      of  the  mouth,  185 

Carpet  fever,  251 

Castor-oil  mixture,  122 

Catarrh,  170 

Cartilago  nictitans,  224 

Cataract,  221 

Catarrh  of  the  stomach,  189 

Catheter,  use  of,  215 

Caustic  lotions,  125 
,,       potash,  124  . 

Caustics,  124 

"Cecil"  on  the  Foxhound,  32 

Celebrated    breeders     of    Blood- 
hounds, 31 

Charbon,  147 

Characteristics  of  the  Irish  Setter, 
12 

Chloroform,  inhalation  of,  133 

Choking,  187 

Cholera,  148 

Chorea,  232 

Chronic  cough,  179 

„         ,,         mixture  for,  131 
,,      hepatitis,  201 

Circassian  Wolfhound,  51 

Circulatory  system,    diseases    of, 
180 

Classification  of  disease,  116 

Claws,  overgrown,  252 

Cleanliness,  importance  of,  114 

Cleanly  poultice,  136 

Clever  Spaniel,  19 

Close-breeding,  31 

Clumber  Spaniel,  15 

Clysters,  125 

Cocker  Spaniel,  17 

Cockermouth  Beagles,  34 

Canurus  cerebralis,  236 

Colic,  191 


Collie,  the,  83 

Colour  of  the  Greyhound,  28 

,,       Setters,  9 
Common  tick,  246 
Constipation,  194 
Contagious  diseases,  146 
Continuous  vomition,  189 
Contused  wounds,  252 
Cooling  lotion,  134 
Cordial  drench,  127 
Cordial  pill,  127 
Cordials,  127 
Coryza,  170 
Costiveness.  194 
Cough,  chronic,  179 
,,        mixture,  131 
Cow  Dog,  82 
Cramp,  233 
Crooked  legs,  144 
Cultivation  of  the  truffle,  43 
Curare  poisoning,  257 
Cystitis,  206 


Dandie  Dinmont,  73 
Dane,  the  Great,  54 
Dachshund,  36 
Deerhound,  50 

Degeneration  of  the  heart,  182 
Demulcents,  129 
Dermatitis,  238 
Dermatoid  conjunctiva,  224 
Dermatozoa,  242 
Destruction  of  dogs,  258 
Diabetes,  207 

, ,        bolus  for,  122 
Diaphoretics,  128 
Diarrhoea,  192 

,,  mixture  for,  120 

Digestive    system,    diseases    of, 

184 
Digestives,  128 
Diphtheria,  148 
Disease,  classification  of,  ii5 

,,      prevention  of,  114 

,,      treatment  of,  109 
Diseases  of  the  blood,  138 
Dispensing  of  medicines,  117 
Disposal  of  rabid  dogs,  162 
Distemper,  150 
Di stoma  conjunctum,  204 
Diuretics,  128 
Dog,  origin  of,  i 

,,     general      manageinent    ofi 

100 


Index, 


263 


Dog,  habits  of  the,  i 
Dogs,  destruction  of,  258 
Draught,  the,  118 

,,        how  to   administer  the, 
118 
Dressing,  102 

for  fleas,  &c.,  135 
Dropsy  of  the  abdomen,  200 

,,         ,,        cellular  tissue,  238 
eye,  323 

,,         ,,        womb,  213 
Dislocation  of  the  eyeball,  224 
Dislocations,  249 
Drugging,  indiscriminate,  115 
Dysentery,  193 


Ear,  Tu^rouRS  in  the,  228 
Ears,  diseases  of  the,  225 
Eczema,  238 

,,        of  distemper,  154 

,,         Epizootica,  156 

,,         rubrum,  238 
Effective  poultice,  136 
Electuary,  the,  118 
Embrocation,  sedative,  129 

,,  stimulating,  129 

Emesis,  188 
Emetics,  130 
Encephalitis,  234 
Enema,  the,  125 

,,       funnel,  126 

„       gaseous,  126 

,,       syringe,  126 
English  Setter,  8 
Enlargement  of  the  kidney,  206 
Enlargements,    dispersion   of, 

129 
Enteric  distemper,  153 
Enteritis,  195 
Ephemeral  fever,  no 
Epilepsy,  229 
Epistaxis,  173 
Erythema,  240 

Essentials  of  the  Greyhound,  24 
Enstroiigylus  gigas,  206,  209 
Exercise,  importance  of,  115 
Expectorants,  130 
Eyeball,  dislocation  of  the,  223 

„         distension  of  the,  224 
Eyelids,  affections  of,  225 
Eyes,  diseases  of  the,  220 
,,     lotion  for  the,  134 

,,     wash  for  the,  123 

„    watery,  225 


False  union  of  bone,  250 

Filaria  hepatica,  202 
,,       immiiis,  182 
Family  of  Terriers,  66 
Fatty  degeneration  of  the  heart, 

181 
Featherstone  Castle  Setter,  7 
Febrifuges,  131 
Feeding,  systematic,  114 
Feet,  wounds  of  the,  252 
Fever,  no 

,,      bolus,  131 

,,       ephemeral,  no 

,,       mixture,  132 

,,       specific,  III 

,,       symptomatic,  no 
Field  Spaniels,  13 
Filaria  sanguinolenta,  182,  187 
Fistula,  197 
Fits,  229 
Fleas,  246  -    . 

,,     dressing  for,  135 
Fluid  blister,  123 

„  healing,  134 
Fomentations,  132 
Foreign  bodies  in  the  stomach, 

190 
Foxhound,  the,  32 

,,  "  Cecil "  on  the,  32 

Fox  Terrier,  39 

,,         ,,       controversy    on    the 
Bull  cross,  41 
Fracture  of  bone,  249 
Fresh  air,  importance  of,  114 
Funnel,  the  enema,  126 

Gall  Stones,  202 

Gaseous  enema,  126 

Gastric  catarrh,  189 

Gastritis,  190 

General  management  of  the  Dog, 
100 

German  Badger  Terrier,  36 

Gervase  Markham  on  the  Blood- 
hound, 28 

Glanders,  156 

Glass-eye,  222 

Glossitis,  185 

Goitre,  203 

Gonorrhnca,  210 

Gordon  Setter,  10 

Great  Dane,  the,  54 

Greyhound,  the  20 

Gullet,  structure  of  tiie,  187 

Gutta  Serena,  •i'2'2. 


264 


Index. 


Habits  of  the  Dog,  i 
Hasmaturia,  205 
HEemorrhoids,  197 
Hair,  loss  of,  236 
Harrier,  the,  34 
Harvest  Bug,  243 
Haw,  diseases  of  the,  224 
HeaHng  lotion,  134 
Htalth,  signs  of,  108 
Heart,  diseases  of,  182 
Heart-bag,  182 
Hepatic  distemper,  153 
Hepatitis,  200 

,,  chronic,  201 
Herpes  circinatus,  247 
Hernia,  198 

Highland  Sheep-dog,  83 
Honeycomb  ringworm,  247 
Hot  poultice,  136 
Hounds,  28 
Husk,  189 
Hydrocephalus,  235 
Hypodermic  injections,  132 


Icterus,  145 

Importance  of  antiseptics,  115 
,,  ,,  exercise,  115 

Inappetence,  188 

Incised  wounds,  252 

Indigestion,  188 

Inflammation,  iii 

,,  of  the  bladder,  206 

,,  ,,      bowels,  195 

II  II      brain,  194 

,,  ,,      bronchial 

tubes,  175 
I,  >•     ear,  225 

I.  M     eyes,  220 

,,  ,,     liver,  200 

I.     lungs,  176 
,1  11     rnilk     g'and, 

216 
,,  ,,     peritoneum, 

199 
,,  ,,     scrotum,  211 

II  I.     spleen,  203 

,,  ,,     stomach,  190 

,,  ,,     testicle,  212 

,,  ,,     tongue,  185 

,,  ,,     urethra,  208 

,,  ,,     womb,  212 

Inhalation  of  chloroform,  133 
,,  "Sanitas,"  133 

Injections,  125 


Injuries,  local,  245 
Inter-breeding,  144 
Internal  astringents,  122 

,,       canker,  lotion  for,  134 
styptics,  137 
Intestinal  distemper,  153 
Irish  Setter,  12 

,,     Terrier,  "jj 
Iritis,  221 

Itahan  Greyhound,  91 
Itch,  242 
Ixodes  ricinus,  246 

,,       reticulatus,  228 


Jaundice,  145 
Jaw,  abscess  of,  185 
Joint,  stiff,  209 


Kennels,  102 

Kibblehound,  36 

Kidney,  diseases  of,  206 
,,        stone  in  the,  205 
,,        wasting  of  the,  206 

King  Charles  Spaniel,  87 

Knox,    Mr.,    on    points    of   the 
Setter,  12 

Knuckling,  37 


Lacerated  Wounds,  252 

Lacteal  tumours,  217 

Ladies'  toy  dogs,  86 

Lameness,  251 

"  Landseer  Dog,"  57 

Laryngitis,  173 

Leptus  autumnalis,  245 

LeiichcEinia,  145 

Leucocythczmia,  145 

Llewellyn  Setter,  7 

Lice,  246 

,,     dressing  for,  135 
Liniments,  129 
Linseed  mucilage,  127 
Liver,  diseases  of  the,  200 

,,      pills,  122 
Local  injuries,  248 
Locked  jaw,  232 
Lord  Lovat  Setter,  7 
Loss  of  hair,  236 

,,      voice,  174 
Lotion  for  canker,  134 
,,         sprains,  134 
Lotions,  133 


Index. 


S6s 


Lotions,  caustic,  125 
,,        cooling,  134 
eye,  134 
healing,  134 

Lunar  caustic,  124 


Mad  Dog,  Seizure  of  the,  163 
Maltese  Dog,  97 
Malicious  poisoning,  254 
Malignant  distemper,  156 
Mammitis,  216 
Management  of  the  dog,  103 
,,         ,,         pet  dogs,  103 
,,         ,,         whelps,  102 
Mange,  242 

,,        dressings  for,  135 

,,       in  the  ear,  228 

,,        ointment,  134 
Marlborough  Spaniel,  89 
Mastiff,  52 

,,       distinguished  breeders  of 
the,  52 
Measles,  157 
Medicines,  abuse  of,  115 
,,  dispensing,  117 

,,  relative  doses  of,  118 

Medicated  poultice,  136 
Meningitis,  234 
Metritis,  212 

Mild  oleaginous  purge,  122 
Milk,  retention  of,  215 
Mineral  poisoning,  255 
Mixtures  for  diarrhoea,  120 

stomachic,  136 
Modern  Foxhound,  32 

,,        Retriever,  48 
Mucilage  of  linseed,  127 
Mustard  embrocation,  129 


Nephritis,  214 
'      Neuralgia,  231 
*     Newark  Castle  Setter,  7 

Newfoundland,  55 

Norfolk  Retriever,  48 
Spaniel,  17 

Nostrils  bleeding  Irom,  173 
,,        tumours  in,  173 

Noted  St.  Bernards,  62 

Nursing,  119 


Obesity,  140 
CEstrum,  or  heat,  217 


Ointments,  134 

,,  blistering,  123 

,,  for  mange,  134 

Old  English  Mastiff,  53 

Orchitis,  212 

Origin  of  the  Bloodhound,  29 
,,         ,,       Clumber  Spaniel,  8 

..       Dog,  I 
,,         ,,       Gordon  Setter,  10 
,,         ,,       Otterhound,  38 

Orloflf  Wolfhound,  51 

Otterhound,  37 

Otter  Terrier,  39 

Overgrown  claws,  25a 

Ozaena,  171 


Pancreas,  Diseases  of,  203 
Paralysis,  235 

,,         of  the  bladder,  207 
,,         ,,  tongue,  116 

Parasitic  ozaena,  171 
Parasiticides,  135 
Parasites  in  the  heart,  182 
,,  ,,     hver,  202 

Parturition,  218 
Pasteurian  system,  166 
Pathology,  109 
Pediculi,  246 
Peking  Pugs,  95 
Penis,  amputation  of,  211 

,,      wash  for,  123 
Pentastoma  denticitlaiuin,  172 
Pericardium,  diseases  of,  182 
Peritonitis,  199 

Pet  dogs,  management  of,  103 
Pharyngitis,  186 
Piles,  197 
Pill,  the,  117 

,,    to  administer  a,  117 

,,    for  diabetes,  122 
Plethora,  130 
Pleurisy,  176 
Pneumonia,  176 
Poisoning,  254 

treatment  of,  255 
Poisons,  254 
Polypus,  173 

,,       in  the  nostril,  173 
,,      vagina,  214 
Pomeranian,  86 
Pointer,  4 
Poodle,  99,  loo 
Poultice,  136 
Prepuce,  imperforate,  210 


266 


Index. 


Prevention  of  disease,  114. 
„  rabies,  164 

Price  of  the  Fox  Terrier,  42 
"  Prince  Leopold,"  98 
Profuse  urination,  207 
Prolapsus  ani,  196 
Prostate,  disease  of,  208 
Ptyalism,  186 
Pug  Dog,  94 
Pulex  if  ri tans,  246 
Pulmonary  distemper,  153 
Purgatives,  136 
Putrilage,  149 
Pyrenean  Wolfhound,  51 


Rabies,  157 

Rabid  dogs,  disposal  of,  162 

Rabbit  Beagle,  36 

Rachitis,  143 

Recent  cough,  mixture  for,  131 

Rectum,  atony  of,  198 

Red  Poodle,  100 

,,     mange,  238,  243 

,,    water,  205 
Relative  doses  of  medicines,  119 
Regularity  of  feeding,  114 
Remedies  for  worms,  137 
Respiratory  system,    diseases  of, 

170 
Retriever,  48 
Rheumatism,  141 
Rickets,  143 
Ringworm,  247 
Rough  Terrier,  70 
Round  worms,  remedies  for,  138 
Rupture  of  the  heart,  181 
Russian  Setter,  6 

,,        Wolfhound,  50 


St.  Bernard  Dog,  58 
St.  Vitus's  Dance,  232 
SaHva,  flow  of,  186 
"Sanitas,"  inhalation  of,  133 
,,  preparations,  n6 

Sarcoptes  canis,  242 
Sarcoptic  scabies,  242 
,,         mange,  242 
Scab,  242 
Scabies,  242 
Scotch  Collie,  85 

,,      Greyhound,  20 

,,      Setter,  10 
Scurfy  ears,  228 


Sedative  embrocations,  129 

Seizure  of  mad  dogs,  163 

Septicaemia,  167 

Serous  cyst,  113 

Setters,  6 

Sheepdog,  81 

Siberian  Wolfhound,  50 

Simple  fever,  no 

Skin,  diseases  of,  236 
,,     parasites  of,  241 

Skye  Terrier,  71 

Small-pox,  169 

Smooth  Collie,  85 

English  Terrier,  67 

Snake  bites,  257 

Snoring,  174 

Sore  throat,  173 

Soothing  embrocation,  129 

Spaniel.  13,  18 

Spasms,  191 

Specific  diseases,  146 
,,        fever,  in 

Spiroptera   sanguinoUnta, 
191 

Spitz  Dog,  86 

Spleen,  diseases  of,  203 

Spongio  piline,  use  of,  136 

Sprains,  250 

,,        lotions  for,  134 

Staghound,  32 

Staphyloma,  223 

Stiff  joint,  248 

Stimulants,  136 

Stimulating  embrocation,  129 

Stings  of  wasps,  258 

Stomach  catarrh,  189 

,,        foreign  bodies  in,  190 
,,         worms  in,  191 

Stomachic  bolus,  137 

Stomachics,  137 

Stone  in  the  bladder,  207 
,,  ,,  kidney,  205 
,,         ,,       urethra,  208 

Stricture  of  the  bowel,  199 

Strongylus  filaria,  178 

Styptics,  137 

Subcutaneous  injections,  132 

Sui-feit,  238 

Sussex  Spaniel,  14 

Sweating  blister,  124 

,,         embrocation,  129 

Symptomatic  fever,  no 

Symptoms  of  poisoning,  254 

Syringe,  clyster,  126 

Systematic  feeding,  115 


Index, 


267 


"Taii  OR  NO  Tail,"  82 

Tceni.i  cucumcrina,  191 
,,      cccnunis,  191 

Tapeworm,  remedy  for,  138 

Teeth,  diseases  of,  184 

"  Tell,"  measurements  of,  61 

Terriers,  family  of,  66 

Tetanus,  232 

Tetranychus  auiumnalis,  245 

Ticks,  246 

Tinea  favosa,  247 
,,       tonsurans,  248 

Tongue,  diseases  of,  185 

Tonics,  137 

Toy  dogs,  86 
,,    Terrier,  98 

Treatment  oi  abscess,  113 
,,  disease,  109 

,,  fever,  in 

,,  inflammation,  112 

,,  poisoning,  25=5 

,,  rabies,  167 

,,  serous  cyst,  113 

Trycophyton  favosa,  249 

,,  tonsurans,  247 

Truffle,  the,  43 
dog,  44 
,,     training  the,  45 

Tuberculosis,  168 

Tvveedside  Spaniel,  18 


Ur/emia,  145 
Ureters,  impaction  of,  206 
Urethra,  stone  in,  208 
Urethritis,  208 


Vagina,  amputation  of,  215 
,,         inversion  of,  215 
,,         tumour  in,  214 

Value  of  Spaniels,  90 

Valvular  diseases  of  the  heart,  i8i 


Variola,  169 

Vegetable  parasites,  247 

,,         poisoning,  256 
Veins,  wounds  of,  253 
Verminous  bronchitis,  178 
VerruccB,  240 
Vertigo,  230 
Voice,  loss  of,  174 
Vomition,  188 

,,  continuous,  189 


Warts  on  the  Skin,  240 
Wash  for  the  eyes,  123 

II         >•      penis,  123 
Wasp  stings,  258 
Wasting  of  the  kidney,  206 
Water  Spaniel,  18 
Weight  of  Italian  Greyhound, 

92 
Welsh  Cocker,  17 

,,      Terrier,  79 
Whelps,  102 
Whippet,  80 
Wilful  poisoning,  254 
Wolfhound,  51 
Womb,  amputation  of,  214 

,,       prolapsus  of,  214 
Worm  medicines,  137 

,,      in  the  kidney,  216 

,,  ,,      urethra,  209 

Worms  in  the  intestines,  198 

,,  ,,     stomach,  191 

Wounds,  252 

,,         lotion  for,  134 
, ,         of  arteries  and  veins,  253 
,,        of  the  feet,  252 
,,  ,,      tongue,  185 

Wourali  poisoning,  258 


Yorkshire  Dog,  70 
Youatt  on  the  Setter,  7 


Printed  by  Ballantvne,  Hanson  Sf  Co. 
London  ami  Edinburgh, 


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