236 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



and bread, and continue this diet for about a month; then 

 give them same food as the old dogs eat. 



The remedies that I found to be of value in the treat- 

 ment of a few diseases, I learned by years of practical 

 experience in handling dogs. I will simply tell you in 

 what ways I conquered the many troubles that every ken- 

 nel-man is subject to. 



The mange will appear in the best-managed kennels, 

 and, if not rooted out, will be the cause of endless trouble. 

 Many kennels have been broken up because the disease 

 could not be eradicated. When a dog shows the disease, I 

 separate him from the rest, and he has to make his home 

 in a small building put up for this purpose, which I call 

 the " ash-box." The floor is covered with dry wood ashes. 

 The dog is now bound to walk on ashes; will he lay down 

 to sleep, he will sleep on ashes. Kept for one or two weeks 

 in this place, you will find your dog well, and the mange 

 cured. You must let the patient have exercise every day, 

 and it will be good to wash him once a day; but be sure 

 that he does not come too close to your healthy dogs. 



I will tell you how I came to introduce the "ash-box." 

 I received a dog from Europe that was covered with the 

 disease. All remedies that I tried failed to cure him he 

 was in a horrible condition; and after all remedies had 

 failed, I decided to shoot him. When going to the woods, 

 intending to kill the poor animal, I met a farmer, whom I 

 told of my intention, and who requested me to let him 

 have the dog, to which I consented. I had not heard from 

 the man or the dog for several months, when, while hunt- 

 ing, I came near his home, and being anxious to find out 

 how the dog was getting along, started to his house. I 

 soon saw the Dachshund coming toward me, and was sur- 

 prised to see him in the finest possible condition. 



On inquiring how it was possible to have cured him, the 

 farmer said he had done nothing to him whatever but let 

 him run wherever he wanted to; and the first day he dug a 

 hole in a pile of wood ashes, and had slept there ever 



