202 



REARING. 



both to wheat-flour and oatmal in fat-nrsaking materials, but it ig 

 greatly inferior in muscle-making power, and hence, in dogs where 

 fat is not required, it is of inferior vaUie. Science and prnctical 

 experiment here go hand in hand, as they alwa^'s do when the for- 

 mer is based upon true premises. In cow's milk, which is the nai- 

 jral food of the young of the Mammalia, the proportion is 30 to 

 10, and this seems to be about what is required in mixing the ani- 

 mal and vegetable food. Now by adding equal weights of wheat- 

 meal and lean horseflesh, we obtain exactly the same proportions 

 within the merest trifle ; thus — 



Wheat-flour 10 46 



Horseflesh 10 15 



20 61 



being equal to 10 of muscle-making to 30| of fat-making matter ; 

 and this is practically the proportion of animal food to meal which 

 best suits the dog's stomach and general system. The reader is 

 not to suppose that a dog is to be fed on equal parts of cooked 

 meat and pudding, but of raw meat and dry meal, which when 

 both are boiled would, by the loss of juice in the flesh and the ab- 

 sorption of water in the meal, become converted into about two 

 quantities by weight of pudding to one of cooked meat. Even 

 this proportion of flesh is a large one for growing dogs which have 

 not much exercise, but those which are "at walk" or which have 

 their liberty in any situation will bear it. Most people prefer a 

 much smaller proportion of meat, especially for hounds, pointers, 

 setters, and spaniels, which depend on their nose, this organ being 

 supposed to be rendered less delicate by high feeding. From long 

 experience in this matter, however, I am satisfied that, while the 

 health is maintained in a perfect stiite, there is no occasion to fear 

 the loss of nose, and that such may be avoided with the above diet 

 I am confident from actual practice. At the same time it must 

 not be forgotten that all dogs so fed require a great supply of 

 green vegetables, which should be given once or twice a week dur- 

 ing the summer, without which they become heated, and throw 

 out an eruption as a proof of it, the nose also being hot ana dry. 



