POT A TOES — POULTICES 



long, wide, and lying close to the head ; the neck long 

 and muscular, and the shoulders powerful and sloping, the 

 poodle being a very active dog. The back is short, the 

 loins powerful and slightly arched, and the ribs nicely 

 sprung. The fore-legs are rather long, quite straight, and 

 heavy in bone ; the feet small and compact, and the hind- 

 legs bent at stifles and hocks ; the tail, which is usually 

 docked, being carried gaily. The question of coat has been 

 alluded to above, but it may be added that it should be 

 harsh in texture, the most common colours being black 

 and white, but brown, grey, red, and blue are also seen, 

 parti-coloured specimens not being liked, though they are 

 not liable to disqualification. Average weight, 45 lbs. 

 (See Occipital Protuberance,) 



Potatoes are frequently given to dogs, and if they are 

 thoroughly well boiled and mashed up they form a use- 

 ful change when mixed with broth and a little meat or 

 paunches, but as a staple food they are not to be recom- 

 mended. (See Feeding?) 



Poultices, as in the case of human beings, are often 

 very useful in reducing pain in cases of inflammation. 

 The most serviceable is a poultice made of linseed in 

 the following way : Take a sufficiency of linseed meal, 

 place it in a basin, cover it with boiling water, and stir 

 with a table-knife until it is thoroughly mixed, when it 

 may be applied. Of course it must not be put on if it is 

 so hot that the dog will be scalded, but it ought to be quite 

 warm. It is best to enclose the poultice in a piece of linen 

 or muslin, in order to keep the meal from clinging to the 

 hair of the dog ; and if the poultice is applied for the pur- 

 pose of drawing the matter out of a wound, a little oil may 

 be smeared on the cloth beforehand to prevent it sticking. 

 Mustard poultices are useful in cases of bronchitis, pneu- 

 monia, and the like, but it is best to add a little linseed 

 meal to them. (See Nursing^ 



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