236 BREEDING 



has been poisoned with strychnine. The legs are stretched- out and rigid, 

 the tail is often curled tightly over the back and the head is drawn back. 

 The mouth is generally kept wide open, the dog panting violently, but 

 there is no loss of consciousness. 



With respect to treatment, it is seldom medicine can be given by the 

 mouth in these cases, but when it is possible, a large dose of bromide of 

 potassium — say one scruple for a bitch the size of a fox terrier, in a table- 

 spoonful of water, should be given. Great care must be used in giving 

 the liquid, or the patient will be choked. The bromide may be repeated 

 in an hour. When it is impossible to give the medicine by the mouth, an 

 enema, containing hydrated chloral should be used. The dose for a dog 

 the size of a fox terrier, in an urgent case like this, should be half a dram 

 dissolved in about four tablespoonfuls of warm water and given when tepid. 



Smaller dogs — say spaniels and Yorkshire terriers — may have a scru- 

 ple of chloral dissolved, of course in less water. When the attack has 

 passed off, to prevent a recurence it is advisable to give a course of bromide 

 — say from three to five grains for dogs the size of toy spaniels and fox 

 terriers in a little water three or four times a day, and feed on. a light 

 diet, as bread and milk, or the latter thickened with Genger's food. 



If the convulsions do return the puppies ought to be weaned and 

 means taken to disperse the milk. Trouble sometimes occurs in doing this 

 even when the puppies have been gradually weaned, and such is particu- 

 larly the case when bitches have milk without having puppies. Aperient 

 medicines should always be given, castor oil being the best. A full dose 

 should be administered about every four days. The glands should be rub- 

 bed twice a day with camphorated spirits, or the balsam of Peru ointment. 

 What suits one dog does not always suit another, therefore when the milk 

 does not seem to be dispersing as quickly as it should, other external rem- 

 edies may be tried, as rubbing the glands with whisky or brandy, or even 

 eau-de-cologne, and I have often had good success by dabbing the glands 

 frequently with the following simple lotion applied cold : 



Recipe. — Methylated spirits (wood alcohol) one ounce; cold water eight 

 ounces. 



The milk, unless it is secreted in very large quantitiesV-'and is caus- 

 ing pain, or is becoming hard, should not be drawn off, as to do so only 

 stimulates the secretion. Sometimes these cases are extreme-ly obstinate 

 and will last five or six weeks, or even longer. In such Iiista'ricies, iodide of 

 soda is useful in closes from half to two grains, according to the size of 

 the bitch, given in a little water, and repeated twice daily; • The diet in 

 these cases should be light and of a stimulating character, as bread and 

 milk, dry biscuits, milk pudding, etc." 



One never knows when some untoward circumstance will arise in 

 parturition. Pups come the wrong way, are too large,, or something or other 

 happens that nonplusses even the best of us sometimes. 



A bitch should be made to come out to empty, herself, if only for a 

 few moments on the first day, or if she whelps at night, then on the next 

 day, as many bitches through strong maternal instinct, love for their pup- 

 pies, and through fear that some harm may befall her children, will often 

 "hold in" and damage result from no relief to the kidneys or stomach. 



The following is copied from the American Field, and-is valuable on 

 this subject: 



"Bitches at such times often become a little distressed, when their 

 labor is at hand, and will crawl or creep into any hole or corner in order 

 to seek relief, and will sometimes whelp in the most unsuitable places — ■ 

 on a cold floor, for instance. The bench should be protected on all sides, 

 so that the puppies are not subject to the danger of being thrown "over- 

 board," and the bench should not be too large, for fear of the puppies 

 getting pushed away from their dam and getting cold, before they are 

 properly dry. Dry, clean wheat straw makes the best bedding. 



"The latter contingency is one that frequently happens. While the 

 earlier puppies are yet moist they are pushed away from their dam in 

 her efforts to give birth to succeeding puppies, cold strikes into their 



