UPLAND SHOOTING. 353 



The habit of worming dogs is, I believe, now entirely out of 

 date, as it is entirely useless as a preventive for hydrophobia, 

 of which it was ignorantly supposed to prevent the possible 

 occurrence. It is an al)surd, useless and cruel practice. 



I do not approve of the practice of either cropping, rounding 

 or tailing dogs ; but if in compliance with an absurd fashion it 

 must be done, and the animal disfigured, and often seriously 

 injured — for deafness is a common consequence of cropping — 

 the operation should be performed with a pair of sharp, strong 

 scissors, and a ligature should be applied to the tail, in order to 

 prevent excessive bleeding. 



For the bites of poisonous reptiles, the best remedy is to nib 

 the part bitten freely with volatile alcali, and to give to a large 

 dog forty drops of spirits of hartshorn hourly in a teaspoonful 

 of sweet oil. 



When these cannot be obtained, rub the wound freely with 

 olive oil, close to a wood fire, and give large doses of olive oil 

 internally. 



A poultice of the leaves of the broad-leaved plantain, bruised 

 and mixed with common salt, I have found useful. 



For sprains, bruises or thom wounds, hot fomentations of 

 infusion of camomile flowers, or vinegar and water, as hot as can 

 be endured, and warm poultices, are the best practice. In the 

 case of thora wounds the laceration should be carefully searched 

 that no portion of the thorn or splinter remain within it. 



Large cuts or lacerations should be washed carefully with 

 tepid water, the lips, if necessary, secured by a stitch or two, 

 and the edges brought into contact by strips of adhesive plaster. 

 It is a very false idea that the animal's tongue is the best dres- 

 sing. Mr. Blaine obsei-ves on this point, " In some instances, I 

 am ceitain, no application can be worse to a wounded dog 

 than his own tongue. Whenever dogs are at all inclined to 

 foulness, as a tendency to cuticular complaint is called, a sore 

 so licked, is sure to become mangy, 'and to be aggravated by the 

 licking." 



I shall conclude this branch of ray subject, as I commenced 

 23 



