Diseases of the Dog. 1 1 5 



ness is to promote the movement of fresh air. Foul and 

 dark habitations interfere with true ventilation. The 

 system breathes the poison thus generated, which acts as 

 a powerful sedative on all the functions of animal life, 

 predisposing it to diseased conditions. The system, in 

 other words, acts like a sponge, and constantly imbibing 

 impure elements, becomes fertile soil in which the seeds 

 of disease may find the needful sustenance of their nature. 

 Regular Exercise in the Open Air, apart from actual 

 work, is essential for the promotion of organic function, 

 many varieties of which are going on incessantly, besides 

 eating and drinking. Food and exercise produce waste, 

 the latter being mainly essential in the process of 

 eUminating the waste, as the result of consumption of 

 the first. Systematic Feeding is also essential. The 

 character of the food should vary with work and rest. 

 When animals come from hard work to partial or com- 

 plete idleness, the food should be suitably changed. Rich 

 aliment as flesh, should be replaced by smaller allow- 

 ances, the usual bulk being supplied by adding vegetables, 

 as boiled greens or potatoes, &c. Linseed mucilage 

 may be suitably added to meal, porridge, &c., when the 

 faeces are dry and hard. If they should become dark- 

 coloured, or black, and offensive, which may arise from 

 the ingestion of raw, decaying animal food, as dead 

 rabbits, &c., a dose of the castor-oil mixture, or simply 

 raw linseed oil, should be given, containing 5 to 60 drops 

 of the ''Sanitas Fluid." The Abuse of Medicines is a 

 constant source of ill health in many establishments. 

 Proper food, water, and rest, will often do more good 

 than medicines, which should never be given without a 

 clear knowledge of the requirements of the case and 

 their suitability for it. Frequent and Lidiscriminate 

 Drugging is the basis on which blatant quackery thrives. 

 Those who practise the first are responsible for the latter, 

 and have no cause to complain when their malady be- 

 comes intolerable. Lastly, the means of pro?noting health 

 includes the use of good and reUable antiseptics, the 

 effect of which is the destruction of offensive odours, 

 which act powerfully through the medium of respiration, 



