144 Blood Diseases, 



the elements necessary for bone formation, as lime water, 

 finely ground bones or egg shells, good oatmeal porridge 

 forming the medium as well as the bulk of the daily food. 

 Cod-liver oil, glycerine, or linseed oil should be variously 

 alternated with the foregoing to promote assimilation, 

 and impart warmth. Additional advantages will be 

 derived from daily, but suitable and gentle exercise. 

 As a general medicine, the following may be advan- 

 tageous : — Cod-liver oil, or linseed oil, and lime water, 

 of each 8 fluid ounces ; solution of dialised iron, one 

 fluid ounce; aromatic spirit of ammonia, one fluid 

 ounce. Mix the oil and lime water together and shake 

 well; next add the ammonia and again agitate; finally 

 put in the iron solution and mix. The dose should vary 

 from one teaspoonful to a tablespoonful twice a day, 

 age and size of the patient being considered. 



It remains to be stated with emphasis \hdXricketty dogs 

 should not be used for breeding purposes. Male and female 

 alike hand down the defects and hereditary taint, which 

 effectually frustrate the designs of the owner to improve 

 his animals through that means. 



Inter-breeding, or breeding from animals of close con- 

 sanguinity is also set down as the cause or origin of 

 rickets as well as many other diseases. This is un- 

 doubtedly true when one or both parents are unsound 

 from existing disease. We need to remember that a 

 close system of in-breeding has given us our famous 

 flocks and herds, as well as unrivalled studs of the finest 

 horses. A true system of in-breeding is based on careful 

 selection of the healthiest as well as the best formed 

 animals, and the results are inevitably favourable, even 

 with animals of close consanguinity. Health, hardi- 

 hood, vigour, conformation, (S:c., are fortunately as 

 hereditary as the taint of scrofula, or any other specific 

 disease, the value of the progeny being in direct ratio to 

 the soundness or otherwise of the parents. 



Crooked or Bandy Legs are peculiarly common to 

 some breeds of dogs, and of late years the deformity has 

 gradually come to be esteemed as a peculiarity of breed. 

 The Dachshund and Basset Hound are of this class. 



