98 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



A dark kennel is a wretched dog prison, unfavorable 

 alike to health and canine happiness. 



There are special reasons why kennels should be well 

 ventilated. However cleanly dogs may be, and however 

 well their tendencies to be so may be encouraged, it will 

 happen that excretions will lie on the kennel floor at times. 

 Apart from the vitiation of the atmosphere, there is that 

 more fatal poisoning that arises through emanations from 

 the lungs and skin of the animals. At the same time ven- 

 tilation must be accomplished without draught, except in 

 the hottest days of summer, when a slight breeze is as re- 

 freshing as to ourselves. But draughts, even in summer, at 

 night, are a fruitful source of diarrhoeas, other disturbances 

 of digestion, etc. Yentilating-shafts through the roof, 

 that can be closed to a greater or less extent as occasion 

 demands, prove successful. In addition, the kennels may 

 be well aired several times a day, when the animals are out, 

 by the doors and window^s. 



If the space can be afforded, the plan that has worked 

 so well in some educational institutions, and, as w^e happen 

 to know, in some very large kennels, should be provided 

 for, w^hich is having certain rooms or compartments used 

 only half the time — e. g., room A is used to-day as the habi- 

 tation of the dogs while room B is being cleaned thor- 

 oughly and abundantly aired, w^hile on the succeeding 

 day room B will be occupied. This is far in advance of all 

 other methods when it can be adopted. 



If the climate will permit, it is to our mind clear that 

 hardier dogs will be reared if no artificial heat be used in 

 the kennel. It is preferable even to blanket the dogs, 

 though that is not as easily carried out as with horses ; 



