THE CARE OF THE DOG'S SKIN. 123 



from draughts. If washing must be done in winter or 

 for medical purposes, blanketing after, for a few hours at 

 all events, may be necessary. 



Washing generally requires the use of soap, and this 

 especially removes the oil from the hair, so that the coat 

 after a good wash is generally somewhat dry and harsh to 

 the feel, while repeated Avashings render it coarse and 

 otherwise unnatural. 



The soap should be well rinsed out with soft water 

 colder than that used for the general cleansing. This acts 

 as a stimulant, and tends to prevent taking cold. 



Our own experience teaches us that headache, nausea, 

 etc., are much less likely to follow a bath if the head be 

 wet first. 



It is important to see that the ears are gently but well 

 dried far within ; otherwise eczema of the flap and pos- 

 sibly inflammation of the middle ear, may follow. 



Grooming. — This implies friction to the skin with ap- 

 propriate means, such as brushes, gloves, cloths, chamois 

 leather, and especially the naked hand. Common sense 

 dictates that this must vary with the breed, size, sort of 

 coat the dog has, etc. 



The idea is to remove dead epithelial scales (dandruff, 

 scurf), foreign matter, as dust, to straighten hair and 

 remove dead hair, quicken the functions of the sebaceous 

 glands so that the hair will be oiled by a natural process, 

 cause a distribution of blood and nervous energy to all 

 parts of the skin, and so encourage all its functions. Of 

 late, massage or kneading of the skin and deeper parts in a 

 systematic way has come into use in human medical prac- 

 tice with the best results, though its value has long been 



