183 

 There are two -sources of fat ; one is over-feeding, 

 the other want of excercise ; and when, as is very 

 frequently the case, both happen to meet in the same 

 subject, then the accumulation is certain. When 

 dogs are over-fed, whatever is talien into the body 

 more than the general secretions require is either 

 converted into fat, or forms some other unusual se- 

 cretion ; such as matter in the ears, as in canker ; 

 or scabs on the skin, as in mange. 



Exercise increases all tlie secretions ; hence, under 

 strong exercise more nutriment is required ; and 

 thus, in these cases, full feeding does not produce 

 f;it ; but even in full exercise, provided some of the 

 secretions are stopped, though others may be in full 

 force, yet the accumulation of fat becomes great : 

 thus spayed bitches and castrated dogs become very 

 fat, however thev mav work. 



Fat more readily accumulates in middle aged and 

 old dogs than In young ; and the fat of old dogs 

 is more hurtful than of the young, because all old 

 animals have their fat placed more inwardly, while 

 voung ones have it placed upon the surface of the 



body. 



Fat occasions several diseases ; it is the parent of 

 dropsy, it generates mange and canker : but the 

 most fatal disease it occasions is asthma, which see. 

 Sometimes it occasions continued tits, from the press- 

 ure it produces on the vessels of the head and chest. 



FEEDING OF DOGS, 



This is an important subject, as uj)on judicious 

 feeding much of their health and comfort depends, 

 and by injudicious feeding very many of their cojn« 



K 2 



