195 

 masse?, called greaves. For very large dogs, or in 

 the place of otl^r food, they may be a comeiiieiit 

 substitute, but ought not to be used when any thing 

 before mentioned can be procured. 



Many opinions prevail on the subject of horse- 

 flesh as food, it being as strenuously supported by 

 some as it is condemned by others. But the pro- 

 per opinion to form is to consider it as a strong and 

 most actively nutritious food, and hence only fit for 

 dogs who undergo great exercise ; and ^^ ith them it 

 never proves hurtful : but wiiere it is given to dogs 

 who have little exercise, it produces a foul stinking 

 coat and itching skin. Much diversity of opinion 

 prevails also as to w hether it is better raw or dressed. 

 In a state of iiatu^'e, it is evident that dogs live on 

 raw meat, and tlicre is no doubt that this best fits 

 them for their various purposes, and enables them to 

 perform all ihcir functions with vi2:ou.rand durability ; 

 and where fivsh can be procured sweet and fresh, in 

 that state, it will go farthest and nourish most ; but 

 when at all putrid, dressing considerably restores it. 

 At v.'hat })eriods dogs ought to be fed is frequently 

 . also a matter of debate. This reouires to be con- 



m 



sidered in a similar point of view with the foregoing 

 subjects ^\hcn we shall readily correct cur judgment 

 on the subject. In a state of nature, a daily meal 

 even must be very precarious; for, in some situations, 

 vegetable food cannot be obtained, and then the 

 bunting down of other animals, or the meeting with 

 the ofial or refuse of what may have been hunted 

 by others, must be the principal support. For this 

 reason. Nature has kindly and wisely fitted a dog 

 with a stomach tliat digests his food, particularly 



