ANIMAL FOODS. 29 



The same relation and about the same degree of inti- 

 macy exists in dogs, and one quiet and gentle while being 

 fed largely on vegetables will more than likely become a 

 little bolder and perhaps be less good-natured towards 

 strangers. And in this case, as in the other, the animal 

 food acts as a stimulant and arouses the natural ferocity, 

 which although evidences of it may under ordinary condi- 

 tions be wanting yet exists in every flesh-eating animal. 



However, this action of meat upon dogs is not suffi- 

 ciently intense to make it worthy of consideration ; and 

 where they have become savage under its generous use, 

 were the truth known it would doubtless appear that in 

 nearly all cases they had been much kept on the chain at 

 the time, and the perversion of nature was due far more 

 to the restraint than to the diet. In a word, treat a dog 

 humanely, and his diet, no matter how generous the pro- 

 portion of meat, will very seldom injure his nature. 



Reverting to the culinary preparation of animal food, 

 it is again urged that when the popular method, boiling, 

 is applied, in every instance the water or broth be fed out 

 with the meat because this contains important elements, 

 extracted during the cooking, which the body must have 

 for its support, especially if under heavy drains, as during 

 gestation and nursing. 



As practically stated, to occasionally vary the form of 

 the meat in the diet from cooked to raw is advisable, but 

 the latter can scarcely be wisely given with vegetables 

 and starches, unless it is finely minced and so thoroughly 

 mixed with them it cannot be picked out. Hence, when 

 it is to be but a part of a feed, it should be withheld until 

 the last, for the other foods might be left untouched — 

 the keen edge of the appetite having been taken off by 

 the much more palatable morsels. 



As for bones, they have rightly been called the dog's 



