VEGETABLE FOODS. 41 



harmlessly increase the quantity — a matter of no little 

 importance in using highly concentrated foods which 

 would scarcely satisfy the appetite of the average dog 

 unless more than he could properly assimilate was 

 allowed. 



In brief, bread made from finer grades of wheat flour 

 yields so little nourishment to the dog that it is of value 

 merely for admixture with other foods, which alone should 

 be very nearly sufficient for his support — that is, without 

 the bread. 



As for " brown bread " proper, called Graham bread by 

 many, it is decidedly richer in nutritive matters than the 

 white bread, for it contains all parts of the wheat grain. 

 Owing also to the presence of the particles of bran — 

 which are indigestible and by their roughness stimulate 

 the muscular coat of the alimentary canal, and so aid in 

 keeping the bowels free — this bread is of special value in 

 feeding dogs that are allowed but little exercise. And it 

 may be given with meat alone, in about the proportion of 

 three parts bread to one of meat, or mixed with other 

 starchy foods — as for instance, one-half "brown bread," 

 one-fourth rice, one-fourth meat, and perhaps one or two 

 eggs, the bread being softened always with a little broth, 

 and the meat chopped fine and well mixed with it and the 

 other foods. 



But this " brown bread " must not be confounded with 

 what is known as " Boston brown bread." The former, 

 as stated, is made from "whole wheat flour," or in other 

 words from bran and flour, and has much of the lightness 

 and porosity of white bread, but the latter contains various 

 ingredients, some of which tend to lessen its digesti- 

 bility. And withal, while fresh it forms in the stomach a 

 pasty mass which the digestive fluids find it hard to per- 

 meate, and in consequence their work is delayed. 



