

CHAPTER IX. 



WASHING AND GROOMING, 



The skin is something more than a mere covering for 

 the body, and hterally an organ which to some extent 

 shares the work of the lungs and gives off carbonic acid 

 gas and other waste matters ; moreover, it holds the sys- 

 tem that modifies the bodily heat. Obviously, therefore, 

 if in an unclean state and its so-called pores are choked 

 with impurities it cannot perform its functions of elimi- 

 nation, and these matters must make their way out by 

 means of other avenues or be returned to the blood ; nor 

 will it be easy to maintain the body at its proper temper- 

 ature. 



The skin of a robust dog that has ample exercise is 

 generally in a good, healthy condition and rarely requires 

 washing, for he often induces free and profuse perspira- 

 tion during his runs and so flushes the pores, while by oc- 

 casional swims and rolls in the grass he manages to keep 

 the surface and hair fairly clean. But with him that is 

 chained most of the time or otherwise closely confined 

 frequent washing is imperative, for the thin, fine scales 

 that are exfoliated in abundance and the accumulations 



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