174 KENNEL SECRETS. 



they are most decidedly injurious to the skin and hair. 

 Consequently the reader must not attempt to substitute 

 one of them. 



"Mild" mercurial ointment is called for, but there is 

 none such in the American pharmacopoeia, and he who 

 has this formula put up should inform his druggist 

 that he desires the mercurial ointment popularly known 

 as "blue ointment," and that it should be diluted one- 

 half; or he can obtain the ointment in full strength and 

 add to each pound of soap one-half an ounce of it instead 

 of one ounce of the diluted or "mild." 



Soft soap of good quality is much used by physicians in 

 cutaneous diseases, and chiefly eczema and scabies. As 

 for mercurial ointment, that has a destructive action on 

 parasitic growths and vermin ; while camphor is a sedative 

 and allays itching. It will appear, therefore, that soap 

 made after the foregoing formula must be most admir- 

 able, not only as a means of cleanliness and of pro- 

 moting health of the skin, but also as an insecticide and 

 preventive of mange and other skin disorders. That it is 

 really all this experience has abundantly proved, and the 

 writer unhesitatingly places it before all others for use in 

 the kennel. 



Drying should always be effected as speedily as possible 

 after washing, and with soft and perfectly clean towels, 

 the rubbing on long-coated dogs at least being carefully 

 and gently done. And in all instances the drying of 

 these dogs should be followed by a gentle use of the 

 brush. But that must be perfectly clean, and it is easily 

 made so by standing it, bristles down, in a shallow pan 

 containing a strong mixture of the water of ammonia and 

 water, and rinsing well afterward. 



The brushing over, the dogs should be blanketed and 

 bedded with clean straw. It is well to add here that it is 



