72 FEEDING OF DOGS. 



before, should be cut into fine pieces, and mixed with the soaked 

 raspings : when raspings cannot be procured, meal or biscuit may 

 be substituted. The mixture, it is evident, may be made to con- 

 tain more or less animal matter, by increasing or lessening the 

 proportion of paunch, or other kinds of meat may be substituted ; 

 but the author is disposed to think that tripe is at once nutritious 

 and innocent, and tends little to make a dog foul and gross. When 

 likewise it is intended or wished to make the mixture more en- 

 ticing, the offal or intestines of chickens and other fowl may be ob- 

 tained from the poulterers, and boiled with the tripe. Of all sub- 

 stances in general use, except horse-flesh, the entrails of chickens 

 is that most eagerly sought after by dogs ; and it is one which 

 fattens them faster than any other. For the convenience of per- 

 sons resident in London, it should be noticed, that the venders of 

 ready dressed sheep heads sell the trimmings as dogs' food, and 

 they form an excellent one. 



Sportsmen in the country who are averse to flesh-feeding, or 

 cannot always procure it, use various articles for the purpose : it 

 is likewise very often, in retired situations, a difficult matter to 

 find proper substances for this purpose. In some kennels a mix- 

 ture of meal and milk is used, and dogs will thrive on it during the 

 season they do not hunt ; but when they are strongly exercised, 

 and hunt several days in the week, this food is not sufficiently 

 nutritious. All the meals of wheat, barley, oats, and rye, are used 

 for dog-food ; but it is no difficult matter at once to decide, that 

 wheat -meal, when it can be procured, is to be preferred ; for it is 

 much less likely to produce mange and a heated skin than the 

 others. Biscuits are in very common use : the damaged sea-bis- 

 cuit is often employed ; but of late. Smith's dog-bread has taken 

 the lead with many sportsmen, and is good, being known to be a 

 compound of the different meals. 



Barleymeal and oatmeal are very commonly used, and either is 

 sufficiently nutritious when mixed with milk or broth ; but they 

 have certainly some tendency to produce a red itching skin when 

 constantly used ; for which reason a portion of potatoes should be 



