114 DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



Patience, however, is here of most avail ; but when the 

 mouth is full of fluid, by gently separating the jaws the 

 animal may be caused to deglutate. 



Two pieces of tape, one passed behind the canine 

 teeth or tusks of the upper, and the other in like manner 

 upon the lower jaw, have been recommended. - The tapes 

 are given to an assistant, who, pulling at them, forces the 

 mouth open, and holds it in that position. In certain 

 cases this may be adopted for pills ; indeed every strata- 

 gem will be needed to meet the multifarious circum- 

 stances that will arise. For ordinary occurrences, how- 

 ever, the practice is not to be commended, and should 

 never be embraced when drinks have to be given : the 

 animal cannot swallow while the jaws are held asunder ; 

 but for solids this plan answers better. There are seve- 

 ral objections, however, to be urged against its constant 

 use. The operation is violent, and the restraint it neces- 

 sitates not alone prevents the poor animal deglutating 

 fluids, but also terrifies the brute, who, on the next occa- 

 sion, naturally is the more resistful. Difficulties, there- 

 fore, increase, and the dog generally is not long before it 

 learns to baffle the attempt to confine it. Moreover, 

 unless the assistant be very well up to his business, his 

 steadiness cannot be depended upon, and the hand often 

 is wounded by the teeth of the patient. 



I therefore do not, as a general custom, resort to the 

 tapes, and I advise others only to employ them upon 

 necessity. There are some creatures so artful and so 

 resolute that any attempt to give them physic is certain 



