366 DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



others, have caused the uterus to contract, and thus have 

 favored parturition, or have brought about abortion. I 

 have seen it do neither, but I cannot say it has never 

 thus acted ; I am in no position to prove the negative. 

 When I have given it to the animal, it has disordered 

 the stomach and induced vomition. The dogs I tried its 

 action upon might possibly have been bad subjects for 

 experiment, but I am not aware that they presented any 

 peculiarity. In every case that has passed under my 

 observation, secale cornutum has been injurious ; and I 

 fear lest it may be so, when employed by others ; I, 

 therefore, discountenance its use, declaring the custom of 

 exhibiting it with a view to quicken labor to be danger- 

 ous. I have used it as an emetic, though rarely ; as, for 

 ordinary circumstances, there are preferable agents at 

 command ; but for some time I have abandoned its em- 

 ployment as a parturient for the bitch. 



To reconcile, in some measure, the opposite opinions, 

 and explain the probable source of difference, let the 

 reader consider the possible conditions of the ani- 

 mals I and others have subjected to observation. The 

 medical man, when experimentalising upon a dog, gene- 

 rally buys the animal ; and as he merely wants a life to 

 practise upon, he does not give money to procure beauty 

 or high breed ; cheapness is an object with him ; and 

 any unfortunate straggling brute, that can with impunity 

 be trapped, is sufficient for his purpose. Such unhappy 

 creatures are to be caught roaming about the country ; 

 perhaps poorly fed, but strong and low-bred curs. 



