DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 415 



back ; and the thickest portions of the skin are either 

 above the neck, or just before the tail. The animal is 

 the whole day dull, never being alive except at meal- 

 times, when it is all activity ; the rest of the day is 

 passed in sleeping, licking, scratching, biting, and gnaw- 

 ing its person to the infinite annoyance of an indulgent 

 master, who looks on the mass of disease before him, and 

 with regret pictures the animated creature which it once, 

 was. 



Here the mode of feeding must be changed. Flesh 

 must be strictly prohibited. Boiled rice forms the most 

 wholesome diet; but even rice milk will not be touched. 

 Neither will be eaten at first ; but this does not much 

 signify, as a day or two of abstinence rather does good 

 than injury. If, however, the refusal to feed be exhi- 

 bited beyond the third day, one, two, or three ounces of 

 meat, according to the size, may be allowed ; which 

 quantity, though insufficient to satisfy the desires, is suf- 

 ficient to keep a dog alive and hungry for an almost inde- 

 finite period. Fresh vegetable diet should be presented 

 every day; and if declined, it should immediately be 

 withdrawn. On no account should it be allowed to 

 remain about, and the animal to blow upon it till it either 

 becomes stale or noisome in the creature's eyes. Fresh 

 clean rice should be boiled, and presented every morn- 

 ing ; and this should be offered and withdrawn, as though 

 it were too choice a luxury to be twice refused. The 

 animal, tired out, and despairing of gaining anything 

 better to eat through resistance, will fall to the loathed 



