1 6 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



only a good judge, but a good fellow, I hope he will live long to 

 bear the name. 



The last on my list, though I might extend it to much greater 

 length did space permit, is Mr. Midgley Marsden, also an old 

 acquaintance of mine. In his exhibiting days he was chiefly asso- 

 ciated with St. Bernards, Mastiffs, Spaniels, and Black-and-tan Terriers; 

 but his increasing experiences as an " all-round " judge have made 

 him familiar with the general run, so that he is able to deal with 

 all the breeds usually exhibited, and enjoys popularity amongst a 

 wide circle of Doggy Friends, particularly in the North. 



There is one more class of Doggy People I should like to 

 mention before I finish this chapter, and that is the veterinary 

 surgeons. When I first was interested in dogs, there were 

 very few of these gentlemen who laid themselves out for profes- 

 sional attention to dogs only, but chiefly restricted their attention 

 to horses and cattle ; but now, I am pleased to say (as I have 

 met scores of them all over the kingdom), there are great numbers 

 of highly qualified men who have made a special study of dogs ; 

 indeed, there are many I know who take no other practice than dogs 

 and cats, and have as much as they can do all the year round ! 



I am sure this is a great advantage to dog owners, and saves 

 the lives sometimes, and always lessens the sufferings, of numbers 

 of valuable animals every year. 



I have no doubt the immense number of shows held (which are 

 said to be not less than five in every week in the year, if they 

 were averaged !) and the dogs' homes and hospitals in many parts 

 of the country have been very useful to the veterinary pro- 

 fession for gaining experience in canine diseases and surgery, 

 and providing subjects for experimental treatment for their cure, 

 and also for dealing with the many cases of injury from accidents 

 so often occurring amongst the thousands of dogs now kept up 

 and down the country, most of which would not have been 

 properly attended to in the old days. 



