USEFUI, INFORMATION REGARDING DOGS. 205 



judgment is needed. As a rule the teeth of an old dog will be dark and lacking 

 in 'the pearly look of a young animal's teeth but even this must not be too much 

 relied upon, as cunning dog dealers take care to use a tooth brush freely if such 

 be necessary, and, moreover, dogs' teeth vary a great deal, as ours do. 



Generally speaking, the age of a dog can best be adjudged by a combination 

 of appearances. Old dogs are quiet and stolid, whereas youth carries activity 

 with it. Moreover, curious as it may sound, grey hairs will tell a tale in dogs as 

 well as in our own case, for it is often noticeable that a dog has become gray in 

 the face and about the ears. So we have several points to judge by, i. e., appear- 

 ance of coat as regards greyness; gneral demeanor; condition of teeth. To these 

 may be added the state of the claws, which in some breeds are curled round and 

 often disposed to be sore and festering. Finally, we may suggest as good advice 

 that the opinion of an expert be taken in any case of doubt. The tf,ovice should 

 never purchase a dog at a show or upon any such sudden inspiration without 

 being guided by a competent adviser. 



TREATMENT OF FIELD DOGS. During the season when sportsmen pass bench 

 shows and put their dogs in trim for the pursuit of Bob White, sporting dogs need 

 to be dealt with at this season, because there are certain ailments which affect 

 them in a greater degree than other dogs; and a knowledge of how to properly 

 treat cases of sickness amongst field dogs is, of course, very essential, unless they 

 are to be entirely incapacitated. f v . - 



In the first place, it is most essential that when a dog has been at work in 

 the field he shall be attended to at once on his return home at night. The dog 

 should be thoroughly groomed; if wet let him be rubbed dry with a rough towel. 

 So many careless gamekeepers allow dogs to come in wet from the field and send 

 them to kennel without any attention the result is that they get either rheumatic 

 or asthmatical. Another important thing is to examine the feet and ears with 

 a view to the removal of all thorns and other foreign substances which are likely 

 to set up inflammation, and then will incapacitate the animal for some days at 

 least. If it should be found on examination that the feet are sore and inflamed, 

 they should be bathed in tepid water, and afterward with advantage may be 

 sprinkled with powdered Fuller's earth, which is very absorbent and cooling as 

 well. 



As we said above, rheumatism is another common ailment affecting dogs 

 which have been neglected after exposure to bad weather. Rheumatism occurs 

 either in the hindquarters or in the front limbs, and when it takes the latter form 

 it is known as "kennel lameness." This again is an ailment which will recur from 

 time to time under unfavorable conditions It can best be dealt with by the use 

 iof a good strong liniment or embrocation such, for instance, as a mixture of 

 equal parts of turpentine and soap liniment, which is very searching, especially If 

 a little hartshorn be added. The dog should also have some internal medicine, 

 and the most effective remedy for rheumatic troubles is salicylate of soda. The 

 dog must also be carefully dieted, care being taken not to overfeed him during 

 the prevalence of the attack. In this case, again, it is to be borne in mind that one 

 attack is likely 4,0 be followed by others upon the least provocation, and special 

 care should therefore be given to deal with a trouble as soon as it appears. (See 

 article on RHEUMATISM.) 



Dogs in the field are liable now and again to take up poisoned meat, which, 

 in spite of the fact that it is contrary to the law of the land to place it about, is 

 very often laid about with the object of destroying rats. A dog should never 



