206 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



be allowed to eat meat or anything of that kind that he picks up in the field if 

 he can possibly be prevented from doing so. The commonest poison likely to be 

 picked up in this way are arsenic and strychnine. It is impossible to mistake a 

 case of strychnine poisoning, because the victim has twi'tchings and the limbs are 

 drawn up; in the case of arsenic there is vomiting, swelling of the tongue, and 

 great pain especially noticeable if the hand be placed on the belly. The best 

 thing to do in any case is 'to administer an emetic. Mustard and wiater is the 

 likeliest thing, and that can be followed in the case of arsenic by a dose of pow- 

 dered magnesia, or, in the case of strychnine, by giving a quantity of fat. 



REARING WINTER PUPPIES. Puppies born during the late autumn and winter 

 months are more trouble to rear than those whelped in the spring or summer. 

 The changeable weather which is experienced in most parts tends to check their 

 growth and make them more prone to develop disease than under more favorable 

 circumstances. Could weeks of hard, dry frost be insured, then the rearing 

 of puppies would be an easy matter, even to the novice, for however delicate the 

 breed, it is rarely they will not thrive under such invigorating conditions as the 

 sharp, crisp air of a bright frosty day which ;is occasionally experienced in mid- 

 winter. Puppies, like all animals and vegetable creation, will expand to the sun's 

 rays, cold though the air may be, and feel it. is a joy to live. 



But even under the most unfavorable conditions, such as were experienced 

 during November and December of last year, it is quite possible to rear a large 

 majority of the puppies, provided common sense is brought to bear and the dam 

 is well nurtured and nourished before and after whelping. For the first few 

 weeks of their existence the puppies themselves require little attention beyond 

 seeing that they all, as far as possible, get the same amount of food, e. g., that the 

 stronger do not push the weaker away from the dam. When the latter is the 

 case, if the puppies are valuable, it is advisable to have a good foster mother 

 to assist in rearing the weaker. 



One cause of failure in the rearing of autumn and winter puppies is that 

 they are pampered too much, even very often in the case of the larger and hardy 

 breeds, such as St. Bernards, Retrievers, etc. There is a succession of rainy days, 

 the ground becomes wet and sodden, consequently the puppies are shut up in a 

 kennel run, an outhouse, stable, barn, or what-not, where very little light or air 

 can reach them, with the result that they all lie huddled up together for warmth, 

 there being very little natural warmth in their poor little bodies; they are miser- 

 able and too dejected to play and romp about. The dam, in her mistaken kind- 

 ness, encourages them in this lethargic state, because the door is kept fast closed 

 against her, and she cannot have her liberty when and how she pleases. 



Even when the rain ceases and for a few hours the elements are propitious, 

 advantage is not taken of the smile of the gods that be, and because the ground 

 is wet and cold it is thought these poor little shivering puppies must not run out 

 and get their little (or big) paws wet, they must still be kept in till the ground 

 has, at least, some semblance of drynesis. Now, if advantage were taken of every 

 bit of dry weather and the puppies allowed a run out to exercise, even if only 

 for naff an hour, they would return to their kennel refreshed, their blood would 

 course through their veins more naturally, they would play and scramble about 

 and eat their food with added zest. 



When the sun, however, puts forth his rays, if the puppies had some straw, 

 coarse shavings, or dry bracken (which is often obtainable in the country) laid 

 down in a corner of a yard or garden, they could be left there for several hours, 



