THE DOG. 71 



me to speak in this place, a* it is fully treated under 

 the head Distemper, to which, consequently, I refer 

 the reader. 



But to return. As soon as puppies attain the age 

 of eight or nine months, they may be indulged with 

 a little flesh well boiled ; a little sulphur also should 

 he given them once a week, in milk; i nd they should 

 he frequently washed with soap and water, to cleanse 

 their skins, and kill the fleas: their beds should he 

 often changed, and indeed every attention at this 

 time paid, in order to keep them in health, and bring 

 them to a proper size. Puppies are sometimes trou*- 

 bled with lice ; but the remedy for them, as well as 

 for all diseases to which dogs are liable, will be found 

 under their proper heads, 



The diseases, accidents, &c. incident to whelps, 

 from the period of their birth till they arrive at ma- 

 turity, are many, and occasionally very dangerous; 

 therefore the sportsman has no reason to be dissatis- 

 fied, if, out of a litter of ten whelps, five or six arrive 

 at perfection. But much depends, of course, in this 

 respect, on the manner in which they are treated. 



A dog never perspires, but yet is of a hot nature, 

 and should therefore never be without clean water to 

 drink as often as he pleases, With respect to food, 

 the less carrion he has, the better, as much of it is 

 supposed by some to injure his sense of smelling ; 

 most certainly it causes him to emit a very offensive 

 smell; so much so, that it is impossible to bear 

 him in the house. Barley meal, the dross of wheat- 



