Training and Care 239 



of "sousing" the dog, head and all — is lye and 

 sulphur. A box of extra strong concentrated 

 lye is dissolved and into the water is stirred four 

 or five pounds of sulphur over a fire. This mix- 

 ture is diluted with about a barrel of water and 

 is ready for use. Some kennelmen add an ounce 

 or two of sulphuric acid. 



These are the essential accessories of the regu- 

 lar kennel. Nothing else needs to be said except 

 that it saves money and trouble to call a veteri- 

 nary when serious sickness first appears. While 

 that advice is good, the owner of a dog should 

 also have the books of Dr. Wesley Mills and 

 "Ashmont" in his library. 



One crime of the kennel the humane societies 

 should place among the objects of their labor. It 

 is the severe working of a pregnant female — a 

 practice due to a superstition about the hunting 

 instinct being strengthened in the pups. After 

 the life of the young mammal has once begun, 

 all the dam will ever do is to furnish nutrition 

 and guard from enemies. Cold science knows 

 that a foetus is as much a parasite as a tapeworm. 

 Severe work and excitement interfere sadly with 

 nutrition, and a bitch so treated is very likely to 

 have puppies so weakened that they will develop 

 rickets or other diseases. Shun the man who 

 would sell you puppies nourished by a mother 

 overworked in her pregnancy. He would as 



