DOGS. 49 



change and variety, though perhaps less so in the 

 dog than in any other tame animal. 



The proper care having been taken to prevent the 

 breed of ths dog from contamination, by selection of 

 parents and also by preventing the bitch admitting 

 any other partner than the one selected, the next 

 care will be in the rearing of the progeny. 



A few hours after the bitch has littered, examine 

 the whelps carefully, and if any of them be faulty, 

 destroy them at once, unless you choose to preserve 

 them for any particular purpose. Give the bitch 

 a little whey and barley-bread, or a little goat's milk 

 in which bones have been boiled, or rather slowly 

 simmered, and this will not only increase the milk of 

 the bitch, but also assist and nourish the whelps. 

 Do not, on any account, distress the mother by rear- 

 ing too many whelps; they should suck at least two 

 months before they are weaned; and then have 

 bread-and-milk food, with, occasionally, a few bones 

 to gnaw at, and now and then a few pieces of boiled 

 meat, or a little tripe cut in pieces: do not feed 

 them too often; twice a day, at first; and when they 

 grow up, once a day, will be amply sufficient: and 

 let them always have access to a pan or dish of water 

 or milk. 



Now and then, if the whelps exhibit a tendency to 

 fits, or refuse their food, lose flesh, or appear dull, 

 give them, each, about two table-spoonsful of syrup 

 of buckthorn, or a similar quantity of castor oil; or 

 if preferred, a purgative made up in the shape of a 

 ball, and prepared as follows : 



Jalap, - - one and a half scruple, 



Calomel - four grains, 

 made up as a ball with conserve of hips. 

 F 



