6 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



sometimes this precaution is neglected, and then recourse must be had either to 

 castor oil or the compound rhubarb pill the dose being one drop of the former or 

 half a grain of the latter to each pound the puppy weighs. If the oil is stirred up 

 with some milk the puppy will take it readily enough, and no drenching is required ; 

 but care should be taken that the quality is good, and that the oil is not the rank 

 stuff sometimes used in the kennels of sporting dogs. The compound rhubarb pill 

 may be given by opening the mouth with the left hand, and then dropping in the 

 pill. It must be boldly pushed well down the throat as far as the finger will reach, 

 no danger being risked in effecting this simple process. If the liver is not acting 

 (which may be known by the absence of the natural gingerbread colour of the 

 evacuations), from half a grain to a grain of blue pill may be added to either dose, 

 and repeated, if necessary, every day or every other day till the desired effect is 

 produced ; or from one-sixth to one-third of a grain of podophyllin, which has a 

 similar effect on the liver. Very young puppies should not be washed even in the 

 summer season, as they are very liable to chill. After they are three months old, 

 however, a bath of warm water, with or without soap, will do good rather than 

 harm, provided that care be taken to dry them well afterwards. For white dogs, 

 white soap is required to give full effect to this operation ; and it may be either 

 " curd " or white soft soap, whichever is preferred, the latter being most effective in 

 cleaning the coat. Long-haired dogs, such as spaniels, the Maltese and Skye 

 terriers, require combing and brushing until they are dry, which should be done in 

 the winter before a fire ; and in the latter breeds the coat should be parted down the 

 back with the comb in the most regular manner. If the hair has become matted, 

 a long soaking will be necessary, the comb being used while the part of the dog 

 submitted to its teeth is kept under water, which will greatly facilitate the unrolling 

 of the tangled fibres. After the coat is dry, where great brilliancy is demanded, a 

 very slight dressing of hair-oil may be allowed occasionally ; but the brush is the 

 best polisher, and when " elbow-grease " is not spared, a better effect will be produced 

 than by bear's grease at half-a-crown a pot. 



With the exception of fleas, pet dogs ought -never to be infected with any 

 vermin. Sometimes, however, they catch from others either lice or the ticks which 

 infest the canine race. The appearance of the first two parasites is well known to 

 everyone ; but the tick is not among the things commonly presented to the eye, and 

 we may therefore mention that it may be known by its spider-like shape and by its 

 close adhesion to the skin by means of its legs, with which it digs into the surface. 

 In size it varies from that of the head of a small pin to the magnitude of a small 

 grain of wheat, but not being so long in proportion to its width. The colour 

 changes with that of the dog and with the quantity of blood imbibed, which always 

 gives a greater or less tint of bluish-red ; but in very young ticks the colour is a 

 pearly grey. In destroying fleas the best remedy is the insect-destroying powder 

 sold by Butler and M'Culloch, of Covent Garden, by Keating, of St. Paul's Church- 

 yard, and most chemists, which may be well rubbed in without fear of consequences. 

 Lice and ticks require a stronger drug to destroy them, and this should be used 

 with more care, as, being a mercurial preparation, it is liable to be absorbed if the 



