BOOK VII. XII. I2-XIII. I 



on the chain during the day and let loose at night. 

 We should never allow those whose noble qualities 

 we wish to preserve, to be brought up at the dugs of 

 any strange bitch, since its mother's milk and spirit 

 always does much more to foster the growth of their 

 minds and bodies. But if a bitch which has a litter is 13 

 deficient in milk, it will be best to provide goats' 

 milk for the puppies until they are four months old. 



Dogs should be called by names which are not 

 very long, so that each may obey more quickly when 

 he is called, but they should not have shorter names 

 than those which are pronounced in two syllables," 

 such as the Greek HKvXa^ (puppy) and the Latin 

 Ferox (savage), the Greek AaKcov (Spartan) and the 

 Latin CeZer (speedy) or, for a bitch, the Greek UttovSti 

 (zeal), 'AXK-q (Valour), 'PcojU-Ty (strength) or the Latin 

 Lupa (she-wolf), Cerva (hind) and Tigris (tigress). 14 

 It will be found best to cut the tails of puppies forty 

 days after birth in the following manner : there is a 

 nerve, which passes along through the joints of the 

 spine down to the extremity of the tail ; this is taken 

 between the teeth and drawn out a little way and 

 then broken. As a result, the tail never grows to an 

 ugly length and (so many shepherds declare) rabies, 

 a disease which is fatal to this animal, is prevented.'' 



XIII. It commonly happens that in the summer the Eemedies 

 ears of dogs are so full of sores caused by flies, that eases of ' 

 they often lose their ears altogether. To prevent '^°sa. 

 this, the ears should be rubbed with crushed bitter 

 almonds. If, however, the ears are already covered 

 with sores, it will be found a good plan to drip boiled 

 liquid pitch mixed with lard on the wounds. Ticks 



» This is quoted by Pliny, N.H. VIII. § 153. 



