KENNEL-LAMENESS. 87 



cases there is such a degree of lameness that the dog does not 

 appear willing to leave his bed, though, after being compelled to 

 do so, he is able to scramble along somehow or other. Sometimes 

 the disease is confined to one shoulder, but more frequently it 

 extends to both. 



THE TREATMENT should be conducted on the same principles as 

 for chest-founder ; but preventive are much better than curative 

 measures. A dog once seized with chronic rheumatism in any 

 part is ever after subject to a return ; and therefore it is highly 

 desirable to avoid the cause which is known to produce it. This 

 cause is, dampness in the kennel ; and I shall, hereafter, advise 

 their construction in such a way as to avoid this defect. The 

 high bench, I am satisfied, is of great importance ; and the clay 

 substratum, I am inclined to believe, is an undoubted advantage. 

 A very common cause is the quarrelsome and domineering dis- 

 position of the master-dog in the kennel, who drives the others 

 down, and compels them to lie upon the floor. This should be 

 guarded against carefully, and the dog changed to another kennel, 

 or, if this is impracticable, he must be muzzled for a time, till he 

 will permit his companions to rest quietly on the bench. I have 

 tried to avoid this by putting up two benches on separate sides ; 

 but the dog is of so domineering a temper, that he will often 

 persecute one or more of his fellows by following him backwards 

 and forwards till he is tired of trying to get on the bench for 

 fear of punishment. This is especially the case when there 

 happens to be a mixture of the sexes. 



A remedy for either of these rheumatic attacks has within the 



