282 REARING, ETC. 



with worms as shown at page 165. Up to the commencement of 

 training there is not much use in dressing the puppies with the 

 rubber or wisp daily, for which the dog's tongue is a good substi- 

 tute, though I have no doubt they would be all the better for it. 

 But if they come in thoroughly wet, either from rain or from 

 galloping through water, they should be rubbed tolerably 

 dry, except in the height of summer, when it is of no con- 

 sequence. 



Many good kennelmen give their puppies brimstone in their 

 water, which, by the way, should be always within their reach, 

 but I do not know that there is much good in it unless they are 

 deprived of flesh as an article of diet. It should be carefully 

 boiled for the reason given at page 167. Others touch their noses 

 and sides with tar occasionally, which the dogs lick off and 

 swallow. The only thing, however, which I have found to be 

 generally necessary is the liberal use of neat's-foot oil in the 

 summer, in order to kill the fleas, which are in some kennels a 

 perpetual torment to the dogs. I have already specified the 

 various applications needful in the eruptions to which the dog is 

 subject; but all are liable to fleas, and I have described the 

 several plans necessary to get rid of these parasites at pages 174, 

 175. In small numbers they do little harm, but when they swarm 

 in the skin, as they sometimes do in hot summers, they interfere 

 with the rest, and must be got rid of. 



Such is the plan I have myself adopted, and would recom- 

 mend to all those who intend to run in public for good stakes. 

 It is true that it occasions a good deal of trouble and expense, but 



