144 The Management and Diseases of the Dog, 



4. Dogs of close relationship should not be mated^ In- 

 and-in breeding is strongly objectionable, and cannot fail to 

 produce, whether it is observed or not, enfeebled intellect, 

 deficiency in some organism, and lay the foundation for 

 disease. What laws are brought to bear on animals existing 

 in their natural state no one can say. It may be, and 

 probably is, for Nature ordains all things well, that there is 

 an innate principle with them in regard to this. Plain facts 

 of this breach of Nature are continually in our own species 

 brought to light ; and in the canine race unaccountable out- 

 breaks of rabies in kennels where the in-and-in system of 

 breeding has been adopted, and otheraffections in park-deer, 

 under similar circumstances, have not been few. 



5. Breeding should not be allowed before either sex have 

 arrived at maturity. Early fruition stunts the growth, and 

 spoils the after symmetry of the animal. There are occa- 

 sionally exceptions to this rule. Young weedy bitches have 

 thickened out and iniproved after an early litter, but I must 

 again observe that as a rule such a system is not advisable. 



6. There is much diversity of opinion as to the number of 

 visits necessary for the inducement of pregnancy. This is 

 however, dependent to some extent on the length of time 

 connection is cbntinued. A bitch thoroughly lined, i.e.yZ. 

 safe connection establishfed for from ten to fifteen minutes, 

 is generally sufficient for all purposes. There is neverthe- 

 less, no objection to a second visit on the following day. A 

 third I consider superfluous. 



7. Many and various are the opinions frequently volun- 

 teered as to whether the bitch is in whelp. If she is placed on 

 her side or back after being fasted, and the region of the 

 uterus manipulated, the presence of certain oval bodies, the 

 third or fourth week after conception, can be pretty fairly 

 distinguished by a scientific and practical man. In flatulent, 

 gross dogs this is, however, not a very easy task, and the 

 occasional presence of ovarian tumours may be mistaken 



