286 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



pet dogs should be received indoors, and not stacked away 

 in the kennel, above kennel, or menagerie style, in close 

 proximity to dogs of all degree, and tortured or excited 

 by their continual snarls, yelpings, or whines. 



Secondly, to treat a pet dog, especially with a disposition 

 to nostomaniacal melancholia, real affection for the canine 

 species is necessary ; assumed affection will not answer. No 

 animal so readily detects and appreciates kindness in man 

 as the dog, or as quickly discovers his assumed affection. 

 A piece of sugar to a spoilt child is not the bait to quiet 

 and assure a timid and sensitive dog. The clean sawdust 

 or cushion on the day of visiting will not atone for the lack 

 of improvement in health, or diminish the wild delight of 

 the patient on -seeing his mistress. 



Thirdly, a tenderly handled dog requires tenderly hand- 

 ling, and doubly so when invalid. A caressed dog invites 

 caressing ; and, under pain, soothing words and gentle 

 treatment are more appreciated than, perhaps, any mea- 

 sures the attendant can adopt. Finally, to go thoroughly 

 into the treatment of pet dogs, the attendant must go 

 thoroughly into the usual home life of the animal, its dis- 

 position and peculiarities, and enter into the feelings of its 

 owner. Everything must be ascertained that is likely to 

 add to its comfort or discomfort, its pain or alleviation ; and 

 no one but a genuine dog-lover can do this. The same 

 argument will apply to the nurse : see " General Manage- 

 ment," Chap. I. 



NEURALGIA. 



Mr. Fleming has kindly given me the following particu- 

 lars of an interesting case which came under his care : 



"An Irish setter, three or four years old, very fond of the 

 water, which she went into all seasons, summer and winter, 

 was sent to me for my opinion. Her master complained 

 that at night, and even during the day, she was seized 



