416 KENNEL DISEASES. 
much of its softness, smoothness and elasticity, and is dry, hard and rough; 
while attacks of eczema are frequent. 
The remedy is easy, and unless the poisoning has gone too far, under 
merely a change in the water supply, recovery should take place promptly. 
If medicines are required, Epsom salts should be given daily, in small doses, 
until the bowels are moving freely and regularly; and thereafter the aromatic 
sulphuric acid should be constantly put into the drinking-water. The quantity 
‘must be small, however —only a few drops in each bucket — otherwise the 
dogs would detect it. 
In all large kennels, means to combat at least the most common poisons 
should be at hand. Since it will be only rarely possible to identify the special 
poisons that dogs have taken up, it is advisable always to have some general 
antidote which may be administered in doubtful cases, with reasonable chances 
of proving effectual. As such the following is recommended : 
Calcined magnesia, powdered charcoal, hydrated oxide of iron, of each 
equal parts. This may be mixed with water, and given in generous quantities 
even in suspicious cases, for it is incapable of doing harm if it fails to do good. 
Dogs are endowed with almost marvellous powers of combating poisons 
that result from decomposition, otherwise they must soon succumb to decayed 
meat or bones. While perfectly well they seem eminently capable of disposing 
of all such poisonous matters; but let the digestive system become disarranged, 
and some of the important organs which constitute it fail to do their work 
properly, then poisoning must be easy. And that such were not in good work- 
ing order might not, of course, be always apparent. These facts should be 
kept in mind, and in so far as possible the food given be above suspicion. 
Where there are a number of dogs and broths-are fed, occasionally some of the 
food must be left over and kept for the next day’s feeding. Breeders should 
know that in warm weather, meat broths and soups change quickly ; and under 
certain conditions there develops therein a virulent poison. Such meat foods 
after being kept over night in hot weather should not, therefore, be given dogs 
until some precaution has been taken. Boiling kills the poison in question; 
therefore recooking is indicated. Of course dogs in a wonderful degree resist 
food poisons; anda poison which would make a man seriously ill might not 
injure his dumb friend. Still, just how far this resistant power extends is not 
known, and there is reason to believe that not a few of the now mysterious 
visitations of sickness are due to food poisoning. This rule of recooking in hot 
weather the meat foods left over from a meal has been imperative in the au- 
thor’s kennel. On one occasion it was not conformed to, but a cold soup, which 
had stood twenty-four hours in the kettle, was fed out. The following day all 
the dogs which ate of it had a bad diarrhoea come on; and as they were well the 
day previous there was good reason to suspect poisoning of the sort mentioned. 
