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 hasbeen 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 improved 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 continued. A bitch thoroughly lined, ze, a 
safe connection established 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 isin whelp. Ifshe 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 
