Accidents and Operations. 4il 
in cover work, they are usually removed. For my part 
I never in any of my own dogs interfere with them. 
If they are to be removed, it should always be accom- 
plished when the animal is very young; their excision 
being easily effected with a sharp pair of scissors, first 
dividing the skin, and the dew-claw being drawn to one 
side before it is detached, in order that the skin may after- 
wards cover the wound. But if the operation is performed 
a day or two after birth, these precautions are not neces- 
sary—they can be simply snipped straight off. 
CROPPING. 
Youatt observes : 
“This is an infliction of too much torture for the gratification of a 
nonsensical fancy; and, after all, in the opinion of many, and of those, too, 
who are fondest of dogs, the animal looks far better in his natural state than 
when we have exercised all our cruel art upon him.” 
Blaine, on this subject, wisely remarks : 
“Nature gave nothing in vain; some parts being intended for use, and 
some for beauty. That must, therefore, be a false taste which has taught us 
to prefer a curtailed shape to a perfect, without gaining any convenience by 
the operation.” 
Fashion, however, unfortunately, in this as with many © 
other matters relating to the lower animals, steps in and 
countenances what is to all intents and purposes an act of | 
wanton cruelty, and until she is overruled we can only rely 
on those, and I trust there are yet among us many such, 
who prefer Nature to a piece of silver gained through 
creating an imperfection in her work, to gratify the taste of 
a whimsical or fashionable judge. 
It does not appear to have entered into the minds of these 
wiseacres that one great function of the external ear is the 
protection of the more delicately arranged internal structure. 
Have they ever observed a long-eared dog enter a rabbit- 
hole? Does he scramble through the sand with his ears 
full cock? A negative answer should suffice. 
Again the ears are full of expression. Alarm, excite- 
ment, joy, watchfulness, are each denoted by their different 
