142 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



half-bred black-and-white sheep-dog. When the period of 

 parturition arrived, she gave birth to two whelps : one, to all 

 appearance, a pure-bred black- and-tan, the other a rouglv 

 coated black-and-white whelp, double the size. 



4. Dogs of close relationship should never 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 dis- 

 ease. 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 outbreaks of 

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

 has been adopted, and other affections 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 con- 

 'nection is continued. A bitch thoroughly lined, i.e., a safe 

 connection established for from ten to fifteen minutes, is 

 generally sufficient for all purposes. There is, nevertheless, 

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

 I consider superfluous. 



7. Many and various are the opinions frequently volunteered 

 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 



