CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 873 



without a bath at comparatively short intervals, but the 

 custom of employing so-called dog soaps is responsible for 

 much scratching and discomfort to the animal. 



These soaps are destructive of the natural oil in the 

 coat and integument, owing to the excess of alkali they 

 contain. The skin is left dry after their use, and there is 

 a disposition to desquamation of the cuticle. A habit of 

 scratching is often due to this practice of washing in the 

 first instance, but commonly attributed to ennui. If it 

 is absolutely necessary to wash dogs, a superfatted soap 

 should be employed, or the yolks of eggs, and to the final 

 rinsing water some five per cent, of glycerine may be 

 added. 



When a dog is to be washed, he should be made to stand 

 in a large bath, and his face, ears, and neck, first wetted 

 with water not much above the temperature of the body, 

 as these animals do not bear hot baths well, and have been 

 known to faint in water not nearly so warm as might be 

 agreeable to the human subject. 



Beginning at the face, and working backwards with the 

 soap or medicament, insures the destruction of ectozoa 

 which otherwise take refuge around the eyes and ears, a 

 few pregnant females escaping and sufficing to reinfest the 

 host. No drying with towels should be deemed sufficient, 

 but exercise enjoined until the coat is thoroughly dry. 



Many dog fanciers keep their dogs clean without wash- 

 ing; simply rubbing into the skin a quantity of finely- 

 powdered fuller's earth, and subsequently combing and 

 brushing. 



Docking. — The practice of docking certain classes of dogs 

 has no hygienic justification such as may be claimed for 

 sheep, but is purely a matter of fashion, as was the clipping 

 of ears in a former generation. 



Worming. — Under the tongue is a ' remarkable fusiform 

 mass apparently of cartilage,' and the removal of this, 

 under the impression that it is a worm, is a barbarous 

 practice still carried on by ignorant dealers in dogs. It 

 was advised also ' to prevent them going mad ' and in- 



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