'FOREST AND STREAM, 
828 
potato bug bird, of which I had so often heard. This 
was repeated clay after day. till our garden was cleared 
of the bugs. They then helped themselves to a few—a 
very few—peas (for dessert, 1 suppose), and then com¬ 
menced work on the potatoes in an adjoining field. In 
sizu and shape this bird resembles the orchard oriole : is 
black aud white in color, with a handsome red spot on 
its breast—reminding one of the prevailing hue of the 
potato beetle—aud black and white bands across tlio 
wings, W. 
Perhaps the bird wlueh does this good service is the 
owhee buming(Ptp?7o erythrophthalmus). We shouldlike 
to hear more about it, 
Simple Cube for Snake Bites.—M y father, who is 
something of an animal .doctor, uses a very simple but 
effectual remedy when anything is bitten by a rattle¬ 
snake. And as 'I do not think it is very widely known, 
I will give it to the readers of Forest and Stream. It is 
this:—Apply a poultice of common wood ashes to the 
wound aud give a little, weak lye internally, 
Years ago one of my brothers was bitten by a rattle¬ 
snake. The poison penetrated his system, and it was 
thought he could survive but a little while. (The 
value of whiskey in such eases was then unknown.) My 
father at last resorted to this treatment, and to the sur¬ 
prise of all he speedily recovered. 
Jack, our highly valued farm dog, in an encounter with 
a rattle-snake one clay, received abite on the nose. My 
father was absent, aud by the time he returnedlpoor Jack's 
head had swollen to about twice its natural dimensions, 
and he seemed to suffer greatly. My father treated him 
as above, and in a short time lie was all right again. 
This information may sometime be of value to sports¬ 
men " camping out,” W. 
A Sn ake Story.— New Castle, Pa., Nov. 3d.—One day 
last week a Mr. Rummoll, of this city, while out gunning 
about twelve miles west of here killed an unusually large 
pheasant. The bird was brought home, and while being 
cleaned a snake measuring two feet three incites in 
length crawled otit of it. The snake was striped, of a 
grayish color. That part of the bird's intestines lying 
next to the snake's head seemed to he entirely empty. 
The snake must have had its nutriment from them. 
Bp. F. NorriS, 
Next 11! 
Jpf^ licit it cl, 
FOOD FOR DOGS. 
A DISCUSSION is going on in the columns of the 
Loudon Field regarding the relative merits of dif¬ 
ferent varieties of dog biscuits, and in a country where 
there are such large kennels of dogs as in England the 
matter is one of considerable importance. Some weeks 
since the Rev. J. Cumming Macdona, actuated no doubt 
by a desire to confer a benefit on dog owners and breed¬ 
ers, wrote a letter to the Field, in which he gave the for¬ 
mula for preparing Avhat are known as the “ Braunfels 
biscuit,” being a prescription of Professor Metzdorf, the 
great food analyist of Germany. These biscuits are made 
aud used at the kennels of Prince Albert Solms, at 
Schloss Braunfels, where they appear to give satisfac¬ 
tion. The recipe is as fallows :—13 ounces of phosphate 
of lime, six ounces of common salt, six pounds of pre¬ 
pared flesh meal (sold by Liebig’s Extract of Meat Com¬ 
pany), ten pounds of wheat-meal bran, and twenty- 
pounds of I've meal, well kneaded, and with some yeast 
and water added, and allowed to rise, and to be well 
baked, as with ordinary bread. Mr. Macdona claims that 
in this way a wholesome food is to he obtained at the 
rate of about 10 shillings ($3.50) per hundred weight. In 
his letter he also stated that iu giving this recipe he would 
bring down upon himself the wrath of the manufactur¬ 
ers of dog biscuits. 
In this he was right, as tlie following week a letter ap¬ 
peared in the Field from “ Spratt’s Patent,” iu which 
they say that Mr. Macdona was correct in surmising that 
they could not allow to pass his remarks with regard to 
the price at which wholesome dog biscuits could be 
made on the German professor's receipt. They then 
quote the places at which the various ingredients can be 
purchased in England, to show that it would be impos¬ 
sible to manufacture it at the prices named by Mr, Mac¬ 
dona, aud conclude with the following paragraph :— 
On the whole, we think that our many customers will 
agree with us that if a fair manufacturer’s profit be put 
on tlie cost price and a fair retailer’s profit, eve i such 
small one as is put on by the cooperative societies, they 
can get our biscuits as cheap as they can make them for 
themselves from tlie receipt the reverend gentleman 
gives, and in addition to which they have from us a food 
which is in every way more nutritious, and which will 
keep sound and good for months, and which has stood 
the test for years. 
“Spratt's Patent” having also stated that it was the 
subject of general remark at the Hanover Dog Show that 
Prince Solm’s and Mr. Macdona’s dogs were the worst 
conditioned ones in the show, the others all being fed 
on Spratt’s biscuits, of course Mr. Macdona replies, and 
tlie correspondence is continued in rather acrimonious 
terms through several issues of the Field. Iu the last 
number of the paper at hand Professor Metzdorf enters 
the fight, and his letter enters so in detail into the ques¬ 
tion of dog food that we deem it worthy of reproduction 
in full. Jt is as follows :— 
Sir :—A communication from Mr. Macdona appears in 
the Field of Sept, 30th (page 384) in reference to my meat 
biscuits, which (are now used as food in the celebrated 
kennels of His Serene Highness Prince Albrecht, of Seims 
Braunfels. Mr, Macdona testifies to the excellent con¬ 
dition of the dogs fed thereon, and publishes the recipe 
for the preparation of the biscuits. In the next number 
of the Field the biscuits are criticised by an interested 
party in a most disparaging maimer. I was much sur¬ 
prised at that, for the history of science teaches that the 
English mind least allows itself to be narrowed in judg¬ 
ment by prejudice, but maintains more than other na¬ 
tions the ground of practical experience. Why, then, 
are these biscuits judged before they are tried? 
Into some of the objections and exceptions that are 
made, I take the liberty specially to enter. 
The ill-nutured remark that the dogs from Braunfels 
were in very bad condition at the Hanover Exhibition is 
damaging only to the cakes of Messrs. Spratt. Those 
dogs were fed upon Spratt’s cakes up to the time of the 
Hanover Exhibition. Since the exhibition (i. e., since 
July) the Braunfels kennel has been fed upon my meat 
biscuits. If such an eminent authority on dogs as Mr. 
Macdona—a man of at least European celebrity—finds the 
Braunfels dogs in rare good condition, it speaks well for 
the goodness and utility of my bisouits. 
The remark that meat meal does not possess any nutri¬ 
tive value, and is merely fit for manure, because it only 
consists of the exhausted residue of the meat, is calcu¬ 
lated to mislead that part of the publio which does not 
possess chemical and pliysiologieal knowledge. 
Fresh meat consists of muscular fibre, fat, water, salts 
and certain extractives—the latter giving the meat its 
agreeable flavour. Into the “ extract of meat” are trans¬ 
ferred only the extractives and the salts, while the resi¬ 
due contains the fat and muscular fibre. Now, it is a 
scientifically proved fact that the “ extract of meat” 
(i bouillon) possesses little nutritive value ; it is a pleasant 
relish, hut not a means of nourishment. The actual nu¬ 
tritive value is contained in the albuminous matter and 
fat. 
In making tlie extract, the salts removed from the flesh 
are immediately replaced artificially at the place of man¬ 
ufacture by adding to the albuminous and fatty residue 
1-30 per cent, of calcium chloride and 1-14 percent, of 
anhydrous phosphate of soda. The flesh meal thus be¬ 
comes an alimentary substance of the first rank. The 
unpleasant smell alone prevents men from using it for 
themselves; hut animals accept it gladly. A great num¬ 
ber of chemists and physiologists have examined and 
prepared flesh meat. For instance, Professor Lehmann 
(sop Wolff, “ Die Ernahrung landwirthschaftlicher Nutz- 
thiere,” Berlin, 1876) found that on the average thirty- 
nine kilos of flesh meal would equal in nutritive value 850 
kilos of potatoes. Feeding experiments on pigs in Mun¬ 
ich, Dresden, Hohenheirn. Poppelsdorf, and Kuschen, 
demonstrated that one kilo of flesh meal is capable of 
producing on the average about one kilo of live weight. 
With cattle, sheep, and horses also, favorable feeding re¬ 
sults were obtained; and I have obtained corresponding 
results with the dog. 
In the laboratory of Dr. Friedlander here I have had 
the dog cakeB of Messrs. Spratt and Messrs. Clarke anal¬ 
yzed by Dr. Schmoeger. Every hundred parts of the 
original substance contained:—' 
Spratt’s Patent . Clarice’s Anchor Mark. 
Solids..— 89.90pereent.... 88.96percent. 
Nitrogenous matter.. 18.56 per cent. 19.63per cent. 
Fat. 3.42 per cent. 2.8i per cent. 
Ash (salts). 2.45 per cent_ _ 27 2 per cent. 
For 100 parts Of solids are computed :— 
Spratt'sfPatent. Clarice's Anchor Mark. 
Nitrogenous matter. 20.64 per cent. 22.06 per cent. 
Fat- --- 3.80percent,,.. 3.19pereent. 
Ash... 2 72 per cent. 3.06pereent. 
Non-nitroganous. 73.8-1 per cent. 71.69 per eent. 
Therefore, the proportion of nourishing matter, viz., of 
nitrogenous as against substance free of nitrogen, is in 
Spratt's patent, i to 8.7; in Clarke's anchor mark, 1 
to 3.4. 
Tliis analysis I published in the German publication 
DerHund (vol. iv., No. 16), whereupon parties interested 
in Spratt's patent replied that in manufacturing the cake 
the mixture was not so precise as to make one single cake 
decisive for the analysis; also that they manufactured 
summer and winter cakes with more or less nourishing 
value, and that hence arose the different results of anal¬ 
ysts ; and thq gentlemen appealed also to previous anal¬ 
ytical researches, which showed a greater nutritive 
value. 
Undoubtedly the biscuits maybe manufactured of dif¬ 
ferent nourishing quality ; and for that very reason is an 
analysis valuable, for which the material has not been 
directly furnished by the manufacturer, but for which 
the biscuit has been' taken by chance, and submitted to 
analysis without the maker’s knowledge. 
In feeding experiments with dogs, the new meat bis¬ 
cuit has stood the test of proof. Four pointers of Ger¬ 
man breed, and of the same litter, were taken when thir¬ 
ty-eight days old, and therefore very young. Each dog 
could eat as much as he liked of his food. For the first 
fortnight each had one and three-quarter pints of milk, 
Nos. 1 and 3 receiving my biscuits, and Nos. 3 and 4 
boiled and mashed potatoes. In a fortnight’s time No. 1 
had increased by two pounds fifteen ounces, and No. 3 by 
three pounds one-half ounce ; No. 8 by fifteen and one- 
half ounces, and No. 4 by one pound ten ounces. Af¬ 
ter this No. 1 was fed with my biscuit, and No. 4 with 
English cake, for six weeks. The dog fed with the new 
biscuit now increased by two pounds fourteen ounces, 
and the dog fed with the English cake only by one 
pound one-quarter ounce. Therefore the new biscuit is 
not quite as bad as4»as been made out. The trial was an 
extreme one ; for milk is in the first months of the life 
of animals indispensable. 
In reference to the price, that would vary very much 
with place and opportunities. Here in my rural circum¬ 
stances the price is much cheaper, under personal man¬ 
agement. than it would be in town. 
In conclusion, I take the liberty of making the follow¬ 
ing remark The published recipe is chiefly intended for 
home use, and for the feeding of bitches in whelp and of 
growing puppies. For that purpose it answers well. 
Whether it will keep and answer for mercantile purposes 
I am myself doubtful, though it has been proved to keep 
fer months. For feeding of greyhounds—which among 
dogs take an exceptional position in reference to their 
keep and maintenance—I would apply the recipe only 
with caution. 
The idea for a good dog cake is a oorrect proportion of - 
nourishing substance, nitrogenous and non-nitrogen ous, 
a reasonable proportion of fat, and also the salts requisite 
both in quantity and quality. This can only be composed 
according to scientific principles, and confirmed by expe¬ 
rience. 
Such a feeding material should be handy and keep well 
to make it fit for mercantile use. Through a series of 
circumstantial aud searching experiments I believe that 
by a new recipe, which, supersedes the old published one, 
I have discovered a new preparation for such a biscuit, 
and I am just on the point of subjecting it_to the severe 
test of experience. 
For home use for hitches in whelp and growing puppies 
I maintain that the recipe already published will he found 
thoroughly efficient. Professor Dr. Metzdorf, 
Royal Academy, Proskau, Upper Silesia, 
Eastern Field Trials Glcjb.— At a meeting of gen¬ 
tlemen interested in kennel matters held in this city 
last week, an organization was formed under the title of 
the “Eastern Field Trials Club,” witli Mr. G . I,. Lorillard, 
for President; C. Dubois Wagstaff, H. A. Gildersleeve, 
P, H. Morris, and Dr. W. H. Aten, Vice-Presidents ; C. 
H. Raymond, Treasurer; and Jacob Pentz, Secretary. 
This is a strong body of energetic men, who will see that 
the objects of the club are carried out, and that kennel 
interests at the East do not suffer by comparison 
with those of the West; the latter section having natur¬ 
ally taken the lead in Field Trials and dog business gener¬ 
ally, by reason of the character of the country, and the 
greater abundance and variety of the feathered game 
found there. An executive committee of active gentle¬ 
men was also chosen to select a suitable ground for the 
forthcoming trials, (which we presume will soon take 
place,) to provide birds, and to arrange all necessary pre¬ 
liminaries. 
A year ago or more Capt. J. M. Taylor, formerly Ken¬ 
nel Editor of this paper, and its correspondent noiv, en¬ 
deavored to inaugurate a series of eastern field trials (lie 
was the original promoter of Field Trials in America) by 
a run iu Delaware or Maryland, but be either failed to in¬ 
terest men of proper activity and influence, or was not 
sufficiently persistent in his efforts, so that the project fell 
through for the time being. We are gratified to see that 
it has been taken up again by others, and passed to suc¬ 
cess. New Jersey and Long Island both offer excellent 
ground for the competition, which is likely to be held on 
one of these two territories. A sohedule of the prizes has 
been already secured for the All Ages, Puppy, and Brace 
Stakes. An Executive Committee is announced as fol¬ 
lows : — 
John Fottler, Jr., of Boston ; Luther Adams, of Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass.; William Jarvis, of Claremont, N. H.. J. C. 
Higgins, of Delaware City, Del.; N. Rowe, of Chicago, 
Ill.; L. C. Bruce, of New York City, and W. Wynne and 
Benjamin West, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 
The Czar's Dog. —The author of the following story 
neglects to inform us_ whether or not the Czar saw his 
son alive, but the picture of idiotic royalty is an useful 
. one perhaps:— 
The Czar takes the most extraordinary likes and 
dislikes for persons and for animals. His favorite for 
the time being, be it man, woman, dog or bird, is petted 
to an extent that is at once ludicrous and melancholy to 
observe. Once he concentrated his affections upon a 
spaniel dog, for which he conceived a violent and uncon¬ 
trollable passion. The Czar and his pet dog weire for 
a while inseparable, and his majesty, at the most incon¬ 
venient moments would demand that the animal should 
he brought to him. It was at this time that a dispatch, 
was received announcing that a son of the Czar was on 
his death bed, and that if.the father wished to see him 
the greatest haste was necessary. A special train for the 
Emperor was immediately ordered ; everything was ar¬ 
ranged, but as his majesty was about to enter the cars he 
discovered that the dog was absent. The animal had 
taken an exceptional freak ; he had escaped from the 
grounds of the palace and had gone off to amuse him¬ 
self elsewhere. The Czar, notwithstanding that he knew' 
his favorite son was at the point of death, and that every 
moment of delay might prevent liis seeing him before 
he expired, refused to stir from the palace until the dog 
was found. The palace was in uproar, servants, soldiers, 
civil officers and volunteers were sent in hot haste for 
the missing beast; but four hours elapsed (fire ‘he was 
found, captured and returned to the embrace of his im¬ 
perial master. _ 
A Boston Dog.— The Newmarket, N. H. Advertiser, 
tells a story of a valuable setter dog named Jake Skinner, 
belonging to Aivah A Skinner, of Boston. The dog has 
been hoarding for some time past at the house of Lieut. 
Thomas H. Walker, of Durham, N. H. Recently, Lieut. 
Walker was confined to his bed by sickness for three dtiys, 
and during this time the dog evinced great solicitude for 
his friend, remaining at thehead of the bed the entire time, 
not even leaving for his meals. One day during her hus¬ 
band’s illness Mrs Walker was bringing in wood from the 
shed, and noticing the dog watching closely, she said to 
him, “ Why don’t you bring in some wood, Jake ? ” The 
dog immediately arose, went to the shed, and taking a 
stick of wood in his mouth, brought it into the house, 
and deposited it in the wood-box. This he repeated six 
times, when, probably thinking he had done his share, he 
returned to his post at the head of his master’s bed. On 
the day that Lieut. Walker recovered sufficiently to be 
able to' sit up in bed, the dog seemed highly delighted, 
and proceeded at once to bring his master’s stockings to 
him, and then followed with hie boots. 
—On Oct. 15th, Mr. S, Turner’s (London, Out) Gordon 
setter bitch, Belle, was bred to Dr. J, S, Niven’s Blossom, 
(No. 5090, E. K. C. G. B,,) and on Oct. 33d, Dr. Nivens 
Mall (7250) to owner’s Blossom, 
