1008 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
"The thing was a success, and Cooptown dreamed 
once more how it would have a walk over next bench 
show ‘down to New York.' John Doe braced up. 
and Richard was himself again.” 
Dogs Poisoned by Salmon,— We publish further notes 
from our Corvallis, Oregon, correspondent, whose dogs 
were poisoned by eating the salmon of those waters. 
We have never seen any satisfactory explanation of this 
trouble. The writer’s statement that the malady is in¬ 
duced by eating the fresh and healthy salmon precludes 
the opinion formerly expressed that this may have been 
a case of poisoning by decayed fish. We shouldbe pleased 
to have statements of any other and similar oases wliicli 
may have -been noted. We are inclined to class this 
among other phenomena of fish poisoning (some of which 
we refer to elsewhere), the causes of which are little 
understood even by students who have devoted much 
study to the subject 
1 think my former communication was not as complete 
as it should have been, as you evidently understood from 
it that our dogs are only injured by eating the dead or 
putrid salmon, whereas the facts are that a piece of the 
cleanest and best salmon, even when ready for the table, 
will produce the same effect described in my former 
letter, if any dog not previously inured to eating it gets 
hold of it. It is considered here phosphoric poisoning, as 
after the salmon is cooked dogs may eat it with no ill 
results. Our doctors here have considered the case fre¬ 
quently. and various remedies have been the result, but 
none thiiB far have pro ved satisfactory. It is also claimed 
that our brook trout and salmon trout will produce the 
some effects, although I have never seen a case produced 
this way myself. I trust the publication of my first letter 
may call out some opinions from some of your readers 
that will throw more light on the subject. 
DISTEMPER AND ITS EFFECTS. 
Delaware City, Jan, 19f7i. 
A NOTHER feature in administering medicines to dogs 
which is of vital importance^ remember is, that in 
giving such remedies ns digitalis, strychnine; etc., etc., 
their curative effects are best attained "by small and often 
repeated doses gradually increased, and if after the dose 
has been increased several doses are omitted and then 
renewed in the same dose, it may prove fatal, as by grad¬ 
ually Increasing the dose such doses as would otherwise 
be poisonous can bo borne with impunity, and if given 
after suspension, the effect on the system being lost, the 
action is the same as though there had been no gradual 
increase. There are several means of detecting the ap¬ 
proach of death in distemper. A positive sign is (he 
flight of fleas and all vermin. This often occurs long 
before the extremities commence to get cold. Another 
is the falling off of the coat, which is sometimes so com¬ 
plete as to leave the dog almost naked. This falling off 
of the hair is caused by suspension of the secretions 
necessary to the life of the hair; the temperature of the 
body is indicated by the thermometer. The temperature 
is also ascertained, though not with the same degree of 
certainty, by feeling the tongue and gums. Vaccination 
has been proposed as a preventive of distemper, and even 
lauded by a few as a specific, but I assure you there is 
not a shadow of truth in its usefulness, and T 
now often condemn myself for ever entertaining 
th6 hope for a moment, as there is not the 
slightest similarity to small-pox. Our main de¬ 
pendence in following the condition of the lungs in dis¬ 
temper is the crepitant rale ; its greater or less destruc¬ 
tion indicates the severity of the disease, and as time 
passes i f the rale is superceded by the normal sounds of 
respiration we may conclude J bat the inflammation has 
subsided, which is joyful news, for when the inflamma¬ 
tion subsides in the lungs you may take it for granted 
that it has already subsided in the other parts of the sys¬ 
tem, and all that is now to be treated is the prostration 
and fear of relapse. But we must be positive that it is 
the respiratory sounds that we hear, and not the sound of 
solidified tissue, Distemper, when complicated by inflam¬ 
mation of the lungs, is always accompanied with foetid 
breath, which is also an indication of the severity of the 
lung trouble, which subsides when the inflammation is 
superceded by ahealthy condition of the lungs. If the in¬ 
flammation is superceded, solidification, or what is called 
hepatization of the lungs, the foetoris still there. In its 
aftereffects distemper in the dog is like scarlet fever and 
measles in children, it often leaves the patient with some 
effect of its course, the worst of which is epilepsy ami 
chorea, Sore eyes, with defective sight and loss of scent¬ 
ing powers, are also frequent. Epilepsy and 
chorea are seldom cured after they have become 
thoroughly established. When the first symp¬ 
toms appear preventative measures may be taken. 
No. 7 (or mw Ig. Ann) given three to six times 
during the twenty-four hours is the treatment for either. 
After they have become established this treatment will 
give relief, but will not cure. Seatons in the back of the 
neck are recommended, but for what reason I cannot 
say, as I liave tried it in over fifty cases without the least 
good effect. Neither will nitrate of silver or the other 
prescribed drugs answer any better. He must be an ex- 
ceptionably good dog indeed which I would care to keep 
after he bad become an epileptic ; but I have seen many 
serviceable dogs, several of which had chorea so severely 
that they could scarcely stand ; yet it is enough to give 
one the horrors to see a dog jerking and snatching as 
though he were in the greatest misery. I am of the 
opinion that this disease is not painful—only annoying. 
I once owned a bitch which would kick and jerk so badly 
while sleeping that she would move several feet from her 
first position without waking. This bitch could stand as 
many hard days’ hunting as any other man’s dog. I also 
once'bad a bitch in training for a gentleman, who would 
often fall flat when at full gallop, but she would get Up 
and go it again, not seeming to be fatigued. This bitch 
was by Rock (Adams) out of Queen Mab (Burges), was 
very promising and had the handsomest head I ever saw, 
not excepting Rock, Chorea from distemper will vary 
from'the cases described, to a slight twitching of the 
limbs, or even lesser muscles, very frequently, of the jaw. 
Epilepsy, though far the worst of the two, often does 
not appear so until he is warmed up by exercise ; not the 
Slightest symptom of the disease is apparent when lie is 
inactive. When a fit is coming on the dog appears be¬ 
wildered, and stands looking around, as if to locate him¬ 
self ; at other times he goes off without a moment’s 
warning. He will start around in a circle, leaning in¬ 
ward and acting much as though he was lame in both 
outside legs, After he has described part of a circle he 
falls over on life side, kicks vigorously, froths at the 
mouth, Ills eyes turn over in the sockets and he recog¬ 
nizes no one. You must now approach him carefully, so 
as not to scare him or allow him to bite you, which he 
will be apt to do if you are not on your guard. He will 
not run at you to bite you ; only when you lay hands on 
him ho will snap at you. Secure him in some way or be 
will run until he is exhausted, all the while excited and 
nervous. These cases are nearly all supposed to he rabid 
and likely to he killed before they recover sufficiently to 
go home : but if you prevent liis starting, talking to him 
kindly, and if you have anything eatable about you give 
him some, he will soon be himself again, and in most 
subjects this is the only attack for that day, and lie will 
do a good day’s work. OtherB remain weak and ex¬ 
hausted and must have a long rest and sleep before they 
gain sufficient strength to follow you. This dog is use¬ 
less for hunting purposes. Every time he is warmed up 
by exercise the scene is repeated. Distemper, worms and 
mange, formerly considered the three worst enemies of 
the dog, have by careful study and experiments been 
rendered comparatively harmless. M. Von Cuun. 
FOX-HUNTING IN CHESTER COUNTY. 
West Chester, Pa., Jem. nth, 
F OX-HUNTING is now in the zenith of its glory, and 
theChesterV alley and the Brandy wine Hills.as well as 
those adjacent to West Chester, resound to the music of 
the hounds. The admirers of this exhilarating sport in 
our borough have formed themselves into an association 
styled the West Chester Fox-Hunting Club, of which 
Evan Rogers is President,- nairy J. Brenton, Secretary, 
and Jeff. Shaner, Master of Hounds. An imposing uni¬ 
form of dark blue coat and cap, corduroy breeches and 
high-topped boots, has been adopted. Tho organization 
is composed of men who would not patronize a pastime 
deteriorating in its moral influences* the roll of member¬ 
ship exhibiting such names as Senator James B. Ever¬ 
hart, author of the famous poem entitled “ The Fox 
ChaseGeorge A. Mercer, our efficient Postmaster ; 
Pierce Hoopes, Jr.. Clerk of the Courts : J. Gheen Mor¬ 
gan, B. Tevis Hoopes, and a host of others. The kennel 
is the best in the State, and numbers about sixty well- 
trained animals. 
The grand event of the season has come and gone. 
Never in the annals of fox-hunting were greater prepara¬ 
tions made for its thorough enjoyment, and for weeks 
previous to the forthcoming two-days’ hunt it was the 
theme of conversation whenevertwo or more enthusiasts 
chanced to meet. Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 14th 
and loth, had been set apart for the annual chase. An 
invitation having been extended to the Rose Tree Club, 
of Media, Delaware- County, to participate, a score of 
visitors reached the borough Tuesday evening, fully uni¬ 
formed, bringing with them their horses and dogs. A 
sumptuous repast was spread before them, after partaking 
of which all retired to woo “Nature’s sweet restorer”— 
sleep. Early on Wednesday morning they sallied forth. 
The West Chester Club turned out in full force, and as 
thepartyrode through the streets, “ tliered coats and the 
bine,” a novel aud picturesque scene was presented. 
Among the hills of East Goshen the dogs first gave 
tongue. Reynard made liis appearanoe, anil after 
scanning his pursuers for a moment, concluded to 
find a safe refuge, which he did after a short run of about 
a mile. He took to earth, leaving our huntsmen to seek 
other conquests. 
Three of these wily creatures were started, but afforded 
but little amusement. Tliinking “ discretion the better 
part of valor," they immediately sought their hoies, and 
were seen no more. A number of mishaps occurred 
among the horsemen in taking the fences, but with 
the exception of a few scratches no serious damages were 
sustained. Toward noon they returned to West Chester, 
well pleased, and ready for whatever the morrow might 
bring forth. The snow which had fallen a few days pre¬ 
vious materially interfered with the rim of Wednesday, 
and it was feared it would prove a barrier to Thursday’s 
sport. However, at 7 o’clock a. h. the dogs were again 
turned loose. Nothing of an exciting nature transpired 
until Pambers’ Woods were reached—to the south ol' 
West Chester about three miles—when the terrific 
tongueing of the animals gave notice that the fun had 
begun. Out of the woods sprang the fox, closely fol¬ 
lowed by a hundred hounds. The excitement was 
intense ; the horses needed no spurring : they had caught 
the fever, and with raised heads and distended nostrils 
were as eager to push forward as their riders. What a 
glorious sight! Yonder they go over the hills towards 
Bie Brandywine, all eager to be in at the death. His fox- 
ship had prepared himself for a day’s run, and after 
reaching the Brandywine followed its course, never once 
deviating. On tlirough Chadd's Ford, to the Twin 
Bridges, thence in the direction of Dupont’s powder 
works, be kept the lead, seemingly defying the hounds 
to catch him. When within a few miles of Wilmington 
he slipped into a hole, and with his disappearance the 
two days’ hunt came to an end. The weary hunters re¬ 
turned home brimful of satisfaction over the glories of 
thecliase. From the starting point to the final close the 
distance in this day’s run was almost or quite fiftoen 
miles. Anon. 
Shooting Dogs. — Canal Fulton, O., Jan. 12th. —In 
your last issue I saw an article on “ Breaking Dogs with 
Gold Lead.” Last fall I was hunting ducks and snipe 
along our river with a young setter of my breeding that 
had not been trained, much. He was very anxious to 
catch every bird he saw or scented ; and I believe he 
would have made a good dog if I had not unfortunately 
tiled to break him with lead. I saw some ducks in the 
river, and the dog saw some killdeer which he chased. I 
became provoked and thought I would try stinging him 
with shot. I did not stop to think that I had a load of 
No. 6 shot and 3.) drachms powder, but let drive at him 
about one hundred yards away while on the run. The 
dog came to me looking very sick. I looked to see where 
he was hurt, but be never moved again from the spot 
where I stood. He had been running with his side to me, 
and I think the shot entered his vitals. I will never try 
breaking dogs again with lead. G. H. 
The shot evidently penetrated the heart of the dog and 
caused almost instant death. This is not remarkable, for 
when a dog’s fore leg is stretched forward it exposes a 
very vulnerable portion of his body. It is only several 
years ago that a very large bear was killed near Fort Lar¬ 
amie, by a few pellets of very small shot, the gun being’ 
in the bands of an inexperienced person who was not 
aware of the danger he ran in firing it. 
Pointers as Field Dogs. — Hamilton, Ont.. Jan. nth., 
—I would infer from your recent reports of field trials 
that pointers were ignored in field trials on this side of 
the Atlantic. Your humble servant being one of those 
strong in the belief that pointers can more than hold their 
own with setters in tne field, the following important 
points in which first-class pointers will excel compared 
with setters may be of interest to some of your subscri¬ 
bers. 
Pointers are less difficult to train than setters and re¬ 
tain then- training for a greater length of time. As a 
rule their powers of scent are more acute, and they will 
stand more fatigue in hot weather and where water is 
scarce. I have seen pointers that were the most perfect 
retrievers and whose scenting powers were so perfect that 
in retrieving they could distinguish a dead or wounded 
bird from one uninjured. 
Some thirty-five years ago, in one of the best counties 
of England for shooting and where the best pointer bitch 
in England to-day was bred, viz., the one that beat the 
celebrated setter bitch Countess, in a field trial, setters 
were the exception, and the strong staunch pointer of 
the Spanish type was the rule. 
I remember being with my father partridge shooting 
over a brace of pointers in a field of turnips, when Rake 
came to a point, Dan being some distance away backing 
in fine style, the birds were flushed and a brace shot, 
After loading, Rake was ordered to seek dead; he re¬ 
trieved one of the birds when Don came to a point, Rake 
barking Don’s pointing with the dead bird in his mouth, 
It was oue of the finest sights I ever saw or ever expect 
to see. The pointer of the present, like the foxhound, has 
had his usefulness impaired for the sake of speed a t the 
expense of more useful qualities. Ranger. 
There will be more attention paid in the future to point¬ 
ers as field trial dogs, and it will not be long before we 
shall see them come to the fore and hold their own, as 
they are known to do in a hard day’s work. 
The First Pack of Fox-Hounds. —The first real steady 
pack of fox-hounds, established in the western part of 
England was by Thomas Fownes, Esq., of Stepleton, in 
Dorsetshire, about 1730. They were as handsome and 
fully as complete in every respect as any of the most cel¬ 
ebrated packs of the present day. The owner was obliged 
to dispose of them, and they were sold to Mr. Bowes, of 
Yorkshire, at an immense price. They were taken into 
Yorkshire by their own attendants, andafter having been 
viewed and" much admired in their kennel, a day was 
fixed for making trial of them in the field, to meet at a 
famous liare-cover near by. When the huntsman came 
with his hounds In the morning he discovered a great 
number of sportsmen, who were riding in the cover and 
whipping the furzes as for a hare ; he therefore baited 
and informed Mr. Bowes that ho was unwilling to throw 
off his hounds until the gentlemen had retired and 
ceased the slapping of whips, to which his hounds were 
not accustomed, and he would engage to find a fox in a 
few minutes if there was one there- The sportsmen hav¬ 
ing obeyed the orders given by Mr. Bowes, the hunts¬ 
man. taking the wind of the cover, threw off his hounds, 
which immediately began to feather and soon got upon a 
drag into tho cover and up to the fox’s kennel, which 
went off close before them, and after a severe burst over 
a fine country was killed, to the great satisfaction of the 
whole party. They then returned to the same cover, not 
one half of it having been drawn, and very soon found a 
second fox exactly in the same maimer as before, which 
broke cover immediately over tho same fine country; 
but the chase was much longer, and in the course of it 
the fox made its way to a nobleman’s park. It had been 
customary to stop hounds before’ they could enter it, but 
the best-mounted sportsmen attempted to stay the Dor¬ 
setshire hounds in vain. The dogs topped the highest 
fence, dashed through herds of deer and a number of 
hares, without taking the least notice of them, and ran 
in to their fox and killed him some miles beyond the 
^Before tins pack was raised in Dorsetshire the hounds 
that hunted Cranbourn Chase hunted all the animals 
promiscuously, except the deer, from which they were 
necessarily kept steady ; otherwise they would not have 
been suffered to bunt in the chase at all. 
Don and the Newspaper,— This story of a knowing 
dog is told by the Bodie, Nevada, Standard 
Lance NightingilTs Don was worth two such Yankee 
doo-s All old Carsonites remember Don—a sotter of the 
purest blood, with liis nose split to his teeth. When 
Lance was State Controller of Nevada, his office was next 
door to the Appeal, then conducted by Harry Mighehs. 
One of Don’s daily duties was to make an ante-breakfast 
call at his master’s office and bring him the Sacramento 
Union —at that time the first source of telegraphic news. 
One morning m the spring of ’67 Don turned up without 
the paper. Lance reproved him and ordered bun back to 
perform' his duty. Off went Don, but soon the poor fel¬ 
low returned, his ears drooping, liis tail between his legs, 
and his eyes expressing such abject misery as only a faith¬ 
ful dog can suffer. Again came the rebuke from the 
master. For a moment poor Don cowered ; then, sud¬ 
denly be pricked up his ears, wagged Ids tail—the light 
of aii idea shone from his face, and off he galloped. And 
ill three minutes he returned triumphant with the Union 
in his honest jaws. He had gone next door and stolen 
Harry Mighels’ paper. Lance has long since gone to his 
long home, and tho mould lies deep over the remains of 
his faithful friend and servant, Don, Loving hands have 
conveyed to its last resting place the dust of the Harry 
Miis we all loved so well; but we have thought it 
weft to rescue from the oblivion of death tho honest theft 
of poor old Don, 
