50 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Aug. 8, 1889. 



BOSTON'S VAGRANT DOGS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I take pleasure in replying to your inquiries as to the man- 

 agement o£ Boston's dog pound, giving a short account of 

 the system originated ami carried out by me for the past 

 twelve years in my capacity as special constable, appointed 

 by the city ''to rid our streets of mongrel, mangy, uncared 

 for and unlicensed dogs." 



Some time ago I myself inquired into the methods in vogue 

 in other cities, with a view to improve my own, and found 

 that those adopted in most places were more brutal than 

 was necessary, even affording curious onlookers an oppor- 

 tunity of witnessing the manner in which the dogs were 

 disposed of. I trust through the general inquiry made by 

 you to shortly read in your valuable paper reports from the 

 larger cities showing that more humane methods have beeu 

 adopted for the capture and disposal of this unfortunate 

 class of dogs. 



My investigation (if I may call it so) failed to show me 

 any more merciful or more instantaneous method than that 

 adopted by myself, of which I give a description. 



A covered light wagon is used for impounding. Thisiswell 

 ventilated at the bottom , sides and rear, allowing a free circu- 

 lation of fresh air. The plan of attack in the thickly settled 

 portions of the city proves most successful in the early morn- 

 ing hours, when the dogs come out for an airing and when 

 their owners are not so suspicious; for as a rule a certain 

 class of owners are greatly attached to them— but rather more 

 so to the liceuse fee. 



Two assistants accompany me on the team and scour the 

 alleys and back yards, returning often with a vagrant under 

 each arm. These are passed through an aperture in the 

 front of the wagon or cage which closes with a spring. It 

 is not long, however, after the capturing season sets in than 

 every one is on the lookout for "Dr. Al. Watts" and the 

 dogs themselves seem to know by instinct the sound of his 

 approaching vehicle which, by the way, is kept out of sight 

 of the "suspected" places as much as possible. 



The dogs are by this time (those which are not concealed) 

 on the alert, and in this dilemma I find the use of the "lasso" 

 of the greatest advantage, for where they can dodge and 

 outrun the boys the lasso in trained hands will do the 

 business. 



Several trips are made in this way in the course of the day, 

 as I make it a point never to crowd: thus avoiding any 

 snarling or howling and, strauge to say, any fighting among 

 the prisouers. This is of benefit too in the case of small dogs, 

 many of whom are unavoidably captured through the neg- 

 lect of their owners in not having collai*s on them, and who 

 would fare sadly from the results of overcrowding. 



Arriving at my repository, the freight is unloaded into a 

 boxed elevator and is carried to a large room in the upper 

 story and extending the length of the building. Here they 

 are detaiued one day and then dispatched. The finer speci- 

 mens art', however, first separated from the crowd and con- 

 veyed t-o an adjoining room to await the call of their master 

 or mistress who pay a fee of §1 for their "unfortunate 

 friend," having first been to the station house and obtained 

 a license. 



The revenue accruing to the city from this source is of no 

 smali dimensions. The destroying agent used by me in dis- 

 patching those uucalled for is a deadly poison, a combina- 

 tion of acids iu powder form. It is instantaneous, a few 

 grains being sufficient for the smaller dogs and less than 

 one-fourth of a spoonful for the larger. The victim is held 

 firmly between the knees of an assistant at the door of the 

 elevator, who forces the jaws open; the poison is then ad- 

 ministered, the muzzle held for an instant while it is swal- 

 lowed, and the animal released in the elevator, where he 

 falls dead, almost before he can lick his chops; the whole 

 performance lasting less than one minute. The elevator is 

 then lowered and tne carcasses delivered to the tanner's 

 team iu waiting below; the tanner finding it sufficiently 

 profitable to remove them gratis. 



It may be well to observe that much has been done by 

 this means of late years to elevate the standard of dogs in 

 this community, and that in propagating a higher breed of 

 dogs in general, I have received assistance and encourage- 

 ment from many lovers of the animal and the people gen- 

 erally. 



Nevertheless it is surprising the way worthless curs mul- 

 tiply annually, the number captured every season (July 1 to 

 Oct. 1) being almost incredible, averaging about 1500 I 

 can only account for this great influx during the remaining 

 nine months of the year by the fact that the same stringent 

 measures are not adopted in the towns in the immediate 

 vicinity, and am confident if my authority extended to Som- 

 erville, Chelsea and other suburban surroundings, Boston 

 would before long be well rid of vagrants of this class, and 

 a more well-bred and intelligent class of the "noble clog" 

 prevail. . De. Al. Watts. 



Boston, Mass., 1888. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.-II. 



VERY few diseases are found in the structures forming 

 the mouth of the dog, excepting the common results 

 of injury. Decay of the teeth, as it occurs in man, and 

 sometimes in domestic animals, is unknown in the dog, 

 When those organs suffer at all, the disease is inflammation 

 of the membrane covering the fang of the tooth, soxnetimes 

 complicated with abscess in the jaw and a tender and spongy 

 condition of the gum, The teeth become loose, saliva flows 

 from the mouth, the dog ceases to bite his food, and the 

 breath is foetid in the extreme. 



Dogs Which have been kept on stimulating food and pre- 

 vented from taking exercise are most subject to this dis- 

 order, which is only one phase of the generally disturbed 

 state of the digestive system. Canker is the name given to 

 the disease of the mouth above described, probably with the 

 idea that it is of a malignant or c mcerous nature.* There is 

 no reason for this belief, however, as the affection, so far as 

 its local manifestations are lOBcefned, does not spread to 

 other parts, and will yield to general and local treatment, 

 excepting in the case of very old and plethoric dogs which 

 cannot stand the necessary remedial measures. 



Removal of the loose teeth is absolutely required at the 

 commencement of the treatment, and in bad cases the whole 

 of tnese organs will have to be taken away — not at one time, 

 but as quickly as may be without causing serious irritation. 

 Dogs suffer a good deal, not only from the pain of an opera- 

 tion, but from fear; and a debilitated subject may be ren- 

 dered prostrate by a prolonged operation. Astringent 

 lotions of sulphate of ziuc and tannin are very useful in 

 cases of canker, and may be applied immediately after the 

 removal of any of the loose teeth. A soft brush or a piece 

 of eoft sponge on a stick is the best instalment for the pur- 

 pose of mopping the gums well over. Constitutional treat- 

 ment will consist of laxatives and alteratives, followed by 

 tonics. Carefully adjusted dietary is perhaps of more con- 

 sequence than medicine. 



A dose of aloes in the form of pills should be given at once. 

 The dose will be from five grains to a dram, according to 

 the size of the dog. The object, it must be remembered, is 

 not to purge, but to produce a laxative effect only; and small 

 doses, which may be repeated, are better for this purpose 

 than large ones. 



Occasional emetics are always useful in case of disordered 

 digestion in the dog, even if the animal is iu poor condition, 

 but still more beneficial if the dog is over fat. 



Regulation of the diet is the most difficult part of the 

 treatment of disease in dogs. No sentiment is ever in the 

 way of the adjustment of the dietary of the horse, ox, sheep j 

 or pig: but the dog f like bis master or mistress, has fancies 



which must be consulted, and in either case the stern direc- 

 tions of the doctor as to the daily food become subject to 

 modificatious. 



So far as circumstances will permit, the dog's diet should 

 be changed. Generally it will be found that animals affected 

 with canker in the mouth have been fed irregularly on the 

 choice morsels from the owner's table, and the substitution 

 of a meal twice a day of vegetables with a little graw, or 

 an allowance of rice with milk or gravy, will be mo=t effect- 

 ual in alleviating' the condition of the system. No alarm 

 need be felt if the dog for some time obstinately refuses the 

 uninviting provisions, in time the stimulus of appetite 

 will tempt him, and it is a good sign to see the animal recon- 

 ciled to simple food. 



Injuries to the mouth occur under various conditions. A 

 sting from a wasp or bee which has been snapped up by the 

 dog, or the puncture of the gum or lip by a spike of bone 

 which the animal was engaged in gnawing, will cause very 



eculiar symptoms. Saliva runs from the mouth, and the 



og makes strong efforts to dislodge something from the 

 mouth by the aid of the paws, running meanwhile from 

 one point to another in the utmost alarm. This state of ex- 

 citement is much like one phase of rabies, and the dog runs 

 coririderable risk of being dealt with as a rabid animal. A 

 careful inspection of the mouth would enable the veterinary 

 surgeon to detect the injury, but no one is much inclined to 

 open the mouth of a dog suspected to be mad to see if any 

 other cause for the symptoms exists. 



Impactment of a piece of bone in the back part of the 

 throat, or its lodgment between the molar teeth will give 

 rise to symptoms of extreme pain and alarm, but the dis- 

 covery or the cause of the excitement having been made the 

 cure is easy, as the removal of the offending 'body is followed 

 by immediate relief. 



"Choking sometimes occurs from the attempt to swallow 

 an unusually large or a particularly hard portion of food, 

 or sometimes from the accidental passage into the (esopha- 

 gus of a stone which the dog has run to retrieve at his 

 master's bidding. 



Symptoms of choking are so well understood, that the 

 tyro will at once realize that the dog has something in its 

 throat. The animal makes constant efforts to expel the 

 body, and, failing to do it, exhibits signs of distress. 



If the symptoms of choking are misunderstood, and noth- 

 ing is done for the relief of the animal, swelling of the neck 

 may occur: the tongue becomes enlarged and hangs from 

 the mouth, and the inflammation extends to the lining 

 membrane of the mouth. Msh bones, or pins or needles, or 

 any pointed bodies which the dog may pick up, will some- 

 times get fixed in some part of the throat or swallow, and 

 cause the. formation of an abscess: and when the discbarge 

 takes place, the body will most probably be discharged at 

 the same time. But there is always the danger that the 

 symptoms may give rise to a suspicion that the dog is 

 affected with dumb rabies. 



Cases of choking are not adapted for amateur treatment; 

 much tact and skill are necessary for the removal of an ob- 

 struction from the throat, and the dislodgement of any 

 substance from the swallow must be effected by the aid of 

 instruments, which are effective only in practiced bauds. 

 Iu some instances it is necessary to cut down upon the sub- 

 stance which is retained in the (esophagus, and remove it. 

 the wound being stitched up afterward aud treated by anti- 

 septic dressing. The operation is not difficult, nor are there 

 any serious consequences to be apprehended, but it is 

 obviously beyond the reach of the amateur. 



In connection with the surgery of the mouth, it is neces- 

 sary to allude to the old-fashioned operation of "worming," 

 which consists iu the removal of a small white thread from 

 the fold of mucous membrane beneath the dog's tongue. 

 Modern veterinary books do not refer to this operation^ ex- 

 cept as a piece of ancient barbarity, which was justified on 

 the plea that it prevented dogs from going mad. It cannot 

 be said that the superstition has died out, because t he oper- 

 ation is still performed, and the difficulty in the matter is 

 that the scientific man, while he may contend that the re- 

 moval of the. "worm " from under the tongue cannot have 

 any protective effect against rabies, is quite unable to offer 

 any explanation of the use of the small body, and therefore 

 his objections have small weight.— London Field. 



ELMIRA DOG SHOW. 



TE have received the premium list of the first annual 

 S dog show of the Elrnira Poultry and Pet Stock Asso- 

 ciation, to be held at Elmira, N. Y., Sept. 17 to 20, in con- 

 junction with the Interstate Fair. The show will be held 

 under A. K. C. rules. Messrs. John Davidson and H. W. 

 Lacy have been appointed judges. The prize in the chal- 

 lenge class for mastiff dogs is -S15; bitches, the same; open 

 dogs, S10, $5 and diploma: bitches, the same. Each variety 

 of St. Bernards, same as mastiffs. Newfoundlands, one 

 class, §10, *5 and diploma. Deerhounds, challenge dogs, $10 

 aud $5; bitches the same; open, same as mastiffs. Fox- 

 hounds, each sex, $f0,*5and diploma. Pointers (two classes), 

 English setters, Irish setters, Cordon setters, beagles, col- 

 lies^ bulldogs and bull-terriers, challenge dogs, 610, $5 ana 

 diploma; bitches, the same; open classes, same as mastiffs. 

 Spaniels, over 28lbs., challenge (one class), $10; opeu, black, 

 same as mastiffs: other than black, the same. Clumbers 

 (one class), §10 and $5. Irish water, the same. Cockers, chal- 

 lenge (one class), #10, $5 and diploma: open, black, same as 

 mastiffs; other than black (one class), £10. $5 aud diploma. 

 Pox-terriers, challenge (two classes), $10: open, same as mas- 

 tiffs: wire-haired, §10. Irish terriers, challenge (one class;, 

 $5 and §3; open, same as mastiffs. Yorkshire, challenge (one 

 class), §10; open (two classes), §1>0 and diploma. Pugs, chal- 

 lenge (two classes), §10; open, same as mastiffs. Black and 

 tan, Bedlington, Scotch, Dandie Dinmont and toy terriers, 

 Japanese spaniels, Italian greyhounds, Mexican hairless and 

 Siberian wolfhounds (one class esch), §10, §5 and diploma. 

 Skye terriers (two classes), the same. King Charles and 

 Blenheim spaniels (one class each), §10 and diploma. Great 

 Danes (two classes), the same. Miscellaneous, large and 

 small (one class each), §10, §5 and diploma. Kennel prizes 

 of §10 each are offered by the club for mastiffs, St. Bernards, 

 deerhounds, greyhounds, pointers, English setters, Irish 

 setters, spaniels, beagles, collies, bulldogs, bull-terriers, fox- 

 terriers and pugs. Entries close Sept. 7. The address of the 

 secretary is Geo. M. Robinson, Elmira, N. Y. 



TORONTO DOG SHOW. 



7 E have received the premium list of the dog show to be 

 held at Toronto, Canada, Sept. 16 to IS, under the 

 auspices of the Domiuion of Canada Kennel Club and the 

 Ontario Collie Club, in connection with the fair of the In- 

 dustrial Exhibition Association. Seventy-one classes are 

 provided for, the premiums amounting to nearly §1,200. 

 The show will be held under the rules of the Canadian Ken- 

 nel Club. Mr. John Davidson will judge setters, pointers, 

 collies, beagles, foxhounds and spaniels, and Mr. C. H. 

 Mason the remaining classes. Entries close Sept. 4. The 

 address of the secretary is Cant. C. Greville Harston, Public 

 Library Building, Toronto, (Jan. 



FOXHOUND LOST.— Mi-. H. C. Graff, Kensington, O., 

 has lost his foxhound dog Roller: he is black and tan with 

 small white spot on breast and throat. One ear is slit at 

 point. He is six years old and strayed or was stolen on the 

 night of July 18. Any one learniug his whereabouts will 

 confer a favor by informing his owner. 



DOG TALK. 



THE stud book committee of the A. K. C. at a meeting 

 held Julv 19, considered the Meersbrook Maiden and 

 Meers brook Girl muddle, and decided that the proofs as to 

 their identity offered by Dr. Foote were satisfactory. The 

 committee declined to recognize all awards received by these 

 dogs while shown under wrong names. The committee in- 

 vestigated the charge of Mr. J. Shelley Hudson against Mr. 

 G. W. Kwiug for giving wrong pedigree to the English set- 

 ter bitch M'liss C, and found that Mr. Ewing was right, as 

 the dam of M'liss C. and her litter sister were both of the 

 same name. The committee also investigated the charge of 

 Mr. J. E. Isgrigg against Mr. P. T. Madison, that he wrongly 

 advertised his English setter dog Rush Gladstone as a 

 champion. Information from Mr. Madison showed that 

 the dog had twice won a champion prize at small shows 

 not held under A. K. C. rules. The committee adopted the 

 following resolution: "Resolved, That notice is hereby 

 given that the advertisement of Mr. P. T. Madison, which 

 states 'The English setter champion Rush Gladstone (A.K.C. 

 S.B. 3522). unbeaten on the bench,' is misleading, but it is 

 the sense of this committee that it has no power in the 

 premises other than the publication of the fact that the dog 

 did not win a championship under the American Kennel 

 Club rules." 



The Fancier^ (J-asetlv says of cropping: "If cropping is 

 to be stopped, the order would come better from a legal 

 side. Supposing that the Society for the Prevention of 

 Cruelty to Animals took the matter in hand, and said that 

 if any dog from after Aug. 1, 1889, was shown cropped, the 

 case would be inquired into, and a prosecution ordered; then 

 we are certain that in 1890 the puppy classes in all breeds 

 which are accustomed to be cropped would be classes of un- 

 cropped dogs, and in due time all the classes would be so." 



Beuch show managers will find it to their interest to for- 

 ward to this office for distribution, copies of their premium 

 lists and entry blanks. It is often the case that we have 

 calls for them on the day that entries close. We should also 

 have early advice of date when entries close, which will be 

 published in our "fixture" column. 



The managers of the Toledo dog show offer a special prize 

 of $50 to the exhibitor scoring the greatest number of points, 

 the winnings of each exhibitor in the various classes to be 

 added together, The points will score as follows: First 

 prize 5, second 4, vhc. 3, he. 2, and c. 1 point. 



We are advised that a large number of valuable special 

 prizes have already been offered for the Toronto dog show, 

 and that many more are promised. The management ex- 

 pect that the show will be the best yet held by the club. 



Dr. M. H. Cryer, who has beeu enjoying the honeymoon 

 abroad, is expected home next week. 



We hear that Mr. F. F. Dole is coining out strong at the 

 dog shows next, spring. 



THE DOGS OF BATH.— Bath, Me., July l.-ln an article 

 on dog license laws I notice a statement "We have no un- 

 licensed or stray dogs iu Bath, Me." It is true in no sense 

 of Bath, Me. The licensing of dogs is optional with the 

 cities and towns in this State, some taxing and licensing 

 tbern, others not, In this city, like many others, the good 

 for nothing mongrel curs are"largely iu excess in numbers 

 to the useful ones, and efforts have periodic illy been made 

 to devise some method of abating the nuisance, with little 

 success, until now it has been determined that all un- 

 licensed dogs must go. To date there have been 220 dog 

 licenses taken out in this city. Is is estimated that there 

 soon will be 300 dogs wearing that little metal medal that 

 licensed dogs must carry about with them. Unlicensed dogs 

 are to be slain.— Geo. E. Newman. 



KENNEL NOTES. 



Hotes must be sent on prepared blanks, which are fur- 

 nished free on receipt of stamped and addressed envelope 

 of large letter size. Sets of 200 oi any one form, bound for 

 retaining duplicates, are sent for 30 cents. 



NAMES CLAIMED. 



(ST" Notes must be sent on the Prepared Blanks. 



Ohispa. By A. C. Johnson, Mechanicsville. N. Y., for black, 

 write and tan beagle bitch, whelped June 12, 188s, by Ross (A.K. 

 R, 2116,1 out of Spot (A.K. ft. 8339). 



Rustic Prince, Rustic Joe, Rwsttcnat and Rustic Ruby- By Geo. 

 W. Fisher, Catawissa, Pa., for fawn pug 'logs, whelped July 6, 

 1880. bv Rustic King out of Rose (Bradford Ruby— Gyp). 



Ada'. By W. A. Whea'ley. Memphis, Tcnn., for white and 

 orange English setter bitch, whelped June, 1880, by Samuel of 

 Posen out of Col. Wood's bitch. 



Duke VIII. By G. A. Goddard, Worcester, Mass., for black 

 cocker spaniel dog, whelped May 10. 1889, by Black Pete (Obo, Jr. 

 — Phonsie) out of Phyllis (A.K.R. 6293). 



BRED. 



%g?~ Notes must be sent on the Prepared Blanks. 



Naso's Belle— Spot Dash. H. L. Rice's (Boston, Mass.) pointer 

 hitch Naso's Belle (Naso of Ki open— Belle Randolph) to Fleet 

 View & Beading Pointer Kennels' bpot Dash (Sir Philip Sydney— 

 Topsy), Aug. 1. 



Portland Lilly— Sir Anthony. Geo. W. LoVell'S iMiddleboro, 

 Mass.) pointer bitch Portland Lilly (Glenmark— Zanetta) to his 

 Sir Anthony (champion Graphic— Z^tta). Aue. S. 



Loo— Peels d-Boo. O. G. HincJiley's (Leo, Muss.) pus bitch Loo 

 (Oi hello II.— Street's Loo) to J. H. Seeley'a Peek-a-Boo (Bradford 

 Ruby— Susie). April 27. 



Daisy— Rustic Kino. G. W. Wenck's (Northumberland, Pa.; 

 pug bitch Daisy (Tom Thumb— Bi jo i > to G. W. Fisher's Rustic 

 King. 



Jule— Othello. Geo. W. Fisher's (Catavvissa, Pa.) put; bitr-b Jule 

 (Tom Thumb-Bijou) to Dr. M. H. Over's Othello. July 20. 



Schats—Ben Hur. Tracy Gould's (Virmlaud, N. J.) St. Bernard 

 bitch Sjhats to his Ben Hur (A K.R. 6727). Julv 29. 



Zora—Ben Bur. Tracy Gould's (Vineland, N.J.) St. Bernard bitch 

 Zora (A.K.R. G899) to his Ben Hur (A.K.R .8827), July IJ. 



Novice— Sir Herbert. C. H. Marshall'- (Leominster, Mass.) St. 

 Bernard hitch .Novice (champion Hermit— Irma) to Chfquasset 

 Kennels' imported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon— champion 

 Queen JurA Julv 22 



Duchess of Beathlield— Sir Herbert.. C. H. Spring's (Newton Lower 

 Falls. Mass.) St. Bernard bitch Duchess of Heatbfield (Rip Van 

 Winkle— Recluse; to Chequasset Kennels' imported Sir Herbert 

 (champion Plinlimmon— cnaorpion Queen Jura), May 24. 



Nesta—Sir Herbert. Chequasset Kennels' (Lancaster. Mass.) St. 

 Bernard bitch Nesta (champion Merchant Prince— Lys) to their 

 imported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon— champion Queen 

 Jura), Juup 2. 



Marvel— Sir Herbert. Chequasset Kennels' (Lancaster, Mass.) 

 St. Bernard bitch Marvel (champion Hermit— Alma) to their im- 

 ported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon— chamnion Queen 

 Jura). May 30. 



Rudolphia—Sir Herbert. Chequasset Kennels' (Lancaster, Mass.) 

 St. Bernard hitch Rudolphia (Rudolph II.— Maria) to their im- 

 ported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon — champion Queen 

 Jura), July 9. 



Lys— Sir Herbert. H. S. Pitkin's (Harfford, Conn.) St. Bernard 

 bitch Lys (champion Hermit-Somhre) to Chequasset Kenm-ls' 

 imported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon— champion Queen 

 Jura), June 20. 



Bessie— Sir Herbert. G. W. Scbenk's (Burlington, la.) St. Ber- 

 nard bitch Bessie (Duke of Lancaster— Kr^n) to Chequasset Ken- 

 nelo' imported Sir Herbert (champion Plinlimmon— champion 

 Queen Jura), July 4. 



Jessie— Locke. T. H. Welch's (Newburyport, Mass.) Gordon set- 

 ter bitch Jessie (Argus HI.— Lowell's Nellie) to J. T. Johns's Locke 

 (Bailey's Tom— Paasy), June 2o. 



