Oct. 31, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



291 



A. K. It. to the A. K. C. for the sum of $500, which offer 

 was shortly after accepted by the A. K. C, and the rival 

 register ceased to exist. The above is a short history of the 

 workings and actions of the A. K. C. under the old consti- 

 tution, and which gave to the breeders quarterly their Stud 

 Book and a substantial and equivalent return for the 

 moneys which they paid into the A. K. C, and this brings 

 us down to the year 18S9. 



Shortly before the beginuing of 1889 the delegates and the 

 A. K. C. abandoned the practical aud substantial registra- 

 tion which had been inaugurated and by putting into force 

 a new constitution and set of rules providing for an annual 

 publication of the Stud Book, and the publication of a 

 monthly Kennel Gazette, as well as the admission of what 

 are now known as associate members. Under this constitu- 

 tion a reckless and extravagant management has been in- 

 augurated, an advisory committee has been created, two 

 editor secretaries have been employed, one secretary editor 

 for the Stud Book at a salary of St. 000 per annum, the other 

 secretary of the A. K. C. and editor of the Kennel Gazette 

 at a salary of $1,500 per annum, typewriters, stenographers, 

 expensive offices, and with a costly and expensive publica- 

 tion to bring out monthly, which, with the exception of the 

 two advertisements which appear upon the front and back 

 cover, is of no earning capacity whatever except what it re- 

 ceived from the dog men and breeders, and to whom it is of 

 no utility whatever, while to some it is a detriment, for 

 many of the breeders have placed advertisements in this 

 Kennel Gazette without the expectation of receiving any 

 return whatever therefrom, excepting the object to assist 

 and sustain the club. We now find that since this new con- 

 stitution went into force aud the inauguration of the reck- 

 less aud costly management, which must necessarily follow 

 under the present constitution and rules, that for the first 

 eight months of this year the dog men and breeders have 

 already paid in about -$6,000, and the officers have expended 

 about the same amount, yet we have no Stud Book or even 

 the sign of one, aud notwithstanding this great expenditure 

 and cost to the bleeder, the Stud Book Committee have in- 

 creased their demands 100 per cent, upon the breeders, and 

 after Jan. 1 next, the breeder must pay to register his dog in 

 the Stud Book for the sum of one dollar. 



I earnestly hope that the local clubs will at once take this 

 matter in hand and that at the next annual meeting we pro- 

 ceed to adopt a new constitution for the A. K. C. and rules 

 which will provide aud give to the dog breeders in this 

 country a Stud Book published every three months, and a 

 uniform system of bench show rules for the government of 

 clubs. 



This can now be done by a concerted action of the local 

 clubs, and t he breeders will be enabled under a conservative 

 and economical management to have their dogs registered 

 at a cost not exceeding 25 cents and a stud book which at 

 the end of the year should not exceed $1.50. The associate 

 membership should be done away with, and if these gentle- 

 men are interested in dog matters they should be required 

 to obtain that interest through the local clubs where they 

 reside, for it is this local interest which builds up, improves 

 and encourages the breeding of good dogs. If the breeders 

 have any money to spare, let it be used within their own 

 clubs iu promoting bench shows, and thereby they can enjoy 

 themselves much of the "health, wealth and wisdom'' which 

 is now experienced only at 44 Broadway. Peshall. 



Jersey Citt, N. .T., Oct. 21. 



BRUNSWICK FUR CLUB FIELD TRIALS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The first annual field trials for foxhounds of the Bruns- 

 wick Fur Club will be held at the Albany Hills, Me., com- 

 mencing Nov. 11, and continuing every fair day thereafter 

 till the various classes have been run off. This is the first 

 instance in New England, that I am aware of, where hona 

 fide field trials for foxhounds have been inaugurated, ami 

 the Brunswick Fur Club claims the honor of instituting 

 them. D tiring the early part, of October several members of 

 the club went to the Albany Hills with a few choice hounds 

 to test them, and after five days' running were satisfied that 

 foxes were plentiful and ran nicely, and that good accom- 

 modations for the members of the club could be had at rea- 

 sonable rates. The object of these field trials is the improve- 

 ment of the stock of hounds; and careful observations will 

 be taken during the races for future benefit. It is expected 

 that about thirty members of the club will be present, and 

 sixty or seventy hounds. 



The club, in its desire to ascertain the best type of fox- 

 hound, will probably put up a purse of $100 this winter on 

 a pack of six dogs selected from the club's kennels, and 

 challenge any other pack of six dogs iu the United States, 

 they to be backed by the same amount, for the best three in 

 five races, the winning pack to take all the stakes. These 

 races will probably take place in February at the New 

 Meadows, Me., where dogs can run all clay, and pluck and 

 endurance gain the victory. 



Our Southern fox-hunters are especially requested to at- 

 tend our meets and bring some of their best dogs. The 

 officers of the club are as follows: President, H. C. Newell. 

 Ash burn ham, Mass.; Vice-President, R. t>. Perry, Brain- 

 tree, Mass.; L. O. Dennison, Walt ham. Mass.: A. McDonald, 

 Rockland, Me.; Secretary, J. H. Baird, Auburndale, Mass.; 

 Treasurer, Henry Stetsoe, Brunswick, Me.; Directors of 

 Hunts, Ed Thomas, New Meadows, Me.: Dr. A. C. Heffen- 

 ger, Portsmouth, N. H.; C. H. Greenleaf, Bath, Me.; A, M. 

 Gerry, South Paris, Me.: Geo. Russell, Fall River, Mass.: 

 W. S. Perry, Worcester, Mass. 



Further information regarding the field trials, rules gov- 

 erning trials or anything pertaining to the meet can be had 

 of the secretary. PlSCATAQUA. 



Portsmouth, N. H., Oct. 26. 



THE GORDON SETTER CLUB. 



"TVTEW YORK, Oct. 26.— Editor Forest and Stream: Re- 

 _1_M ferring to the communication in your issue of Oct. 24, 

 dated St. Louis, Oct. 15, aud signed J". Whitaker, M. D., I 

 will merely state that, what was originally stated is still 

 adhered to. Several members of this club, among the num- 

 ber the undersigned, did not think the club had been 

 properly managed and that a change in the executive body 

 would prove beneficial. The attempt was made to induce 

 the committee to postpone action for sixty days in the 

 matter of the election. This was not done, but the election 

 was held and the old officers were re-elected. How this 

 election can be valid under the constitution remains for the 

 future to decide. The need of a revision of the constitution 

 was urged which the present executive committee of three 

 may determine to do in the ensuing year. Thus it is easy 

 to perceive that my mission in this regard has ended aud 

 the efforts made have proved fruitless. For me to attempt 

 to answer the many personal insinuations or innuendoes 

 that might emanate from the possibly fertile brain of Dr. 

 Whitaker would be useless, or for me to enter into a dis- 

 cussion on many other matters referred to by him which are 

 not at all pertinent to the original subject is not my busi- 

 ness, as the subject which originated my first open letter 

 has been disposed of. All further communications from 

 Dr, Whitaker will be treated with silence. In conclusion I 

 will say that it is my earnest hope that the Gordon Setter 

 Club may prosper and that the management for the ensuing 

 year will be less open to criticism than for the past. 



John H. Meter. 



INFECTION AND DISINFECTION. 



f"pHE disinfection of kennels is a matter of such import- 

 JL ance that it is remarkable that the subject should be so 

 little understood; or rather that so mauy of those intrusted 

 with the care of kennels should have so little idea as to 

 what is really required in a disinfectant. Absence of smell, 

 or possibly the substitution of one odor for another, is con- 

 sidered by many to be the one thing needed to secure free- 

 dom from disease. 



"Clean sawdust and fresh air is all I use," said the owner 

 of a noted kennel recently, "aud I want nothing more. 1 

 have been here four years, and have never had a case of dis- 

 temper, so I am perfectly satisfied." Happy, thrice happy 

 owner. But he never shows puppies, and he does not adver- 

 tise his stud dogs, the use of wnich is permited only in the 

 case of personal friends. And then the bitches are isolated 

 long enough to allow of sufficient observation to insure the 

 detection of any signs of infectious disease. It is entirely 

 due to the wisdom of these arrangements that clean saw- 

 dust, and fresh air alone are needed iu these keuuels. All 

 that has been necessary was to deodorize the kennels, and 

 cleanliness and fresh air will do that most thoroughly. 



Some of our most popular disinfectants rest their reputa- 

 tion simply and solely on the makers' claim to produce 

 something similar to fresh air, or, better still, to sea breezes. 

 The chemical combinations are really deodorizers, substi- 

 tuting a pleasant odor'for an offensive one. A disinfectant 

 to be reliable must be a germicide, that is, it must be capable 

 of destroying germ life in every stage aud in every form. 

 These "sea breeze" producers will doubtless destroy some 

 forms of germ life, but not when diluted as in common use. 

 In other words they will not destroy germs unless they are 

 used in such strength that they will also destroy or at "least 

 injure the coat, or the skin, or the clothing in which the 

 germs are lodged. 



To understand what is needed in a disinfectant we must 

 know something of the life history of the germs that cause 

 the diseases which we desire to banish from our homes, our 

 stables and our kennels. To show this briefly aud plainly 

 is the object of this article, and we propose to deal fully, 

 later, with the question of disinfection, and to examine 

 briefly the claims of some of the preparations in common 

 use as disinfectants. 



In the early days of surgical practice there was a large 

 percentage of deaths from the mortification of wounds. 

 But our surgeons soon discovered that this was largely due 

 to dirtj and they at ouce set about, minimizing the risk of 

 mortification by protecting all wounds from contact with 

 dirt. This was no easy matter, for the air, as we know, is 

 laden with dust, aud we are constantly and inevitably in 

 contact, with minute particles of dirt, although we can only 

 see them in bright sunshine. But it is important to note 

 that long before the germ theory of putrefaction and dis- 

 ease was mooted English surgeons had adopted such pre- 

 cautions against dirt that serious cases of mortification were 

 reduced to a minimum. 



They had discovered that dirt was fatal, and they guarded 

 against, it accordingly, but why it was fatal few of them 

 suspected. The first step toward a knowledge of the germ 

 theory was the discovery of the yeast plant, iu 1S86, by 

 Cagniard de la Tour. Prior to that the belief was current 

 that all epidemic diseases were caused by what is called 

 malaria, and this was supposed to be organic matter in a 

 state of decay. It was supposed that this matter was capa- 

 ble of absorption into the body through the lungs, or skin, 

 or stomach, and that it had the power of spreading in the 

 body thus invaded the destructive process by which it was 

 itself assailed. 



Yeast was commonly mentioned as an illustration of this, 

 as it was supposed to be a visible exhibition of matter in a 

 state of decomposition, capable of propagatiug indefinitely 

 its own decay. Why should not a particle of rotten malaria 

 in the human body set up a similar action ? 



Cagniard de la Tour gave an uuexpected answer to this 

 query by proving the existence of the yeast plant, a« living 

 organism, which, when placed iu proper position, feeds aud 

 grows and propagates itself, and in this way carries on 

 the process which we now know as fermentation — what, had 

 hitherto been considered a process of decay was in reality a 

 form of active, life. 



Schwann, of Berlin, discovered the yeast plant about the 

 same time, and early iu 188? he made the announcement of 

 a uother aud equally important discovery. This was the fact 

 that decoctions of meat, etc., when protected from the action 

 of ordinary air, could be kept for any length of time with- 

 out putrefaction. Calcined air could be admitted freely to 

 the decoctions without any bad result. Putrefaction, then, 

 said Schwann, is caused not by the air, but by something iu 

 the air, something which could be destroyed by heat. 



Helmholtz, Ure and Pasteur had already arrived at similar 

 conclusions from different experiments, and further re- 

 searches by Schultze, by Schroeder, by Dusch, and by others 

 led to similar results. It was therefore established beyond 

 doubt that the decay of dead matter, animal and vegetable, 

 was due not to the action of dirt, nor of t he air, nor of gases, 

 as had sometimes been maintained, but to living organisms 

 resting iu the dirt or floating in the air. These organisms 

 settling on dead matter and reproducing themselves with 

 marvelous rapidity, speedily consumed the tissues thus in- 

 vaded, aud produced the result which we call decay. 



Side by side with these experiments, and supported and 

 confirmed by their results, came the theory that many of 

 the most deadly diseases that inflict men and animals were 

 also due to germs floating in the air and capable of repro- 

 ducing within the body after absorption a form of parasitic 

 life which would in its turn reproduce the original disease. 

 The strength of the theory consisted mainly for many years 

 in the well-known fact that each disease would reproduce 

 itself infallibly time after time. Just as wheat reproduces 

 wheat so small-pox would cause small-pox, cholera would 

 cause cholera, and scarlet fever would cause scarlet fever. 

 Each disease would in fact reproduce itself with as much 

 certainty as if it were a dog or a cat. 



Sir Joseph Lister was the first to apply the knowledge 

 gained by Schwann and others as to dead matter to the liv- 

 ing tissues of those suffering from surgical or other wouuds, 

 and thus revolutionized the art of surgery. By surrounding 

 the wounds with a spray of carbolic acid he destroyed the 

 germs which would otherwise cause mortification and death. 

 This was the first application of the principle of disinfection, 

 and its efficiency is entirely due to the fact that the carbolic 

 acid destroys the germs that would cause the form of disease 

 known as mortification. 



While Lister and his followers were perfecting their anti- 

 septic treatment of wounds, others were working steadily 

 at the germ theory of the causation of disease, the artificial 

 cultivation of the Baeillis anihracls under microscopic ob- 

 servation being, we believe, the first great achievement in 

 this field. To Professor Koch belongs the honor of having 

 defined this most formidable microbe, although he did not 

 actually discover it. As early as 1850 Davaine and Rayer 

 had observed microscopic rods in the blood of animals that 

 had died from splenic fever, but they made no use of their 

 observation, and took no further steps in the matter until 

 thirteen years later. Then Davaine's attention was again 

 drawn to the matter by Pasteur's researches, and after some 

 further investigations he stated that these rods were the 

 cause of the fever. But nothing came of this, for these 

 rods lost their potency in a few months, and it was a well- 

 known fact that the contagium of anthrax would hang 

 round sheds and layers for years. 



In 1875 Dr. Koch, while holding a small appointment near 

 Breslau, took up the study of anthrax, and cultivated these 

 rods under microscopic observation. During a period of 



thirty hours the rods developed into a totally different form 

 which had not previously been noticed by any microscopist, 

 and this form was found to retain its virulence for any 

 length of time. In 1876 Professor Koch published a paper 

 giving the results of his experience, and this paper at once 

 gave an impulse to other workers. Pasteur, who had pre- 

 viously investigated the matter without definite result, 

 now resumed his experiments, and by attenuating the virus 

 obtained his vaccine for splenic fever. 



The virulence of this disease may be estimated from some 

 statistics. In Russia, where the disease is known as the 

 Siberian plague, it formerly wrought fearful havoc. In 

 one province in one year the disease carried oil' 100,000 cattle 

 and sheep, while more than 800 persons died from malignant 

 pustule, the name by which the disease is known in human 

 beings. Anthrax was also terribly destructive in Egypt 

 Spain, Italy and France. In the latter country the loss in 

 some years amounted to from fifteen to twenty millions of 

 francs. 



The contagium of this disease, as already noted, would 

 lurk in sheds and in pastures for years, and then break out 

 afresh when cattle came upon the scene. Professor Koch 

 kept some of his virus, dried and pulverized, for four years, 

 and then found it as absolutely fatal as when fresh from the 

 fever-stricken animal. But M. Pasteur rendered this mur- 

 derous virus not only harmless to life. but. a sure protection 

 against the disease, which has now lost, its chief terrors. 



The virus of distemper is now being cultivated by Mr. 

 Everett Millais and other gentlemen with a view to its atten- 

 uation for protective purposes. It will, therefore, be well to 

 refer briefly to the theory underlying vaccination. 



When a log of wood or a bundle of wheat or barley straw 

 is burned, a certain amount of mineral matter is found in 

 the ash. This amount is very small in comparison with the 

 bulk of the block or the straw, but it is absolutely essential 

 to the growth. When a soil is exhausted of its mineral con- 

 stituents it is well known that no crop will grow. The 

 germs that cause specific diseases require certain constitu- 

 ents to support their life, just as surely as wheat or barley, 

 or any other plant. It is, therefore, easy to understand how 

 one crop of germs may so exhaust the blood and tissues as 

 to make it impossible for a second crop to exist. The soil is 

 exhausted, and until the lost constituent is restored the 

 body is effectually protected against any further attack of 

 the same disorder. 



It is important to remember that a mild or attenuated 

 form of the virus may suffice to exhaust the "soil." and that 

 the more highly destructive virus may afterward be intro- 

 duced without any bad result. Briefly, this is the whole 

 secret of vaccination. 



We have now followed step by step some of the researches 

 of science into the means of infection. Our case would be 

 immeasurably strengthened were it possible for us to deal 

 properly with M. Pasteur's work, which far exceeds that of 

 all other microseopists put together in extent and in its 

 marvellous achievements. But we have said enough to give 

 a fair idea of what science, has actually done in this field in 

 the last thirty years or so. And what has been achieved 

 already, affords the strongest, possible hope for the future. 



We believe the day is not far distant when science will do 

 for puppies what nature does for older dogs by protecting 

 them from distemper. Meantime, for that and for mange, 

 thorough disinfection must be our sheet anchor. 



Amoug the diseases of dogs few are more common than 

 that which is termed mange, and certainly there is none 

 which is less understood generally. -Almost every skin 

 disease passes under its head, although there are two, and 

 only two. kinds of mange. Neither is very common, 

 and one is rarely met with. The most common is the 

 "sarcoptic mange," the actual existing cause of which 

 is a very minute and almost microscopic insect. This 

 parasite draws nourishment from the skin and causes in- 

 tense itching, which, in turn, incites scratching and develops 

 the disease known as eczema. The male insect remains on 

 or near the surface of the skin, while the female digs into 

 the deeper and softer layers, and burrows until she dies, which 

 is generally in three or four months. Along the tunnel 

 which she makes she deposits one egg after another, block- 

 ing up the passage with them. The number of eggs which 

 one female lays is near fifty. The young are hatched in 

 about two weeks. As soon as they are sufficiently developed 

 and are released from the furrows, they run over the surface, 

 and the females among them, after union with the males, 

 begin to tunnel like their mothers before them. The itching 

 occasioned by these parasites is intolerable. Around the 

 furrows made by them there forms, first, small pimples, 

 which soon change to vesicles and pustules; they discharge 

 a purulent matter, which dries into thick crusts. These 

 practically close up the furrows, but the itching causes the 

 sufferer to scratch, and by the nails the coveriugs are torn 

 off and the young insects set free. Unless effectual remedies 

 are applied this form of mange, as might be expected, grows 

 rapidly worse, aud large surfaces of skin are soon torn and 

 raw. 



The other and more troublesome form, follicular mange, 

 is usually attributed to an animal parasite, the Aearus fol- 

 liculorum. But science has lately cast some doubt on this 

 matter, and it uow seems probable that this form of the 

 disease is really due to a vegetable mould. But in either 

 case, as the disease attacks the skin only, instead of invad- 

 ing the tissues, as in distemper, the proper remedy is disin- 

 fection, a matter which Ave hope to deal with thoroughly in 

 our next.— Merlin, in English Kennel Gazette. 



AMERICAN COURSING CLUB. 



[Special to Forest anil Stream. ] 



REAT BEND, Kan., Oct. 29.— The meeting of the 

 VT Americau Coursing Club closed to-day. The weather 

 has been good and the attendance large. The. class of com- 

 peting dogs was exceptionally high. Mr. D. N. Heizer's 

 imported dog Trales won first in the All-Aged Stake; H. C. 

 Lowe's imported bitch White Lips second. In Derby Stake, 

 D. C. Luse's Lady Barton and Lady in Black took first and 

 second undivided. These puppies! both imported, are by 

 Trales out of Dick's Darling, and both are owned in Great 

 Bend. There is general satisfaction with the results of the 

 running. The judge was badly hurt by a fall from his 

 horse to-day, and Mr. B. Waters was also hurt by a fall. 



E. H. 



TRANSPORTATION TO THE FIELD TRIALS. 



SARATOGA SPRINGS, Oct. 26.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: Arrangements have been made with all north- 

 ern railroads for reduced rate of fare to all who attend the 

 field trials of the Eastern and Central clubs. By procuring 

 a certificate from the ticket agent at place of starting, return 

 ticket can be had upon presentation of the certificate at 

 High Point or Lexington, N. G, at one-third the regular 

 fare. Each person can also procure transportation for three 

 dogs, if entered for the field trials, by procuring a card from 

 Col. C. H. Odell, secretary of the Central Field Trial Club, 

 or from me. W. A. Coster, Secretary. 



CANADIAN TRIALS.— London, Out., Oct. 26.— All the 

 arrangements are about completed for the Canadian Kennel 

 Club's field trials to be held at Chatham, Out., on Nov. 11 

 and succeeding days. It has been decided to keep open the 

 entries until Thursday, Nov. 8, as the time has been so short 

 for parties to work their dogs on quail before deciding about 

 entering. Entries should be made as soon as possible with 

 the secretary, C. A. Stone, London, Out.— C. A. Stoke. 



