410 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 10, 1892. 



THE NATURAL DIET. 



Feom further advance sheets of Dr J. Frank Perry's new 

 book "Kennel Secrets,-' we are enabled to publish an inter- 

 esting (Chapter on "The Kennel Diet," discussing at length 

 the rival merits of a vegetable or meat diet for dogs: 



It is an indisputable fact, says Dr. Perry, that some 

 breeders feed very largely on meat and their dogs do wel . 

 Not unnaturally, therefore, they believe it to be the all- 

 important food. Oa the other hand, there are sonie who 

 rely almost wholly on vegetables and starches and they in 

 turn areas strongly convinced that then- diet is the only 

 appropriate one for all dogs. ^ , , „ , « v, 



1 novice accepts the theory of the first and feeds on flesh, 

 but he does not meet with the success which he anticipated, 

 and his dogs go wrong in the course of a /ew weeks and 

 eventually become wrecks. Another tries the other theory, 

 and with much the same ending-his dogs in time going to 



^^T^l^e result of these uufortunate experiments would at first 

 thought seem positive evidence that both theories were 

 absolutely wrong, vet literally they proved merely that the 

 diets employed we're uusuited to the victims under the 

 existing conditions. But had these dogs been placed under 

 precisely the same conditions as those of the breeders whose 

 radicarviews were accepted, then the results- would un- 

 doubtedly have been different, and very likely both novices 

 would have become ardent advocates of their several 

 theories. „ ■ • i, u 



The fact is, there are many other influences winch bear 

 quite as heavily for or against the health of dogs as the 

 dietetic, and one rightly fed may go wrong because ot in- 

 sufficient exercise, improper cooking, damp, draughty 

 quarters, neglect of cleanliness, foul drinking 

 water, etc., while another fed indifferently, on 

 food poorly suited to his wants, may yet remain 

 in good health under kindly hygienic mfluencef!. 



E()ually as correct conclusions regarding the 

 potency of these influences can be drawn from 

 the experiences of men, for they act upon them 

 as on dogs. Sailors, for instance, on fairly long 

 voyages are forced to subsist largely on beef 

 and pork which are submitted to methods ot 

 curing that render them so indigestible the 

 nutritive properties retained are in such form 

 that a goodly proportion can be extracted only 

 with exceeding difficulty. These meats, with 

 biscuits — yery of ten "weevilly''— and canned 

 goods for only rare change, make up the most 

 ot their bill of fare. Yet where can be found a 

 healthier, hardier class than this— and all due 

 to the pure air they are in and the hard work 

 they are required to perform. But put these 

 same men on shore in close-built cities or 

 towns, let them live indolently and on the 

 same kinds of food they had on shipboard, and 

 they must soon decline in health and vigor. 



On this subject man is singularly inclined to 

 jump at conclusions. One calls attention to 

 the fact that he is of a family of giants and that 

 neither he nor any other member of it had 

 scarcely any meat "during cbildbood. He sees 

 the city youngsters of tc-day fed on mixed diet 

 containing a large proportion of meat, and from 

 this he reasons that their undergrowth and 

 washed out appearance are due to the meat. 

 Yet he fails to realize that in his early years he 

 doubtless consumed in the form of eggs and 

 nailk nearly if not quite as much animal food 

 as they, and that in consequence of their pecu- 

 liar situation in life these foods in fresh aud 

 pure state, and in abundance, are generally 

 denied them, and meat is therefore substituted. 

 He foreets, also, that be lived under very differ- 

 ent hygienic conditions from theirs— he in the 

 open country and in pure air, while they are in 

 cities, which are rightly called the "graveyards 

 of the human race;" moreover, that frorn his 

 mother or father there came to him a sturdy in- 

 heritance, while to the youngsters he looks 

 down upon were more than likely bequeathed 

 infirmities which had been in their families for 

 several generations. 



Men have theoriiied over their own diet for 

 scores of years, yet they are scarcely nearer 

 agreement now than thev were in thebeginuing. 

 One calls attention to^the fact that Scotch 

 Highlanders, the Irish, the peasantry of Italy, 

 Spain and Portugal, Chinamen, and other races 

 thrive on oatmeal, potatoes, corn, chestnuts, 

 olives, rice or lentils, with little or no meat, 

 and that in Scotland a mountaineer will walk 

 thirty or forty miles a day on oatmeal cakes or 

 porridge with a little barley broth and a modi- 

 cum ot milk or butter, while an Indian palan 

 quin-bearer will caii-y his burden twenty-five 

 or thirty miles a day with only two meals of 

 unleavened cakes and a little ijliee. 



Another points to the Eskimos, to the fishing 

 population of Norway, and to the Pecherais of the southern 

 end of South America, who subsist most of the time whollv 

 on animal food: also to the fact that for months the hunters 

 of the West have little or no food but the flesh of the 

 animals they kill. 



What do these facts prove? Merely that man can live on 

 vegetable or on animal foods. 



All this in relation to man's diet, wbile seemingly foreign, 

 has a bearing on the diet of dogs, for he is singularly in- 

 clined to consider that their requirements are much the 

 same as his own. But such reasoning is not always sound, 

 for the dog is of a different order of animals and of different 

 structure, and although he has accommodated himself to 

 other than his natural diet, there must be limits to his 

 powers in this direction. Nor does it follow that if one man 

 18 right and his dog is doing well on some peculiar diet all 

 others who feed differently are iu the wrong. 



There is an old saw, "M'^hatis one man's meat is another's 

 poison." Nearly all mankind to whom they are accessible 

 can safely eat strawberries, but still now and then is en- 

 countered a person on whom they bring out a most annoying 

 rash. Nature's first food for every child animal is milk— 

 and yet there are not a few animals who are made ill by it 

 I he egg is certainly one of the most harmless of foods, 

 nevertheless instances are on record where the merest trace 

 or it has caused convulsions. 



But ignoring these idiosyncrasies, which are fortunately 

 but rarely encountered in man, while if they exist in dogs 

 they can scarcely be any more common, two persons seldom 

 meet who are fond of and can digest with equal ease the 

 same kinds of foods, and such being the case, individual 

 peculiarities surely must occur occasionally among their 

 humble companions so often fed from the table. 



Another fact which has a bearing on the question under 

 discussion IS. that the immediate results of diet are by no 

 means to be accepted as final. In other words, because a 

 man or a dog apparently keeps healthy and strong for sev- 

 eral years oti nearly all meat or on nearly all vegetables, it 

 does not tollow that the chosen diet is a suitable one, for it 

 might be doing harm and hidden changes be going on which 

 must sooner or later re sult disastrously. 



wh!,''p?i«nr^H'^-.^^^^??^ Harvey Reid. of Mitchell, 



ll,t^, c^^^^^ ^^'^^^ ™eet, took back with them for 



entry, Sir Hugo, one of Mi-. H. C. Lowe's likely puppies. 



FIELD TRIAL ENTRIES. 



Field tiial entries have been coming thick and fast the 

 last week or two and a glance at the increased entries all 

 round, with the exception of those of the old established 

 Eastern field trials, plainly indicates the widespread and 

 growing interest in field trials and "bird" shooting. The 

 Eastern Field Trials Club seems to have been left in the 

 race, and the attendance of sportsmen and general feeling 

 among the handlers indicated as much last year. The club 

 needs a shake up, and at the meeting for election of officers 

 at High Point this week it is more than likely that some of 

 the old officers will step down and let some new blood have 

 a turn. This was hinted to us as probable during the sum- 

 mer by one of the oldest and most influential officers of the 

 cluh. . , , 



The advance made by the Irish .setter men is particularly 

 gratifying to the lover of the red dog. The Glen more Ken- 

 nels, we know, have been busy with their entries all sum- 

 mer, and those they will choose to uphold the honor of the 

 Kansas kennel will, no doubt, be put down in proper shape 

 this time, and not be handicapped by condition as they were 

 last year. The other entries are nearly all from the kennels 

 of well known Irish setter men, and it is safe to predict that 

 competition will be keener this year than last as, probably, 

 the dogs will be better trained. The Gordon men have not 

 responded as they should have done in the New England 

 stakes, where one would think conditions would be specially 

 favorable to their dogs. Mr. Blossom is heart and soul in 

 favor of bringing the Gordon to the front, and we are sorry 

 to see that, with two exceptions, his dogs will have to up- 

 hold the Gordon honor alone. W^here are the other mem- 

 bers of the club? This apathy is really distressing, and 



sight but the .flOO given by Dr. Howe. As to what the purse 

 may be does not count; it may be $300 and it may be only 

 $100. This, it can be readily seen, is no inducement for the 

 coursing men of this State to travel all the way to Kansas, 

 however pleasing it would be to all of them to meet the 

 Eastern gentlemen on their own grounds. 



Now, it seems to the leash men here that the Kansas Club 

 should take a leaf from the Merced people, and go down 

 into their pockets and issue a programme guaranteeing 

 certain amounts in each purse, and then depend on the 

 public and dog men for that assistance that is never refused ; 

 but under any circumstances, say what the amounts would 

 be, and be prepared to give it. Unfortunately the men who 

 are the patrons of the leash in this State are not rich men ; 

 indeed, it may be said of them, with a very few exceptions, 

 that they are quite the reverse, and consequently are not in 

 a position to go so great a distance for mere pleasure. Again , 

 I say if the Eastern gentlemen would but guarantee good 

 purses it is almost certain that they could count on finding 

 among them each year a fair sprinkling of the coursing men 

 of California, and that they would find also among their 

 dogs competitors second to but a few— if any. 



The Occidental Coursing Club are making preparations 

 for an open meeting on Thanksgiving Day at their park at 

 Newark, yvhich is situated some 25 miles from this city. 

 The meetings of this club are always most enjoyable, and 

 create quite a furore among all dog men. The meetings are 

 managed with great care and precision, and the slightest 

 infraction of coursing rules is never tolerated, hence their 

 meetings are always looked forward to with the greatest 

 pleasure. The Merced meeting this year will dovetail nicely 

 with the Occidental's on this occasion, so there will be quite 

 a gala time among the dog men of the coast in November 

 next. Gazehottnb. 

 San Fhascisoo. Cal. 



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GREAT DANES IN AMERICA. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have endeavored through writings to help 

 the breed, but grow daily stronger in my con- 

 viction that something more efficient is re- 

 quired, and I am going to breed great Danes 

 and sell no progeny for some time to come. The 

 great Danes bred thus far in this country are 

 inferior, and I have seen or heard of none that 

 are entitled to championship. The reason for this 

 I have found in the fact that the material used 

 in producing them is on a par with stock prized 

 in Germany in 1880. Nowadays this sort of 

 stock we are importing from sharpers and 

 isnorants is not tolerated there at shows, but 

 deemed good enough for America. The fight 

 for supremacy between the two champions of 

 Chicago, which two dogs dift'er so materially in 

 the make-up, tends to lead the weak breeding 

 attempts astray. We want a typical dog that 

 will beat them both and is a good stock getter. 

 Such specimen cannot be bought from sources 

 from which we have been getting our great 

 Danes. The reputation of being vicious origin- 

 ates from the mistake of wrong selections. 



Some breeders are breeding for size and get a 

 big dog, but nearly a mongrel, Others are 

 breeding for type, and get snipy, houndy speci- 

 mens with rat tails. Colors are mixed^ up in 

 all shades of the rainbcw. What is wanted is 

 a combination of type, size and pure colors, to 

 sacrifice not one point for the other and excuse 

 the absence of type and character with an ad- 

 ditional 251bs. of flesh. I have bred great 

 Danes successfully before, and lost money by 

 it, and I am ready to lose again if I can be suc- 

 cessful in producing something. 



A. H. Heppser. 



New York Cut. 



BROOKLYN DOG SHOW. 



togs 



HELEN KELLER. 



With fac-simile of letter. 

 From "Aslimont's" forthcomiiiK work, "Kt!uuel Secrets.' 



especially ho when we .see Dr. Meyer, a confessed Gordon ad- 

 mirer, letting his fancy run to the red dogs. Pointers, 

 strange to say, will not be well represented at Assonet, only 

 entries being forthcoming in All-Age Stake. The English 

 setter seems to have the call all round. 



CALIFORNIA COURSING ITEMS. 



Editor ForcM and. Stream: 



Coursing— that is, legitimate coursing— has been rather 

 dull on this coast during the past few montlis, but just 

 now, on the eve of the great Interstate meeting at Merced, 

 things are again brightening up and all the leashman of 

 this city cau be seen in the early dawn; some on foot, some 

 on horseback and others in buggies, exerci.sing their favor- 

 ites and getting them into shape for the great meeting. 



In the country districts, too, great care is being taken by 

 many of the owners of their dogs, and it is pretty safe to 

 say that if beaten it will not be for want of training. This 

 Merced meeting is now looked upon by the various owners 

 as the test of a greyhound, and the dog that can come out on 

 top from the terrible ordeal gains for itself and owner a repu- 

 ation that does not fade away in a few months, but remains 

 a red-letter indelibly printed in the coursing man's cal- 

 endar. 



The Merced meeting commences on Tuesday, Nov. 15, and 

 will continue from two to three or probably four days. The 

 purses put up by the citizens of the citj" of the famous plain 

 are most libera:, and should, and no doubt will, be the 

 means of bringing together the greatest gathering of lovers 

 of the leash that has yet been seen on a coursing field in 

 America. The first prize is fixed at 8400, the second at ^200 

 and the third at ^1.50, while dogs winnning three courses will 

 get -520, It is almost certain that sixty dogs will go to slips. 



It seems now that there will be no dogs from this State at 

 Great Bend this year. This is certainly to be regretted, as 

 there are some half a dozen of young dogs in andlkbout this 

 city that are popularly, and indeed with good reason, sup- 

 posed to be good enough to hold Chicopee Lass's banner up 

 with credit in any company. No doubt there has been some 

 dissatisfaction felt over the Pearl of Pekin affair, and the 

 seeming want of backbone shown by the officers of the 

 American Coursing Club in not giving their decifiion in the 

 mattei- long before this. Another reason, too, is the uncer- 

 tainty of the stake amount, as there is nothing definite in 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The premium list of the National Greyhound 

 Club is to hand, and I am sorry to see the com- 

 mittee have only made one class for Scotch 

 terriers. There are quite a number of the.se 

 dogs both in the States and Canada^ and at 

 Toronto we had nine entries, all putting in an 

 appearance. I think you will agree with me 

 when I say the committees of dog shows should 

 give all the encouragement in their power to 

 breeders and exhibitors. Personally .speaking 

 were mj' dogs to win first or second money, I 

 would gladly waive my claim to the same if 

 only the necessaiy classes were provided. As a 

 matter of fact all terriers, except bull-terriers, 

 for which there are no less than nine classes, 

 have very little show, especially the rough- 

 haired classes. Irish terriers have no challenge 

 or puppj; class, black and tans no challenge 

 class, while Scotch, Dandies, Skyes and Bed- 

 lingtons have but one class each. Then again, bulldogs, 

 poodles and toy spaniels are harshly treated. The premium 

 list in many respects is very inconsistent and unlikely to 

 commend itself to exhibitors unless they happen to be bull- 

 terrier and beagle men, and my grumbling is but one 

 instance of many I have heard. W, T. FrASEB. 



ToHONXo, Canada. 



:ECH0ES OF THE BEAGLE TRIALS. 



It is more than probable that next vear the Beagle Club 

 will provide regular prizes for the different events, as this 

 percentage arrangement is not at all satisfactory to the 

 majority of ownei-s who ran their beagles this j ear. Another 

 class will goon have to be provided. Now that there are so 

 many winners of different classes it would be wise to 

 arrange for a champion class. It is scarcely fair for the 

 newcomers to have to contend on equal lines with the 

 previous winners. This is the practice in vogue in other 

 field trials, and the Beagle Club having now held their field 

 trials, there are enough previous winners to assure an entry 

 that will make competition very keen. This stake should 

 in no way conflict with the "absolute winner" of the regular 

 classes for the current year, or if thought best the winner of 

 the challenge event could also be eligible to compete for the 

 "absolute," though we should think the title of field trial 

 champion would be sufficient honor. Another way would 

 be to have a Champion Stake run at the end of the trials and 

 the "absolute winner" only be eligible to compete of the 

 dogs that ran that year. Thus this dog would stand a 

 chance of winning both titles. 



DISTEMPER. 



Editor Forest and Streanv: 



It is stated in Chron icle that Dr. J, Sutcliffe Hundall, 

 the English veterinary surgeon, claims to have discovered a 

 prophylactic against the bane of dogs— distemper. He nays 

 he has been experimenting for four years, and in recent 

 tests, where he has exposed inoculated subjects of his prac- 

 tice to certain infection, he has fouud them incapable of 

 contracting the disease. Can any one give me his address? 



C. M. Selfkidge. 



San Francisco, Oal. 



