DOOREAHS, oil DOG-KEEPERS, LEADING OUT DOGS, 135
liicy "eneral l y velain some sense, ami cliscrimhiatc siinicieiilly lo recognize llioiikeepcL
s But llie ehangc Is very rapid, and tlie increase of nnicus from their
moull.s, the bristling of ihcir liair, the fullness and redness of their eyes, wi t h a
eonstan'l restlessness and a disposition to gnaw whatever is in their way, may be
said to finish this dreadful visitation. Still I never yet saw a dog n. any stage
of it, that was affeetcd by water more than by any other objeel.
In Ihe early par t of the disease, I am of opinion that the cure is by no means
d i f f i c n l t ; at least I can assert that in numerous instances I have been successful
in averting the danger. The operation of administering medicine to a dog rep
u t e d to be mad, and perhaps at all times shy of strangers, (nay son.e do not
like even those who reared them, lo handle their noses,) assuredly is not among
the most agreeable of occupations ; but to a dog of my own, of whose temper
and attaebment I might be satisfied, I shonid never hesitate to administer the
following inedieines with my own hands. I have frequently done so, and have
had my labours rewarded with complete success.
T o abont six grains of calomel add thirty of powdered jalap and ten of
scammony, make them into a pill with honey, or any other convenient vehicle,
and "ive'it to the dog immediately. In all probability an abuiidant evacuation
will "succeed, from which alone the cure sometimes results. This medicine
however, should not he solely relied on, but should be followed up by pills of
a b o u t the size of a very large marrow-fat pea, given half-hourly. These pills
a r e to be made of pure eamphtir dissolved sufGciently to be worked into a mass,
b y means of a few drops of spirit of wine, which should be added drop by
d r o p as it is very easy lo render ibe camphor too liquid. A very short time
will decide the ease : if the medicine lake proper effect, the jaws will be freed
f r om that slimy, ropy excrctioii occasioned by the disease ; and in ils slead a
f r e e discharge of saliva ivill appear, rather inelined 10 froth like soap suds. I
can only assure the reader, that I have more than once saved tile life of dogs by
these means, aUhongh they were so far gone, as to snap at me while administerin.
r the medicine. I offer these remarks as the result of experience, without
kiwwing how far they may meet the approbation of the faculty or of theorists!
T h e kennels are rarely built either on a proper plan or in a proper situation.
I l is too common to see'large packs of dogs crowded into a small but , perfectly
i n a . l e t i u a t e to their accomodation, merely because il happens lo be at hand, or
because it may not be worth wliile, owing lo the short stay e.xpcetcd to be
made lo ercc't a suitable habilalion. Greyhounds, pointers, spamels, and every
k i n d of dogs may be seen luiddled together; and several litters of puppies may
h e commonly observed crawling about the lloor. Such a waul of regulalion
is of itself sullieient to create and propagate disease, even were the place itself
f u l l y commodious. The strong oppressing the weak, and the snarbng cur
k e c p i n . . his neighbours in a perpetual state of irrilation and alarm, cannot tail
lo injure their health. What adds lo the evil is, lhat, all being lied up by ropes
of about four feet long, it is nol easy lo avoid the mischief.
The only good plan for a kennel, w her e il is indispensably necessary to keep
the dogs lied up, is an airy room, dct.aeheil from every other building, and
having, besides a good sized door, a ninnher of windows towards that side
whence the wind commonly blows during the hot season, which in general will
be found lo correspond with the course of the great river lhal happens lo be
nearest. Thus in Calcutta, and all llic way up lo Kajemahal, the llot winds
generally blow from the south ; and in the upper country, where the Gauges
takes a westerly liirii, the winds deviate, in proportion, to that point. The
tluor of a kennel should be of clay, well healen down, and Sllioolhed. Lime is
a dangerous article, and should never be used, for young dogs are apt to eat il
ill large (pianlilies; they will even destroy ihc plastering, and tear up the
terraces to gel il. Il has the good eilecl of occasionally expelling worms, hut
if persisted in, never fails lo exjiel life also.
Around the whole of the interior, except al the door, a plalform should be
made of boards, or of bamboo hubs covered with mats; this plalform should be
raised on suhstanlial posts, about three feet liigli, hut rallier sloping inwards, .so
as lo cause waler, lo drain oil". On ihe plalform tbe dogs should he
fastened, but classed according lo Iheir powers and tempers : the lower part
b e i n g divided into small aparlnieiils, and fenced in to a certain height, serves
a d m i r a b l y for breeding, and keeps the pups from slraggling so as lo leaze loose
dogs during their slumbers, and from being trodden upon. I have seen kennels
of this formation, in which a sick dog was as great a rarity as a healthy one
in many others, where no atteiilion was paid 10 order or cleanliness.
T h e victuals for a kennel are usually boiled in a large earthen pot over a
choolah, or mud chaffer formerly described, and which requires very little
fuel. When the food is dressed, if the weather permil, the dogs are taken out
and lied to pickets driven in ihe ground, at proper ilistances, to prevent
squabbles, where each is served with his mess, when cooled, in a piece of
a broken pot, collected for the purpose ; after which he is supplied with water
in the same remnant of crockery. If ihe weather be hot, the dogs as well as
the dooreahs generally remain out all iiighl in the open air; a measure which
ill lhat climato is not generally attended with had elfeets; on tlie eonlrary, il is
found to refresh animals very considerably.
E v e r y precaution to preserve ihe health of dogs of European blood will be
found nugatory, unless the kennel be kepi remarkably cool. This cannot be
b e l t e r effected than by applying to the windows, frames made of bamboo, spilt
i n t o small ribs, and intersecting so as lo le,ave intervals of three or four inches
square. Between two such frames, which should be a foot each way larger
than the window against which ihey are to he placed, a coating of Jewassah
or of cm-c»», should be secured. The frames being supported against ibe
window, by means of bamboo forks, are kept constantly watered by a Ueeslt,,
whose sole'oecupation il is to supply and sprinkle them. The hot, parching
wind is now changed iuto a cool, refreshing breeze; and the poor atiimaU,