WITH THE ANIMALS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 53, 3 March 1908, Page 8

WITH THE ANIMALS.

IX HOSPITAL. DYSPEPTIC PUGS. A pug is never pretty, except in the eyes of its doting lady owner, or possibly a masculine fancier who mates a. profit out of finding prstthicss in pugs. Even tho healthy pug, with its sooty, surly face and ridiculous curly tail, with its savage mien backed by only a puny body and a fatuous yap, is not handsome, but it is a dream of loveliness in contrast with, the pug which has dyspepsia. When the pat's internal machinery has been thrown out of gear by too much rich food of tho wrong kind, it goes to tho local animal hospital in Howe's-lane for treatment, and it mny taks a month to restore the "curled clariing" to health, ijfiuch_to the regret of the owner's ueiolibours', who pray for a decease. Tn Wellington the pug habit has m come degree become fashionable with the ladies who have faithfully copied the English and American fashions in dog as well' as dregs. Crossbred rough-haired terriers, mere bundles ,of nerves and irritability, also appeal to femininity, -and they, too, get. the indigestion .which takes them from their .loving mistress's aims to the hospital for a week or two. But oven decent dogs may be- seen at the institution. Tho patients include, collies, bulldogs, greyhounds, and others liable to canine complaints, such as distsmpor, troubles of th© eye and ear. They are usually very docile, and sometimes take, their medicine moie "like a, man" than the man do"es himself. Cats also come to the fold. They en. ter the place with a cold eye of disapproval. They do not believe in doctors or doctors' medicine, but in a bored way they tolerate the treatment. There was one lady who loved a cat enough to make an effort to save its life after it had been attacked by blood-poison-ihg. She brought it to the hospital, and when it arrived it had a large lump on its chest. It was a very sorry-look-ing cat, but in a month it was walking the tiles or the boudoir carpet, us proudly as ever. Monkeys have come for healing. These animals are bothered with a distemper, a skin disease, peculiar to their race. In these climes a monkey would seldom pass an examination for tho army. These mimics of man take a warm interest in the things done to cure them. They almost' seem to be able to read the labels on the bottles, and theiiv faces appear to indicate that they are looking for the custards and other \ delicacies genorally bestowed upon human invalids. Light and airy inmates are occasion, ally visible. Birds who have fallen on evil days arc brought, to bo repaired. Canaries with broken legs havo ljad the limbs set with splints and bandages, and have been enabled to hop about gaily again. Parrots are frequent visitors. They come, against the will of themselves and people resident near their owners' houses, for operations to remove tonguc-tiedness. Also some birds havo their powers of speech weakened by an undue development of the lower mandible. This portion of tho beak « altered to allow the upper part to play more freely upon it. Altogether tho so-called lower animals are happily endowed. Thoy havo no r.ites to pay. They arc not bothered about the problem of free and paying patients, but homo of them, especially the mi fortunate pugs, do pv.ty that thpjjworshippers would put more thought into their diet.

To-morrow, commencing at 1 o'clock, Mesßii,. J. H. Bclhuno and Co. will soil at Ihoir room", Poathcrslon-stvcot, a colloolion of historical, scientific, and technical books, also a clergyman" b library and an assortment of fictional and general literature. Tho cnUiloßiie comprises upwards of 350 lotti. Tho books arc on view, and complete- catalogues may bo obtained on upnlicaliou lo tho auctioneers. Thu buuio firm also advertise a furniture talo for Frida-"-. 6th March, 1908, at tho residence No. 277, Atlolaide-rond. Tho furnituro will bo on view on the morning of tho Faie. Tho N.Z. Investment, Mortgage", nud Deposit Company announce that llioy are open to receive money on deposit a(. current rules of interest. Full particulars will be found in our special advertising columns. ' Mr. Salok intimates through our advertising columns (hat ho has tm-umrcrl with Mcsbi'a Maifey and Johns, tirehi'toels, lo preparo plans, otc , on behalf of I'lient*, who intond building on tho Evans Bay Estate.