FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3426, 11 November 1919, Page 45

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication of announcements of the Dunedin Fanciers' Olub. _______^_

THE KENNEL.

By Tbbrob. Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially Invited to contribute to this column. "Terror" will endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this he must have the co-operation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. a —At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club, held last week, it was noted by those interested that the leading dog fanciers declined to take office on the new committee. This, we may conclude, i 3 evidence that the local dog-men are serious in their intention to have a club and hold a show under their own control. The feather fanciers are apparently equally anxious to keep the dog-men as members of the Dunedin .Fanciers' Club, but it is pointed out by those favourable to separation that the holding of four men who cannot be classed as leading fanciers cannot be considered satisfactory from the standpoint of union. As one kennel man remarked to me, "You can take a horse to the trough, but you cannot make it drink" ;-nor, added he: " Though you provide a show can you force fanciers to show?'' Another enthusiastic advocate of separation suggests that as the Fanciers' Club, apart from the dogs, consists of six sections —i.e., utility poultry, fancy poultry, pigeons, canaries, cats, and children's pets, they have surely enough interests to concenrate upon wishing to retain a section anxious for independence.

< —lmpediments to nursing (says "Ashmont" "in Kennel Secrets), due to temporary or permanent malformations of the teats, are' not common. Still, that they sometimes occur .justifies their consideration. Where the breasts are very much distended with milk it may be difficult for new-born puppies to seize and hold the teats, in which case it is merely necessary to draw them out with the fingers and press them into the little ones' mouths. In extremely rare cases, when a' teat is so much shorter that the fingers cannot grasp it, the following be employed: —Take a beer or ginger" ale bottle and rinse it with very hot water. Dip the neck merely in cold water and allow it to remain in the same for about lOsec; then surround the depressed teat with the mouth of the bottle and maintain gentle but firm pressure against the breast. As the bottle cools the teat will be drawn up into the neck, and after being fixed there for 10 or 15 minutes it will when released very generally project enough to enable a puppy to obtain a firm hold. Extremely long and misshapen teats are sometimes encountered, and with these nothing can be done in the way of treatment. Fortunately, however, seldom more than two or three such are found in the' same mother, and, although the puopies may refuse them at first, as a rule they take kindly to them in the course of a few days—that is, unless, as is sometimes the case, the breasts from which they project are incapable of secreting milk. Kidneys (Inflammation of Acute).— Symptoms: The attack generally comes on suddenly; may arise from severe chill, but generallv the result of stone in the kidneys. There is a great pain over the loins: the do.£ walks with difficulty and arched back; the temperature rises 3deg or 4deg above normal. The pulse is quick and full; the urine is high coloured and scanty—sometimes it is the colour of blood, and mixed with mucus and pus; the_ limbs may swell from dropsy, and the- dog is very thirsty and often frequently sick. Treatment : Give saline purgative medicine, as Epsom salts, from 20 grains to loz (according to size of dog) in warm milk; repeat the next or following day. Also give every four hours from five to 30 grainy (according to size of dog) of hyposulphiet of soda in a little water. As to food, it should consist pa-inicipallv of milk mixed with equal parts of Vichy water and a little boiled fish. If sickness very severe, give from half to two drops (according to size of dog) of diluted hydrocyanic acid in a teaspoonful of water every two, three, or four hours, and ice to lick. After the acute stages have passed, give tonics, as the ammoniated citrate of iron, from one to five grains (according to size of dog), three times a day, in from; one teaspoonful (according to size of dog) to a teaspoonful of water.

- Kidney (Inflammation of Chronic). — Symptoms: May be the sequel of an acute attack or a less severe chill, and sometimeiS it is. caused by gravel. is tenderness over the loins; the urine may be tinged with blood, or after passing water, which may look quiet clear and normal, the dog continues to strain, and a few drops of blood escape and some mucus. Treatment : A milk diet is important in these cases; it may be given with rice, tapioca, Force, or bread. Red meat must be avoided, but tripe and fish may be allowed. Vichy water mixed with equal parts of plain, water should be given to drink; and a course of hyposulphite of soda, as recommended in acnto inflammation, should be given, but only two or three times a day. If gravel or a stone h suspected, a course of borocitrate of magnesia, with bicarbonate of potash is advised. The dose of the former is five (according to size of dog) to 30 grains, and of the latter from two (according to size of dogs) to 15 grains mixed with the food twice a day, and be continued for some time.

A remarkable stor is told by tho Rev. Dr ,Reith, of Glasgow, of a heart-broken colhc which belonged to a Highland minister. There were no children in the manse, and the lovo that abounded there was lavished on the collie. _ A friend one day came and proffered a gift of fowls, and the minister's sister, who kept house, readily accepted. The birds in due time arrived, and quiet naturally occupied a very considerable share of attention. Unwittingly, perhaps, the coll'o was forgotten, and he noticed it, ns dogs do notice such happenings. For days he was moody and mopish. ThVn one day there was a tragedy. The minister, returning home from kirk, missed the cooks and hens, and missed the do?, too. They hunted here and thev hunted there, but never a fowl could they find. Just when they were about to give up the quest, however, the minister espied in the garden ground an unfamiliar object. It was examined at close range, for it looked sinsrularly akin to a cockerel's comb. A little of'tho eaxth was moved aside, and then the truth was out. A fowl was there, dead and buried, and others wero found

interred hard by. A further search revealed tho dog hiding behind a water-butt. How ho managed to squeeze himself into the position ho occupied was difficulty to tell; to extricate him was Just as difficult a task, but it was accomplished. Tho collie had killed the fowls and had buried them because they had, to his understanding, stole tho affections which should have been his and, knowing he had done wrong, had endeavoured to disappear from sight. It was the Sabbath, and punishment was deferred. The next day the collie was taken into the house to receive correction. Ho had never known an unkind word from his gentle master or mistress, and the_ unfamiliar severity of tho minister's voice—this was his only punishment —broke his heart. He died a day or so later.