During the season when sportsmen pass bench shows and put their dogs in trim for the pursuit of Bob White, sporting dogs need to be dealt with at this season, because there are certain ailments which affect them in a greater degree than other dogs; and a knowledge of how to properly treat cases of sickness among field dogs is, of course, very essential, unless they are to be entirely incapacitated.

In the first place, it is most essential that when a dog has been at work in the field he shall be attended to at once on his return home at night. The dog should be thoroughly groomed; if wet let him be rubbed dry with a rough towel. So many careless gamekeepers allow dogs to come in wet from the field and send them to kennel without any attention - the result is that they get either rheumatic or asthmatical. Another important thing is to examine the feet and ears with a view to the removal of all thorns and other foreign substances which are likely to set up inflammation, and then will incapacitate the animal for some days at least. It it should be found on examination that the feet are sore and inflamed, they should be bathed in tepid water, and afterward with advantage may be sprinkled with powdered Fuller's earth, which is very absorbent and cooling as well.

As we said above, rheumatism is another common ailment affecting dogs which have been neglected after exposure to bad weather. Rheumatism occurs either in the hindquarters or in the front limbs, and when it takes the latter form it is known as "kennel lameness." This again is an ailment which will recur from time to time under unfavorable conditions. It can best be dealt with by the use of a good strong liniment or embrocation - such, for instance, as a mixture of equal parts of turpentine and soap liniment, which is very searching, especially if a little hartshorn be added. The dog should also have some internal medicine, and the most effective remedy for rheumatic troubles is salicylate of soda. The dog must also be carefully dieted, care being taken not to overfeed him during the prevalence of the attack. In this case, again, it is to be borne in mind that one attack is likely to be followed by others upon the least provocation, and special care should therefore be given to deal with a trouble as soon as it appears. (See article on Rheumatism).

Dogs in the field are liable now and again to take up poisoned meat, which, in spite of the fact that it is contrary to the law of the land to ' place it about, is very often laid about with the object of destroying rats. A dog should never be allowed to eat meat or anything of that kind that he picks up in the field if he can possibly be prevented from doing so. The commonest poison likely to be picked up in this way are arsenic and strychnine. It is impossible to mistake a case of strychnine poisoning, because the victim has twitchings and the limbs are drawn up; in the case of arsenic there is vomiting, swelling of the tongue, and great pain especially noticeable if the hand be placed on the belly. The best thing to do in any case is to administer an emetic. Mustard and water is the likeliest thing, and that can be followed in the case of arsenic by a dose of powdered magnesia, or, in the case of strychnine, by giving a quantity of fat.