Although in a general way I have said considerable regarding the proper food to be given your dog, it will perhaps be better to give this important subject further consideration, for this question is very often a perplexing one when there are several animals to be cared for. That meat is the natural food of dogs is abundantly shown by the formation of the teeth, which is identical with that of all animals who live upon flesh; meat, therefore, should constitute no inconsiderable portion of their food. Whether it should be cooked or given raw is an open question that scientists have not yet satisfactorily determined.

The dog himself, however, has most emphatically decided the question about equally in favor of both methods, and until science demonstrates that there is a positive benefit attached to one system that is not found in the other, we may safely continue the use of both as our judgment shall prompt.

When feeding meat to very young dogs, or to those recovering from illness, it should be scraped or minced very fine, in order that it may digest more quickly than it would were it swallowed in large pieces. The flesh of animals that have died from disease is unfit for food, and should never be given to your dog; neither should you feed him with meat that is sour, as the fermentation that is present when meat is in this condition is very apt to cause disturbance of the digestive organs. Tainted meat is not so objectionable as that which is sour, unless it is in a decidedly high condition, in which case it should never be fed.

Experiment has shown that the juices in the stomach of the dog will purify and sweeten in a very short time even badly tainted meat, and upon this fact is based the claim, by superficial writers, that it is not in any sense improper food - ignoring the fact that the abnormal quantity of the juices of the stomach required to perform this work exhausts in a measure the supply necessary for the proper digestion and absorption of the food next taken.

All meats should be kept awhile after being killed, as this makes them more tender, renders them easier of digestion, and consequently more nutritious. Beef I believe to be the most valuable of any meat for dogs, although horse meat is also excellent. Mutton is not quite so nutritious, but is much more easily digested, and is therefore the best to use in all cases of disturbance of the digestive organs. The meat of any kind of very young animals is not so nutritious, nor is it so easily digested as that of those mature. Pork, as a rule, should not be given to your dog, as it is hard to digest, especially if there is any tendency to weakness of the digestive organs. If the animal is strong and healthy, however, a small quantity occasionally will perhaps do him no harm. Beef tripe, when properly cleaned and boiled until it is tender, is an excellent article of food, valuable both for its nutritious qualities and as a change from a monotonous diet. Beef scraps are also very useful in a large kennel; they should be broken up fine and soaked in cold water from twelve to twenty-four hours, and then boiled for two or three hours in the proportion of about one quart to each gallon of water. When boiled lone enough, thicken the broth with finely ground corn meal, season with salt, and stir thoroughly while boiling until the meal is well cooked; or, when of the proper consistency, it may be poured into pans and the cooking finished by baking brown in the oven. This is relished by most dogs, is nutritious and a welcome change, but its use should only be occasional, as corn meal is a bit too heavy, unless your dog is at work. Fresh fish is also excellent food, and an agreeable change can be made by boiling it until the flesh will readily separate from the bones, when it may be mashed together with well-cooked vege-tables and seasoned with salt.

Bones should be freely given to your dog, both for their nutritive qualities and the benefit derived in keeping the teeth and jaws in good condition. Only large or comparatively soft bones should be given, as splinters from hard bones, or sharp edges of small ones - such as the leg or wing bones of fowls, the shin bones of sheep, etc. - may penetrate or injure the walls of the stomach, thereby causing serious harm.

Beef flour is a useful article of food for the kennel, especially when your dog is hungry and the larder is empty, as it is nutritious as well as palatable, and is quickly prepared by simply stirring it into boiling water and allowing it to cool, when it is ready. Broken bread or crackers may be mixed with the preparation, or the flour can be added to the pot of vegetables or corn meal if you choose, in place of meat or scraps. Dog biscuits, when manufactured by responsible parties, are also an excellent article of food that appears to be greatly relished by most dogs. These, with beef flour, are very handy to take with you upon a shooting trip, in case you should have any difficulty in securing sufficient food for your dogs.

The different grain products that are used by man are all useful as food for dogs. Corn meal, in addition to the uses before mentioned, can be easily prepared by stirring it into boiling water with a little salt and boiling it until it is well cooked; or it can be mixed with cold water into dough and baked in the oven. The meal should be finely ground, in order that it may be thoroughly cooked, as, unless this is done, the particles will swell when they are taken into the stomach, and cause distress, or perhaps more serious trouble will result.

Rice, when thoroughly cooked, is one of the best articles of food that can be found for the convalescent.

Rye and oatmeal are both excellent food when thoroughly cooked and properly used, but in feeding them to your dog you should bear in mind that they are laxative in character and should be judiciously used. Wheat flour, when cooked in almost any manner, is readily eaten by the dog, and is a very useful article of food when used in moderation.

Vegetable substances are not the natural food of the dog, but there is no question that when almost any vegetable, that is eaten by man, is thoroughly well cooked, and occasionally fed to your dog, benefit will result. Not only are most vegetables nutritious, but their use in moderate quantity is beneficial in other respects. Their laxative qualities tend to keep the bowels in good condition, while their occasional use gives a change from perhaps an otherwise monotonous diet that is most welcome. Onions I believe to be almost indispensable to the bill of fare provided for your dog; nearly all dogs will eat them readily, when properly cooked and seasoned with a little salt. For many years I have fed my dogs, both young and old, with a good dish of them as often as once a week. When cooking meat or making soup for them, a generous quantity of this vegetable, put into the pot with the meat and cooked to rags, will prove to be a very acceptable addition.

Potatoes and beets are also readily eaten by dogs, and are of undoubted value as food. Carrots, parsnips, turnips and some other vegetables are not usually relished by them, and may therefore be omitted.

All vegetables should be thoroughly cooked and fed in moderate quantity, as a long-continued vegetable diet will have a tendency to impoverish the blood and render the animal liable to contract disease.

Many other articles of food used by man will be readily eaten by his dog, but it will be better, perhaps, to waive their consideration, as the articles already mentioned are amply sufficient for the requirements of health and the stimulation of a dainty appetite.

Good judgment, as well as thoughtful care, are of the utmost importance when making up the bill of fare for your dog, in order that he may not suffer from the lack of proper food to keep him in just the right condition, nor become cloyed by the long-continued use of any one article of food; for dogs are very like their masters in this respect, and even quail on toast becomes monotonous after many days.