If the term health expressed a well defined state, an absolute standard might be fixed. To define disease is equally as difficult. It is an absence, or deficiency of health, simply a transfer of the difficulty of definition.

If all the tissues and organs of the body are normal, if all the fluids are in no respect abnormal, if all the functions of the organical structure are completely and harmoniously performed, health undoubtedly exists. But this perfection'of health is visionary and never actually exists. An exam-ination of the healthiest would disclose some deviation, some change, and these deviations from the normal are not inconsistent with the evidences of health. Functions of different parts may be disordered to a certain extent, without sufficient disturbance to constitute disease.

No practical embarrassment can result from this difficulty, to draw the line with precision. Each owner will fix an individual standard for his animal. Variations from it will constitute disease.

In a general way, in a healthy dog, we note as follows: - Eyes bright, the white usually clear, the fine red lines seen at times having no significance, the lining of the lids a pink rose tinge. Nose, cold, moist and slippery, except when the animal sleeps, then often hot and dry. Coat soft, smooth, and in long haired dogs, glossy. Skin soft, easily moulded, and of a gentle heat. Tongue moist, pink in color, free from coating. Pulse, full and strong, ranging from eighty to one hundred, varying in different breeds and natures. The larger animals have a lower rate than the smaller, the nervous a higher than the less easily excited. Bowels; excretions vary with the food given, in consistency and color. They should be neither hard nor thin, free from undigested matter, and not markedly offensive in odor. Kidneys; urine, pale yellowish, abundant, freely and easily expelled.