"THROW physic to the dogs" is an old saying that appears to be a prime favorite with many owners of dogs, who, upon the slightest indication of anything being amiss with the animals under their care, literally drench and purge the unfortunate creatures by cramming down their throats pernicious drugs that, nine times out of ten, do more harm than good .

One of the ancient Roman writers of renown claimed, among other attributes belonging to the dog, that he is possessed of a "medical tongue" - "In canis bis bena et lingua medicina" etc . Thus we see that in the olden time, dogs and medicine were not unacquainted. It is to me a question whether the desire to administer medicine to the unfortunate dog, that seems to be implanted in every human heart, is a natural instinct, inherent in the human race from Adam down, or something for which we are indebted to the old Romans, along with many other bits of civilization which we pride ourselves in possessing.

I believe it to be incontrovertibly true that more dogs are actually killed by so-called medicine administered to them by inexperienced owners than are benefited thereby. Indeed, it is rare that any dog is benefited by the remedies prescribed by a person unpracticed in medical science. In a letter received some years ago from the late Mr. Ethan Allin he says: "I believe many more dogs are killed by dosing than would die if left to themselves without any medicine whatever."

A dog doctor in New York, who claims to be a veterinarian in good standing, and who has had for years an extensive practice, once told me that when he had a case that he did not quite understand - which occurred very often - his only treatment was careful nursing, with no medicine whatever, except when the patient was outside, to satisfy the owner, he gave a small bottle of water, colored with some harmless substance, with directions to give two or three drops three times daily, with no other medicine whatever, at the same time insisting upon proper nursing, diet, fresh air, etc. This treatment, he claimed, had brought him more dollars and fame than all the drugs he had ever used, and, added he, apparently with heartfelt conviction : "I honestly believe that, in a very large majority of cases, careful and intelligent nursing, without a particle of medicine, will prolong the lives as well as preserve the health of twice the number of animals that will survive the common system of treatment ."

For the medical profession I entertain the most profound respect, and nothing in these pages can be construed to reflect in the least upon the practice of the "healing art" by the duly qualified practitioner. Neither will anything be found in disparagement of any drug found in the pharmacopoeia, nor of its use, with few exceptions, in canine practice when it is prescribed by one who is qualified to judge from the symptoms just what is required. But what I do most emphatically condemn is the administering of any drug to canine or human sufferer by anyone not thoroughly qualified to know from the nature of the disease the proper remedy to apply.

There is nothing that is more fascinating to the average owner of dogs - especially if a beginner - than the practice of the healing art upon the helpless and often unfortunate animals that are under his care. While it is true that the feelings which prompt the fancier to try to minister to the apparent or imaginary ills of his charge are most creditable to his heart, it is, alas! also true that the result of the anxious owner's efforts, in very many instances, end most disastrously for the object of his solicitude, whose life or health is destroyed by the very means that are used to accomplish directly opposite results.

Nursing, instead of dosing the human patient who is a little under the weather, will very often bring one through threatened trouble all right. That the same is strikingly true regarding the canine patient I have for many years been thoroughly convinced. Dogs, whether of high or low degree, with very rarely an exception, are wonderfully sensitive to the treatment they receive from those who have the care of them. A kind or a reproachful word will raise them to the heaven of delight or sink them in the slough of despondency. How all-important is it then that we should treat them at all times, but more especially when they are ailing, with the greatest care and consideration, in order that their minds may be free from care and worry, that they may be in the best possible condition to assist nature in withstanding and throwing off threatened ills. How often is the mind of the human patient won back to peaceful calm from its state of brooding despondency by endearing words of affection and gentle touch of loving hands, as disturbing wrinkles are deftly smoothed from aching brow and comfortless pillow! A loving word and gentle touch are often of greater benefit to the suffering patient than the most potent drug that can be administered. Think of this when your dog is ailing, and leave nothing undone that will tend to soothe his mind or minister to his bodily comfort.

There is nothing more destructive to the life and health of man or beast than the administering of drugs and medicines by practitioners who are not only ignorant of the effect produced by their so - called remedies, but are also incapable of determining, from the symptoms shown by the patient, the proper remedy to prescribe. As a rule, the published description of the symptoms shown by the victim of almost any ill that flesh is heir to is most misleading to anyone not qualified by thoughtful study and large experience to understand the often very nice distinctions which are almost invariably necessary to determine, in diagnosing, even the simplest case.

When we take into consideration the fact that eminent specialists, who have many advantages that laymen cannot secure and who are peculiarly fitted for their calling, are often at fault in diagnosing a case, we should be absolutely sure that the case is perfectly understood before attempting to prescribe for it.

How often does the man who is ailine take down the family doctor's book, and after reading the description of some occult disease, that perhaps our largest hospitals very rarely see - the description couched in language that he cannot understand - imagine that this just fits his case; and between the remedies advised and the fright he receives he becomes seriously ill and perhaps comes to an untimely end. If these results happen in his own case, how much more likely is he to err in the case of his dog, when, of course, his deductions are drawn from observation, frequently delusive, and from symptoms that he does not understand.

Therefore, when your dog is ailing, and proper care and nursing seem to be unavailing to relieve him, instead of pouring down his throat drugs that may prove to be just what he should not have, it is much the better plan to call in the services of an experienced veterinarian; or, if one in whom you have confidence is not available, consult your family physician, who will in most cases know what to do, or, at all events, he will know what not to do, which will answer nearly as well.

Although I have the greatest respect for our medical institutions, and the utmost confidence in the skill of their graduates, there is one very serious charge that I must bring against the students of every veterinary institute of which I have any knowledge, and I very much fear that the charge will hold against a large majority of those who attend such institutions through-out the world. The complaint I have to make is that too scant attention is paid to minor details, small matters perhaps,.apparently not of much importance in themselves; yet a knowledge of these is of the greatest importance when diagnosing and prescribing for a difficult case. I do not wish to intimate that from a medical standpoint any mistake will be made in determining from the symptoms just what the ailment is, or in the remedy to be prescribed; but this is very far from being all that is necessary for the practitioner to do for his patient. In many cases it is of the greatest importance, indeed it is often an absolute necessity, that food or drink that will neutralize the medicine prescribed should be forbidden. Milk and fatty substances are well-known antidotes to many drugs in constant use, but the average dog owner is, nine times out of ten, ignorant or forgetful of this, even if he has knowledge of the medicine administered. Many practitioners, I regret to say, have not the knowledge necessary to impart these very important particulars, owing to the fact that the above charge against them is true. They did not, in their studies, pay proper attention to the minor details they thought unimportant, and are all at sea on many points with which they should be entirely familiar. The student is not, however, always to blame in the matter, for many of our best known veterinary as well as medical institutions, I regret to say, are lamentably deficient in imparting what we may call the A B C of medical instruction. In fact, so far as my knowledge extends, I am forced to believe that the higher the attainments of the professor, the less inclined is he to dwell on the minor details, knowledge of which is all-important to the student when he comes to practice his profession.

Any physician of large experience will tell you that good nursing, in a very large proportion of cases, is of greater value than proper medicine; yet how few of the younger portion of the fraternity will have a single idea to suggest in this direction. It is true, with regard to the human patient in a large majority of cases, loving hands need no instruction or prompting to smooth the sufferer's pillow, but in canine practice the case is different. "It is only a dog" often excuses neglect of the most important matters that, if properly attended to, might save the life of the animal. How necessary then that the veterinarian should be thoroughly acquainted with all the little matters so necessary to the comfort and welfare of his patients, and that he should see to it that nothing is left undone that may prove to be of benefit in arresting dis ease or alleviating pain and distress.

Many practitioners are undoubtedly possessed of the necessary knowledge, but unthinkingly withhold it, perhaps in the belief that the owner may know just what to do; but this is generally an erroneous conclusion, and it is always best to determine this point satisfactorily before leaving the patient.