The late Mr. Ethan Allin has often told me that he invariably, when he could obtain it, fed his puppies, until they were about four months old, all the milk warm from the cow that they would eat, and to his knowledge he never lost a puppy from worms.

If new milk cannot readily be obtained, procure it as fresh as possible and warm it to the proper temperature.

When rearing puppies by hand, an infant's nursing bottle is the very best article to use in feeding them, but you must take especial care to see that it is thoroughly cleaned each time it is used; in fact, the same care should be taken that it would receive if used by an infant.

The quantity given at each meal should be small, and the feeding should be repeated every hour and a half or two hours from early morning until bedtime. The one who has charge of them will soon learn just the amount to give to each puppy and the proper time to feed them.

The bottle will be found necessary only a few days, unless they are very young, as they will soon learn to lap the milk from a shallow dish. Indeed, puppies should be taught to feed themselves when they are about three weeks old, even if the dam is all right, as, should anything unfortunately happen to deprive them of their natural supply, the necessary change will not affect them nearly so much as it will if they are entirely unprepared for it.

Teaching them to feed themselves when so young will often be of benefit to the dam, especially when the litter is large, or when she does not have a sufficiency of milk to supply their wants. It is not absolutely necessary, however, when the litter is small, or the mother is a good milker, but I strongly recommend that it be done; for in case of accident it will prove to be of great benefit, both to the puppies and in the saving to you of time and worry.

The milk of some cows is too rich to be given clear. Such should be reduced with water, using a small quantity at first, to be gradually increased until the proper proportion is ascertained.

The quality of the milk will be quickly apparent by its effect upon the puppies; if too rich, they will appear to be uncomfortable after eating, and often throw it up; but this symptom must be very carefully looked to, as overfeeding will produce the same results, and the two causes must not be confounded.

Careful and intelligent watching and ex-periment will enable one to determine just the proper course to pursue. Should the milk prove to be deficient in nutriment - which will quickly be shown by the condition of the puppies - a change should be made at once; or, if this is not convenient, strong beef or mutton broth should be added, in very small quantity at first, to be increased if it is found to be necessary.

Meat is the natural food of dogs, and as soon as they can eat they should be allowed to have it. When given to young puppies, it should be very finely scraped, or chopped-, and if cooked it should be boiled to rags and finely minced; but in either case it should be given in small quantities and not too often; once a day will in most cases.be found to amply suffice.

One of the most useful articles of diet for puppies, in my estimation, is thick sour milk. While its nutritive qualities may not be equal to those of some other articles, it is by no means to be despised, as in this respect it certainly outranks many other articles of diet that are in constant use; while as a vermifuge it has, to my knowledge, no equal. Very few puppies escape the infliction of worms, and the death of more young dogs is due to this trouble than any other in the list, not even excepting that scourge of the kennel, distemper.

When I speak of death from this cause, I do not mean to be understood as saying that in all cases, or in nearly all, the victim is actually killed, as it were, outright. What I do mean is that in very many cases the complications consequent upon the ravages of this pest often result in death, or worse; for the enfeebled frame and impaired vitality that ensue often entail an existence that is certainly worse than death to the victim, as well as unpleasant to the owner. Not the least factor in this latter condition is the vicious practice of dosing the unfortunate puppy with pernicious drugs that in very many cases poison and impoverish the blood, weaken or destroy the delicate tissues, excite or prevent the secretions, and utterly ruin the entire digestive organs; leaving the unfortunate animal to struggle alonof through life, unable to enjoy the blessings that should be his, unable to minister to the pleasure of his master, and worse - much worse than all the rest - to transmit to his descendants a heritage of weakness that renders them unable to withstand the ailments common to puppyhood - ailments that healthy vigor would scarcely notice.

This senseless dosing, instead of proper care and nursing, is the keynote to the complaint so often heard that "the blue bloods are not nearly so hardy as dogs of low degree." That this cry is absurdly false can be easily demonstrated by giving the blue blood an equal chance for life and health with his worthless, but always vigorous and healthy, brother.

Nearly all puppies will eat sour milk readily; but, should any refuse it, they may soon be taught by placing a small quantity before them when they are hungry, and dropping into it a few bread crumbs or small shreds of meat. It is, as I have said, excellent for worms, and its merits are described in the pages which treat of them.

Sweet and clean food is of nearly as much importance as pure air and sunshine, and you should never force your dog to eat any food that is not absolutely clean and sweet; if he wants dirt to eat, let him help himself, but do not force him to eat it with his food. Tainted meat, mouldy bread or stale vegetables should never be fed; all are bad, the last two dangerously so, as they are very apt to cause derangement of the digestive organs, and not infrequently more serious ills. Indeed, I am well convinced that unsuitable diet is often answerable for cases of so-called canker of the ear, as well as other disorders. In very young dogs this disease is not common, but the effects of unwholesome diet will remain, and the impaired vitality will predispose the victim to contract this or other diseases.

Charcoal, powdered very fine, is beneficial for young puppies; half a teaspoonful mixed with their milk or scattered over their food, once or twice a week, will sweeten and purify the contents of the stomach, and in many cases it will prevent colic and flatulency.

Bone meal may also be given occasionally in small quantities; it should be finely ground, and once a week a level teaspoonful may be mixed with their food.