Many have reached the conclusion that because dogs will drink from stagnant pools it is a matter of indifference to them whether or not their water is clean and fresh. Man will also drink from such pools when tortured by thirst, yet he does not try to convince himself that it is refreshing and wholesome. Far from it. He practically acknowledges always that the influence of the drinking water is cardinal in rank with food, and that when polluted both are alike injurious to health.

But such inconsistency is not unusual with him; he is in fact constantly exhibiting the same fault in dealing with simple truths which bear upon his own health, and ever slow to recognize their importance in the practical arrangements of life. Consequently many which he ought to admit unhesitatingly, so obviously based as they are on sound sense, must be literally forced upon him.

Yet to his credit it can be said that while slow to accept what is best for his own physical welfare or even pay due respect to his own instincts he is but seldom reluctant to respect the instincts of animals to which he is attached, and which as a rule he treats with greater consideration and better judgment than he does himself; and if he fails with them he generally does so through ignorance.

Narrowing the subject to the drinking water of dogs, it is hard to believe that they are often intentionally neglected, but it is easier to believe that the absurdity noted in the beginning is largely accountable for such familiar practices as supplying dogs with water but once or twice a day even during the hottest weather, and in old wooden pails that have seen months and months of service and are thickly coated with slime, like the "old oaken bucket " of which the poet - who was evidently ignorant of even the first principles of hygiene - has so fondly told.

A glance at the physiology of animals shows that nearly three-fourths of the bodies of all consist of water and that they part with a large amount of it constantly by the lungs, skin and other avenues. Consequently in order that health may be maintained there must be a constant renewal of this simple but highly important fluid, and it must be good and wholesome.

Water may be all this when placed before a dog but it cannot long remain so in the air of a kennel or yard where there is more or less decaying vegetable and animal food •and other filth, for it soon absorbs these baneful exhalations and actually becomes to a certain degree poisonous. Furthermore, when so exposed and stagnant it frequently takes up germs of disease, many of which float easily on the air. And if the pail or other vessel in which it stands is lined with slimy accumulations it is very evident that it must soon become tainted from this source if from no other.

As a matter of fact, because they are denied sufficient good, wholesome drinking water is one of the pronounced reasons why dogs kept chained or otherwise closely confined are frequently ailing. And wherever this fault has been constant for a considerable length of time nutrition is poor; the victims as a rule are under weight, show their ribs, have a tucked-up appearance and are out at their elbows; their hair is dry and lustreless; they are given to scratching, and much of the time have more or less extensive skin eruptions.

A change of demeanor also usually characterizes them, and instead of being keen, alert and active they are more or less dull, listless and sluggish. Again, when not actually ailing their appetite is often capricious, and symptoms are frequently manifested - appreciable, perhaps, only to the trained eye - which indicate that they have some disorder, and generally of the digestive system, kidneys or bladder.

Manifestly, therefore, the drinking water should be above suspicion, ,and where it is obtainable only from wells and must be carried to the kennels by hand a fresh supply is required at least three times daily in cold weather and twice as often during hot weather. The drinking vessels must also be kept clean. And these, instead of being old tin pans or cans, or of wood, should be of earthen-ware or iron with glazed or enamelled linings.

But he who gets together a kennel of ten or more dogs and is obliged to intrust their care largely to "help" must soon learn that faithful obedience during his absence is by no means invariably the rule, and that the chances are that if neglect is exhibited it will be in the matter of watering; consequently the safest course to pursue is to provide running water.

On first thought this may seem to necessitate considerable outlay, yet such will be rarely the case where the kennels and yards are located near the owner's residence and that is piped and furnished with water from a common supply, as in all large towns and cities. And if small rubber hose will not do for connecting pipes, it being necessary to convey the water a considerable distance, small iron piping can be bought for a mere song.

But whatever the situation, unless of course the dogs' quarters are very distant from the main supply, to pipe them will be comparatively easy and far less expensive than one uninformed would suppose. And excluding the fact that it is a most merciful provision and considering it solely from the standpoint of economy it must cordially recommend itself.

At this point the writer is reminded that some who have written on the management of dogs, while not absolutely condemning the custom, have yet questioned the advisability of keeping water constantly before them, giving as a reason that too frequent lapping would likely become a habit that would be prejudicial to health.

This theory does not suggest itself as a sound one. In truth the desire for water is increased by frequent indulgences, and they in turn increase tissue change and thus multiply the products of tissue waste which result from it. But water removes these waste products as fast as they are formed, and in consequence of the various changes the appetite is increased. Hence water may be said to act as a true tonic.

Where too much water is drunk the tissue change is increased to such an extent that the body must waste rapidly unless there is an increase in the quantity of food sufficient to compensate for the loss. For instance, if a corpulent person will drink two gallons of water every twenty-four hours and meanwhile limit himself to the same quantity of food daily to which he was accustomed before the experiment he will rapidly pull down in weight. But he will require a tremendous will-power to resist his appetite, made ravenous by the greatly increased tissue change.

It is scarcely likely, however, that dogs will carry the water-drinking habit to that point where the body must waste in consequence; and even were they to do so it would be necessary merely to increase the quantity of food.

As excess of water augments tissue change a diminution of water lessens it, and when this change has fallen below the normal the waste products - which may be compared to the ashes from a fire - are formed faster than they are removed, and the system, choking up with them, is peculiarly liable to disease. Now apply the rake in the form of water and the products in question will be removed and health restored.

The writer has made experiments on mongrels for the purpose of determining the effects of a denial of sufficient water, and his kennel being supplied with running water he has had ample opportunity of judging of the effects of an unlimited quantity. The conclusions reached are, that dogs can safely be given all the water they may desire to drink, and unless they have all they want they fall off in condition. He has also satisfied himself that a dog which is closely confined not only drinks more but actually needs more than one which has constant liberty. And not impossibly an explanation of this is, that a dog which exercises freely, by this means in a great measure eliminates the waste products, whereas he that is denied exercise must largely depend upon water for their removal, and he instinctively drinks more to this end.

The difficulties in maintaining healthfulness among dogs increase with the number that are kept together, and where there are ten, twenty or more, the owner must surround them with all the best hygienic conditions possible and be precise in all his methods of management, otherwise they will fall below the standard of health and be frequent victims of disease. It can safely be accepted also that among all the conditions of health in a kennel there are none more imperative than an abundant supply of pure water.

Breeders generally fail to appreciate the fact that water is quite as indispensable to the welfare of young puppies while on the so-called sloppy foods as to those further advanced in life, it being assumed that milk, broths, porridges, etc., are capable of satisfying thirst and furnishing all the water required to meet the wants of the system; and for this reason it is rarely put before them until they are six or seven weeks old.

This must often prove a serious mistake. Puppies are notoriously gourmand and when allowed to do so will eat until abdominal rupture seems threatened, but if taught early to drink water and encouraged to take it freely and often, their capacity for food will be narrowed and the danger of overeating greatly lessened; moreover, by means of it digestion will be greatly favored.

Now, for two or three months after weaning, these little ones are very liable to have colic, diarrhoea and other stomach and intestinal disorders which frequently result fatally, and even if recovery takes place the victims have had such a set-back their futures are prejudiced and they fail to thrive and mature well. But that such attacks are common is not surprising considering how puppies are fed. If the food is well chosen - which is far from the rule - they are generally allowed to overeat, and in consequence their stomachs are soon dilated and weakened, and the lining membrane more or less irritated. Beyond this, digestion is sluggish; one meal is not disposed of before another is eaten, and most of the time there are food remnants in the stomach undergoing decomposition and causing flatulency or what is popularly termed bloating. Then if the food does not excite thirst the irritation in the stomach must inevitably do so; and in young puppies it must often be mistaken for hunger.

If milk, for instance, is given it will subdue the uncomfortable sensation for a time, but its fluid portion rapidly passes through the stomach and leaves the solids, which must linger to undergo digestion. This mass aggravates the stomach irritation and therefore the thirst is more intense than before the milk was taken.

There is yet another fact that deserves emphasis, namely, that the digestive fluids of young puppies are often less active and potent than normal, and indigestion is the consequence. Pure, fresh water has a decided corrective influence upon these fluids and fortifies them to no inconsiderable extent, hence it is entitled to be called a remedy.

Summarizing briefly : puppies should be taught to drink water at the earliest age possible, and thereafter a constant supply that is pure, fresh and inviting should be kept before them. It will modify somewhat the appetite, allay irritation in the stomach, render the digestive fluids more active if they are weak, and mechanically act advantageously by washing food remnants down and out of the stomach. All of which must greatly favor health and lessen the liability to disease.