Obviously the attendants at whelping should be persons to whom the bitches are deeply attached, for in some instances they are very nervous indeed, and at such times are generally beyond the influences of all but their best friends.

For this condition, by the way, nervines have been recommended by some, but they are simply valueless as long as the cause of the nervousness exists, and to pet, soothe and encourage is the only treatment that can have any appreciable effect; and the same judiciously applied will soon stimulate that fortitude which is so marvellously great in the canine race and do much to restore the nervous system to its wonted balance.

The nervousness may, however, be carried to maniacal delirium, during which bitches are entirely beyond control and it is extremely dangerous to interfere with them. Yet they are never likely to do harm if left entirely to themselves. And such attacks are fortunately very rare indeed, and seldom occur except when the whelping is protracted and the suffering intense. Nor do they often last long, but are generally over within two or three minutes. This was about the duration of one which the writer witnessed, and in that instance the victim evidently saw a spectre of another dog intruding, for she suddenly, and without any premonitory sign, dashed to the door, growling and biting as though engaged in a fierce fight. But after the short period stated she recovered herself and went back to her bed, evidently perfectly sane.

Leaving the vexed question of attendance and going deeper into the essential treatment of the mother during and immediately after whelping, methods will be advised which the writer has invariably employed in breeding several varieties of dogs, with the largest at one end of the line and toys at the other. They will be alike applicable to all bitches, but of infinite importance with the largest varieties; and although some of them may seem based on sentiment and wanting in weight, not a single one will appear that does not influence success.

Consequently, he who breeds should apply them all. But there are many breeding in a small way who are forced to be at business during the day, and it is only right to consider herein how they may make the best of their opportunities.

If a bitch seems to favor a certain place for whelping and its conditions are quite favorable - that is, it is easily accessible, snug, warm and otherwise healthy - her choice should be accepted, for there she will feel more contented. But in absence of any decided preference she should be put into a clean, comfortable room or pen - -never a box which will not easily admit her owner - with a floor space so ample and a platform so large that she can work herself around her puppies on all sides.

As the degree of liability of a bitch lying on her puppies depends very greatly upon the size of her platform it should always be large enough to accommodate several like herself. And this provision seems the only one which promises much in the way of prevention, although some breeders think that the danger can be still further lessened by using the means which is so commonly employed with swine, namely, a strip of board, from four to six inches in width, around the room at just the height of the bitch's back when lying down.

This would keep her out from the walls, and if a puppy happened to be caught under her it would have a chance to reach the space beneath the ledge and escape. Yet while this device has undoubtedly some advantages, whether or not it is well to resort to it is an open question. The ledge must be very low or the bitch would try her best to squeeze under it. And if she could not do so she would be liable to fret, fearing some of her puppies were away from her; and every time she got up to hunt for them the chances of her getting on them would be much increased. Thus one might intensify the danger of the accident in trying to prevent it.

Her bed made up and the bitch provided with a vessel of clean, fresh, cold water, and a pan of milk, - with a piece of ice in it if the weather is hot, lest it sour before night, - if her owner must leave her to herself he can go away feeling that he has done about everything possible to anticipate her wants.

And now to consider in detail the treatment which when possible should be given the mother and her puppies at the time of whelping.

Unless the weather is uniformly mild, at this eventful period and for several weeks after it she should be quartered in a room furnished with ample means for heating, and for twenty-four hours at least its temperature must not fall below 750 Fahr.; while during the whelping and until all the puppies are thoroughly dried and warm it ought not to be below 8o°.

Each puppy is born in a bag, which consists of a smooth, glistening and usually very thin membrane, and contains more or less watery fluid known as the amniotic liquor. This bag, while sometimes ruptured during labor, is as a rule expelled intact, and when so the mother at once proceeds to tear it open with her teeth. Having succeeded she licks the little one for a minute or two - which treatment acts as a stimulant and excites vigorous movement - and then somewhat leisurely bites off the so-called umbilical cord, one end of which is attached to the middle of the puppy's abdomen, and the other to what is known as the after-birth, a mass that looks not unlike a large clot of dark blood. The cord bitten off, she pushes the puppy with her nose around to a more convenient situation, continues to lick it for a time and finally snuggles it up, generally to her neck, or if there is a person in the room who she thinks may take it from her she usually endeavors to conceal it with her head.

Now follows a period of relief from pain, which may be short, not more than five minutes, or much longer, and cover several hours. Half an hour, however, is probably not far from its average length; and during the greater part of it the mother rests quietly and may even seem to sleep. Towards its close she gets up and unless interfered with eats the after-birth and membranes that constituted the bag, and again lies down. The pain comes on, another puppy is born, and the routine described is again followed; and so on to the end of the whelping.