I frequently hear numerous complaints of dog’s eyes, especially pups that have been newly weaned, becoming inflamed, and in many cases small ulcers form.  The same thing has occasionally happened in our kennels, and after trying practically all the eye washes on the market, sometimes without success, I applied to a friend of mine in the laboratory of the Massachusetts General Hospital and was advised by him to wash the dog’s eyes two or three times a day with a ten per cent. solution of argyrol, which has been eminently successful.  For slight inflammations a boracic acid wash, that any chemist will put up, will usually effect a cure.

The several forms of skin disease which cause so much disquiet to young stock, preventing rest and hindering growth, are sometimes due to faults in feeding which upset the work of the assimilative organs, and are to a great extent preventable.  Not so those that are due to the presence of a parasite that burrows under the skin and produces that condition of the coat commonly known as mange.  A dog may go for some considerable time unsuspected, but the sooner it is discovered and attended to the better, as it is highly contagious.  The first thing to do is to take an equal amount of powdered sulphur and lard, make a paste, and rub it thoroughly into the coat of the dog and let it stay on for two days.  Of course, the dog will lick off all he can, but the internal application will be good for him.  At the end of the second day take the dog and give him a thorough wash with good castile soap, and after drying rub into his coat thoroughly (care being taken that none gets into the eyes or ears) crude petroleum.  Let this stay on one day, and without washing take this time enough benzine and powdered sulphur to make a paste and rub in as before.  It will be found that this has penetrated deeper than the lard and sulphur did and has doubtless reached the parasites.  Repeat this twice, washing in between, after which give the dog a good dressing of petroleum once a day for a week, followed by a week’s anointing with the benzine, and dollars to doughnuts, the dog’s coat will come out all right.  A good dressing to be applied occasionally afterwards, well rubbed into the skin, is composed of equal parts of castor, olive and kerosene oils, thoroughly mixed.  If the hair has long been off apply the tincture of cantharides, or the sulphate of quinine to the bald spots, taking care the dog does not lick it with his tongue.  These two remedies are best used in the form of an ointment, twice a day.

In regard to fleas or lice on the young stock, a good wash in not too strong a solution of any of the standard tar products is usually perfectly effectual.  One other disease, and that the most deadly of all, remains to be considered, viz., distemper.  This is largely contracted at the dog shows, or being brought into contact with dogs suffering from the disease.  I do not believe it is ever spontaneous, and dogs kept