Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1887 — PETS OF FASHION. [ARTICLE]

PETS OF FASHION.

TEquine and Canine Favorites of Society Ladle*. “Domestic Pets a Specialty," was the legend which induced a reporter to pay a visit to the house on which it was displayed, the establishment of a veterinary surgeon, in the northwestern section of the city. The "doctor” proved to be communicative, and soon gave k’B caller several points on the ills and pills of pets. “My practice is not confined to the treatment of domestic pets,” he explained, “for my legitimate line is horses. But I have called attention to this specialty merely to let the public know that I have not overlooked the needs of some important adjuncts of fashion. In this line I have most to do with dogs and ponies; cats do not seem to need my services, or if they do their owners do not think so. As a rule my patrons are of the wealthy classes, some of whom are passionately fond of their pets, and would rather sacrifice small fortunes than lose them. The small ponies (especially the Shetlands) are often the objects of the most lavish affection. I treat the animals at the homes of their owners, making regular calls, just the same as the physician does for relief of human ills. At times I have had odd experiences with the brutes, finding it often a hard job to make them take their medicines; but regular physicians have the same trouble sometimes with their patients. “ The favorite dog at present ? Well, I think that the setter is growing in popularity. The Gordon and Irish setters of good breed will bring fancy prices now, not from the hunter, but from ladies of society. Yes, the pug has lost his grip. Every dog has his day, you know, and the pug has had his. There seems to be a tendency now toward the growing popularity of large animals instead of smaller specimens. ” “Have you ever run across any cases of hydrophobia in your experience, Doctor ? ” he was asked. “Oh, yes; I have often been called in to cure dogs suffering from that disease; but my services were, of course, of no value. The only remedy for a mad dog is a bullet. Although M. Pasteur claims to effect the cure of persons who have been bitten, I doubt if he would undertake the treatment of a rabid dog. I think that he would draw the line at that point, There are some features about this mysterious disease which are misunderstood by people generally. In the first place, notwithstanding the belief, or rather the idea, that the so-called ‘dog days’ of the summer months are most productive of hydrophobia, statistics and my experience tend to show that the majority of the cases of rabies occur during the months of October and November. Then, too, dogs are often shot because they are supposed to be suffering from this disease, when in reality they are troubled with nothing more serious than a neuralgia of the mouth, what we call in humans toothache, which, exciting the salivary glands, gives the dog the appearance of the dreaded frothing as seen in hydrophobia. Then the dog, being harassed and driven around, he soon really looks as though he were mad. As I have said, in a great many cases the neuralgia is mistaken for the other disease.

“In my regular practice,” he went on, after a pause, “that is, in my veterinary career, I have treated some very fine horses. This city contains a number of good stables, owned by those itinerant families who flit away from the asphalt with the first warm wave. They transport their horses to the seaside or the mountains and keep them here only during the fashionable season. The recent paper chase craze has resulted in an increased activity in the horse trade. As in the case of dogs, there is a tendency toward a certain class of animals, and so in the stables I have seen evidences of a decided preference for good, solid, handsome coach horses, rather than fancy breeds, or saddle horses. “Getting back to dogs,” he said, “a case has just come to my mind of a lady, moving in the highest circles, who drove up here one day in a handsome carriage and sent for me to come to the curb. She was pale and trembling, and seemingly laboring under intense excitement. ‘Get in, Doctor, quick, and come with me at once. Oh! lam so afraid that he will die. Poor little dear! Come, hurry, please, my darling will die while you wait.’ Divining what she meant I went to the house and found the ‘darling 5 to be an ugly pug, suffering from an overdose of raw beef. I soon brought him around, and when I turned to go confronted the fair owner, who, with tears in her eyes, blessed me for saving the life of the ‘dearest, sweetest dog in Washington.’ ” — Waskitigion Star.