Huntsville gazette., 1882-09-02
Dog Fat.

4
The attention of a reporter of the
World was attracted yesterday afternoon
while at the dog4pound by two boys
who were carefully skinning and dress
ing q dog that had just been drowned
according to law for vagrancy.
"What arelyou doing that forp" was
asked.
"For consumption, replied one of
the boys. ''For two-dollar BILL" said
the other.sq . I'll la i4rt
1t was finally explained that MANY
residents of the east side of the citv
firmly believe that dog fat is an infallible
cure for consumption.
"The boys told you the TRUTH" said
DR.. Ennever, the veterinary stationed at
the pound, who was next questioned.
ga great many people believe that dog
fat, and even the flesh of dog, is a sure
cure for consumption, and on an aver
age one dog a week is taken from here
and reduced to medicine" te
"Who comes after themp'
Generally women, either Germans
or Jews. They come up here, and, af-
ter carefully examining all the dogs, Sc
lect one that seems to be healthy and
fat. They then point out their selection
to an attendant, who ties string round
its neck or marks the animal in some
way so as to- identify it. The woman is
told on what day that particular beast
will be drowned; she returns at the
time specified, gets the body, and turns
it over to some of the hoodlums round
here, who for a dollar or two skin it and
take off the fat. If she wishes the car
cass they dress it for her just as butch
er would lamb or calt No, yellow
dogs have no value in this way; a black
dog is always chosen in preference to
any other color, if he is fat and healthy"
g How do they take the medicine, as
| suppose they call itp"
''In different ways. Some reduce it
to oil and take it as liquid by the
spoonful; others fry it out and then
after it gets cold spread it on bread as
you would butter and eat it so.' -a4
''Do they eat the meat, too?"
'Yes, and as a matter of fact, it's not
bad eating. I've tried it myself, though
was not aware of it at the time. 1t
looks like young veal. T"
ssHave you any regular customers?
awe have one, a Mrs. Farley, who
used to live corner of Avenue A and Six
teenth street. She was pretty far gone
in consumption, but she used TO come
every other week for five or six months
for nice fat dog. / have not seen her
for some time, but 1 don't think she's
dead Some one told me she was living
over on Ninth avenue. But as q gene
raj thing we don't know our customers
names. This superstition is so general
on the east side that many of the drug
stores keep. dog fat or oil in stock.
There are a number of these household
remedies for different diseases. Through
Vermont and New Hampshire the fat of
skunks is used a cure for Group and
rheumatism. Then at the South the
negroes use dogs flesh as cure for
rheumatism. The dog must be jet
black or the medicine is without e(lica-
cy. When the animal is chosen it is fed
on nothing but the lungs and ivers of
racoons until it is so fat that it can
hardly walk, when it is killed and eaten
After that if the patient is not cured he
is perfectly assured that his pains and
aches are attributable to some other
cause"
During the last six years over $4,000
dogs have been drowned at the pound.
So far this year 8, ,007 have been received,
2,674 drowned, SO redeemed, B returned
by order of the authorities and 232 are
now awaiting death. N. Y. World.