Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-28
DOG DsSPENsARlEs.
Surgery and Medicine Applied -
Canine Patients - How They ard
Treated Large Fees Paid ~
Owners.


From the New York Journal
New York is undoubtedly a great city for
doctors. II viii, however, be news TO a great
many that 1t is perhaps the only city In America
possessing a really practical dog doctor who has
devoted his time TO the study, antomicay and
otherwise, OF their bodily construction aud III
nesses.
Dog doctoring a rule has generally been
confned to dog dealers. stealers and fanciers
who have blindly given certain medicines and
! applied certain lniments without even know
| Ing the nature OF the drugs OF which they are
composed And most so-called dog doctors rely
| principally on a course of diet OF bread and
water In sparing quantities to effect cures. be-
| lieving that all dog sickness is brought on by
overlooking on rich and dainty food Thunder
the treatment the dog survives and again takes
10 his meals with an OverTwist-like craving
Tor more he Is pronounced cured. But very few
of these people would dare undertake the set
| ting OF broken bones, the sewing up of ugly
wounds or attempt other surgical opeationl
that are now being performed by the gentleman
already referred TO.
THE DOG DOCTOR
| Over plain but neat little house on West
Third street, Is hung out an equally neat little
sign displaying the legend, "B. G. Dovey, Prao.
| teal Surgeon" In the basement and FIRST floor
windows are many specimens OF the taxider.
mlst's skill In the shape of stuffed dogs ana
| other animals In the basement, which IL used
| as the surgery are tiers of shelves on which are
| arranged rows of bottles labelled in Latin. ana
containing different kinds OF drugs and now DER
used in his profession by Mr. Doyey and his wifA
who largely assists him In attending to hic
canine patients. At the rear OF the basemenS
are arranged kennels of various sizes containing
dogs OF all breeds and In all stages of health
la DRY CIR 70 fhao p,-olaS A.
oughly healthy. For here are kept most OF the
patients that are not suffering from fractured
limbs or other accidents. These latter are kept
| In room above which is specially devoted TO
| such cases.
Mr.. Dewey has been pursuing his profession
Tor nearly quarter OF a century I'm this city, and
| tells many stories OF the bad cases lac has at
| tended and brought safely through. He used
he says, TO deal largelyin dogs but he has found
the demand for his services in doctoring them
| so increased that he has now almost given II I'D.
He tells how in one case not long since lady
brought little Skye terrier to him which had
been accidentally run over and had both Its hind
legs broken. He succeeded In setting them and
nursing the dog to convaescence. He also re.
| lates many Interesting tales OF other Injuries
which he has been called upon to repair, and
| among them cases where dogs have had their
eyes torn out accidentally or In fights with
| others, and how he has managed to reinstato
| the optic and restore them to the full use q
| their sight again.
He also tells Of canine patients with brokeo
and dislocated Jaws, shoulders out of Ioipt fra.
tured ribs, dislocated hips and other similar 90.
cidents, most Of which he has successfully
treated. for, said Mr.. Doyey, IL have thoroughly
studied dogs anatomy and know every part 20
| well as o surgeon who has made q study of the
| human frame knows his subject.
IN CASES OFsIcKNEss
or disease" continued Mr.. Dovey, 81 prescribe
medicines to suit each particular case, and II
people only follow out my instructions II 10
! rarely that fail to make cure. Sometimes give
liquid medicines and In other instances pills. or
course do not have the dogs al, here In hospital
for many people cannot afford to pay for this The
fees charged are regulated by circumstances and
vary according TO the peculiar character OF tho
case. In surgical cases, 1 get from three to nfty
dollars. HE worst disease that dogs suffer from
Is the distemper end sometimes this is so viru-
| lent that the dog dies or becomes paralyzed and
| has to be killed. Asa rule, however, n the case
taken In time, 1t rarely terminates fatally Pup
pies have to undergo the course ofthis dseas be-
fore they become fully grown and il is the great
est trouble OF their life. for once through this
they scarcely ever suffer again. Colds and coughs
are another source OF trouble among dogs but
these can easily be cured with proper care and
| tention. Another great trouble about dogs is tho
way In which they are oyerfed by their masters or
mistresses, who think giving them little tid-bits
at all hours of the day is being kind TO them but
this IL a mistake. For visiting at their own
homes my fee is S3 and medicine extra
THE DoCToR's WIFE.
Mrs, Dovey, who assists her husband, is well
known among the best people in New York and
is highly respected by them, relates many anec-
dotes Of her praCtice, and says it is very COM
mon for her lady patronesses who are living In
hotels to bring their pets to her TO board and
doctor. "They ray Inc well, said Mrs. Dovey,
sand will have me visit them once week with
their pet or pets and spend en- hour or SO with
them and then bring the dog back with me.
They also often invite me to the theater. 60 that
they may have an extra hour with their little
pets, and, Of course, don't often refuse. The
lowest fee they ever pay me when visit patients
at their home is the same as Mr.. Doyey's charges,
viz, 50, but often get more than this In did
cult cases.
''One gentleman once gave me 600 o month
to keep two Italian greyhounds for him while
he was In Europe and sent carriage also every
month for me and the dogs to take drive In
the park" Another case Mrs. Dovey referred to.
IN which a lady from the south brought her o
Skye terrier dog suffering from dandruf, which
was half an inch tlich on Its body and which
she cured, and afterward sold the dog for ESQ.
She is often, she states. called to attend pa
tients in Boston. Philadelphia and Newport,
Mrs. Dovev Is a vivacious lady, quick Of
speech, and exceedingly pleasant In manner.
->>>--