The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-06-19
DOG FOOD AND MEDICINE.
A UNIoUB E1TABLIsHMENT IN
THE METROPOLIS.

-
THE METROPOLIS.
Preparing Food for Aristocratfc ca
n3nes-Curious Looking Machines
Patent Physic for the Dogs.
The manufacturing :: :: :.v; anu p..ent
medicines for the aristocratic dog is one
Of the few industries not as yet over
crowded. The dogs "Delmonico's, as
1t may very appropriately be called, has
done business at the same staud for a
much longer time than its more dignified
prototype. Its gisring sign, more at
tractive than artistic, covers the front of
a four-story brick building in an upper
East side street.
For nearly quarter OF century
Sprats factory has had monopoly OF
the making Of dog food. Everything
that is made by the establishment is most
amply protected by patents. But so
great Is the fear that some one will dis
cover the secrets of the establishment,
that it Is only with the greatest difficulty
that an outsider obtains view of the
interior. The business is now conducted
by a limited stock company From
twenty five to fifty men are employed
four days in the week Monday and
Tuesdayiof each week are devoted to sort
ing the stock on hand
1t is really far from being a prepos-
scssing place. An odor, anything but
pleasant, greets the nostrils of the visitor
entering on the ground floor. This is
tho receiving room of tho materials used
in the manufactured products. One is
that1y surprised to learn that thous-
ands of pounds Of butchers scraps arc
brought here In the course of month.
Oatmeal in wholesale quantities and tons
OF herbs are used. The old-fashioned
dog hone, boneset, catnip aud beet root
under various scientific names, find
use here either as food or as medi
cine.
The second floor is occupied by four
curious looking machines having great
cylinder attachments. After some of the
men have carefully sorted the fat and
the meat it is ground up separately in
these machines into disagreeablc masses.
After that it is placed into great wooden
tubs, where various pixtures are added.
The cooks in this establishment are very
charv OF telling you just what they put
in these tubs. The next process seems
40 much like the ordinary bakers work
that one is quite disposed to taste things,
and when the round and square cakes
have been placed in the brick ovens and
taken out a tempting brown, one is
really in sympathy with the aristocratic
dog. Having been properly cooled the
biscuits are taken 10 the next floor,
where several "hands' are employed to
10 nothing but pack them in neat paste.
, board boxes
: According to size these boxes are
labelled for pet dogs, for grcyhouuds,
for st. Bernards. Then there are spe-
cially prepared dishes for cats The poor
animal that has been the subject of so
much derision has been specially con-,
,idered, and sufficient of u specially pre-
pared food to keep her for two days may
be obtained for five cents.
But it costs a pretty penny to keep
dog. A large dog must have six or
eight cakes, besides quantity Of meat.
The meat will probably cost ten cents,
the cakes four cents apiece. That makesl
50 a week. There is the dog tax, and
cost anywhere from $3.50 to $4,000.
There is crate to send him to the dog
show, S14; brush and comb, 81; a
waterproof blanket, $3.50; a nleklc-
plated slip, $40; a brass show chain,
$3.50; yard chain, ST.. Then the dog
! must De housed, an amount of about
500 to begin with, and SO and $ia
week afterward, will keep an ordinary
400" dog in New York.
The most important department of all
is that of the patent medicines. Away
up at the very top of the building, re-
moved from the various odors. is the
office of the company. All day long the
secretary keeps the books and sends out
circulars to every one who has registered
a license for dog.
Right back of the office, unreached by
the prying outsider save through the
office, is the medicine department. The
mixtures of herbs and chemicals arc
boilei in great kettles and the LIQUID
brought up to this floor to be put in
bottles Of various sizes and labelled cure
or mango, another liniment for sprains,
another to prevent badness, or rather
stimulant for the hair, which is the same
thing. 1t is quite astonishing 20 learn
tnaJ sure cures for seventeen diseases are
made. The wonder grows greater when
one remembers all the dogs one has
known that were never treated fol any
thing. When they were sick they went
away and lay down in a cool place, hay
ing eaten Of some herb known to dogs,
and slept :he illness off. But then, o!
course, there we're no arstocratic dogs
They may have successfully hcrded
sheep or churned the butter but they,
never would have taken the prize in the
dog show.
Not only does this curious establish
meut make liquid medicines, but pills,
and as a recent addition to the business
it makes dog collars and dog soap and
crates Tor carrying or shipping dogs in,
dog brushes and combs, m,cHintosh,
waterproofs, with hoods, for grcyhoundS,
and blankets.
For its out town trade it makes