The Opelousas courier., 1891-07-11
DOG FOOD AND MEDICINE.
A UNIQUE ESTABLISHMENT IN
THE METROPOLIS.
nines-Curious Lodging Machines
Patent Physic for the Dogs.

nines-Curfous LODGING Machines
Patent Physic for the Dogs.
The manufacturing of food and patent
medicines for the aristoeratic dog is n
of the few industries not as yet over
crowded. The dogs "Delmonico's," as
it may very appropriately be called, has
done business at the same stand for q
much longer time than it's more digniied
prototype. Its glazing sign, more at
t~ractive than artistic, covers the front of
a four-story brick building in an upper
East side street.
For nearly a quarter of q century
Sprat's factory has had a 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 nj will dis
cover the secrets of the establishment,
that it is only with the greatest difficulty
that an outsider obtains a view of the
interior. The business is snow conducted
by a limited stock company. From
twenty-five to fifty men are employed
four days in the week. Monday and
Tuesday.of each week are devoted to sort
ing the stock on hand.
1t is really far from being a prepos-
sessing place. An odor, anything but
pleasant, greets the nostrils of the visitor
entering on the ground floor. This is
the receiving room of the materials used
in the manufactured products. One is
hardly surprised to learn that thous-
auds of pounds of butchers scraps are
brought here in the course of a month.
Oatmeal in wholesale quantities and tons
of herbs are used. The old-fashioned
dog-bone, boneset, catnip and beet root
under various scientific names, find
a 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 disagreeable masses.
After thati is placed into great wooden
| tubs, where various mixtures are added.
| The cooks in this establishment are very
| chary of telling you just what they put
in these tubs. The next process seems
| 80 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 TO the next floor,
| where several ahands' are employed to
DO nothing but pack them in neat paste
board boxes.
According TO size these boxes are
labelled for pet dogs, for greyhounds,
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 a specially pre-
pared food to keep her for two days may
be obtained for five cents.
But it costs a pretty penny to keep a
dog. A large dog must have six OF
eight cakes, besides a quantity of meat.
The meat will probably cost fen cents,
the cakes four cents apiece. That makes
So a week. There is the dog tag, aud
the dog must have a collar, which will
cost anywhere from $1.50 to $1,000.
There is a crate to send him to the dog
show, $14; a brush and comb, 81; a
waterproof blanket, 8 $3.50; a MCKEE
plated slip, SO; a brass show-chain,
$50; a yard chain, 81. Then the dog
must be housed, an amount of about
800 to begin with, and $3 and 81 a
week afterward, will keep an ordinary
1900" 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 n who has registered
a license for a dog.
Right back of the Office, unreached b
the prying outsider save through tbs
eagice, is the medicine department. Tht
mixtures Of herbs and chemicals arr
boilel in great kettles and the liquit
brought un to this floor to be put il
bottles of various sizes and labelled cure
or mango, another a liniment for spralns,
another to prevent badness, or rather Z
stimulant for the hair, which is the sam
thing. 1t is quite astonishing to learr
that sure cures for seventeen diseases ar
made. The wonder grows greater whel
one remembers all the dogs one ha
known that were never treated for any
thing. When they were sick they wen
away and lay down in a cool place, hay
ING eaten of some herb known to dogs
and slept the illness off. But then, Q
course, there were no ~aristocratic dogs
They may have successfully herde'
sheep or churned the butter but the
never would have taken the prize in tn
dog show.
Not only does this curious establish
ment make liquid medicines, but pills
aud as a recent addition to the bushes
it makes dog collars and dog soap an
crates for carrying or shipping dogs il
dog brushes aud combs, mackintos
waterproofs, with hoods, for greyhound'
and blankets.
For its out-of-town trade it max
food which makes hens lay in du
seasons, foods for pigeons and soaps 70
washing the latter.-MU York Neos.
t Ear Trnmnefs as Cupid's Arrows.