The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-07-01
DOG FOOD AND MEDICINE.
A UNIQUE ESTABLISHMENT IN
THE METROPOLIS.

Preparing Food for Aristocratic Ca
nines-Curious Looking Machines
--Pateut Physic for the Dogs.
The manufacturing of food aud patent
medicines for the aristocratic dog is one
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 samo stand for
much longer time than its more dignifed
prototype. Its glaring 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
Sprat's 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 oaly with the greatest difficulty
that an outsider obtains a 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
Tucsdayiof each week are devoted to sort
ing the stock on hand.
1t is really far from being n pre- pos
sessng 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. Oae is
hardly surprised to learn that thous-
ands of pounds of butchers scraps are
brought here in the course of month.
Oatmeal in wholesale quantities aud tons
of herbs are used. The old-fashionel
dog hone, boneset, catnip and beet root
under various scientific names, find
use here either as food or as med-
cine
The second floor is occupied by four
curious-loolSing machines having great
cylinder attachments. After some of the
men have carefully sorted the fat and
the meat it is grounl up separately in
these machines into disagreeable masses.
After that it 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
SO 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 tempting brown, one is
really in sympathy with the aristocratic
dog. Having been properly cooled the
biscuits are taken 10 the next floor,
| IIhonIep -
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-
sidered, and sufficient OF specially pre-
pared food to keep her for two days may
/ be obtained for five cents.
But it costs pretty penny to keep
dog. A large dog must have six or
eight cakes, besides a quantity of meat.
The meat will probably cost ten cents,
the cakes four cents apiece. That makes
| So week. There is the dog tax, and
the dog must have collar, which will
cost anywhere from $1.50 to $5000
| There is a crate to send him to the dog
show, Sl4; brush and comb, 81;
waterproof blanket, $3.50; a nckle-
plated slip, $40; brass show-chain,
$3.50; yard chain, 81. Then the dog
must be housed, an amount of about
| 800 to begin with, and SO and $4 "a
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 vino has registered
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 aud chemicals are
| boile in great kettles aud the liquid
brought up to this floor to be put in
! bottles of various sizes and labelled cure
or mango, another liniment for sprans,
another to prevent badness, or rather
stimulant for the hair, which is the same
thing. 1t is quite astonishing to learn
that sure cures for seventeen diseases are
made. The wonder grows greater when
one remembers all the dogs one has
| known that were never treated for any
thing. When they were sick they went
away and lay down in a cool place, hav-
ing eaten of some herb known to dogs,
and slept ;he illness oil. But then, of
course, there we're no arstocratic dogs.
They may have successfully hcrdcd
sheep or churned the butter but they
never would have taken the prize in the
dog show.
Not only does this curious establish
ment make liquid medicines, but pills,
and as recent addition to the business
it makes dog collars and dog soap aud
crates tor carrying or shipping dogs in,
dog brushes and combs, macintosh
waterproofs, with hoods, for greyhouuds,
and blankets.
For its out-of-town trade it makes
food which makes hens lay in dull
seasons, foods for pigeons aud SOAPS fos
washing the latter.-Neo York Ne,o5.
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