Evening star., 1934-04-25

have become a part Of Washington
legend.
How the legendary days come and
go before those who take part in them
realize it all! Those were the days
of cash boxes which ran on metal
rails around stores, clinking and
clanking along with a merry song all
their own. Perhaps there are few of
them left, but in those days all estab-
lishments had them. But for this dog
they we're sport, that and nothing
more. Whenever he was taken into
a downtown store, where these con-
traptions we're in operation, he started
out on a chase of them. Despite the
evident impossibility Of the task.
which must have been quite as ap-
parent to him as to others, for he had
splendid intelligence, he never gave
over the chase. no doubt feeling that
some time or other he would be for
tunate enough to be right beneath one
when it let 60 its hold on the rails
and dropped to the floor.
II
When this fine fellow was stricken
with distemper, there was no vaccine
no anti-toxin, no special treatment.
Every wet" had his favorite pre-
scription and nobody was sure any of
them would work. Distemper was not
as widespread in those days. 1t was
recognized. and treated, but had not
received the publicity 1t was to attain.
The thing TO do We were told, was
to keep him warm and give him a
dose Of this medicine-we think it was
pink-every half hour. day and night.
Fortunately he was q model patient.
who took, his medicine like a man and
said nothing about 1t. No doubt he
was too sick to protest. even If he had
wanted to. He got his medicine every
80 minutes for Y hours, at which time
he became definitely better. We could
almost fancy his white coat had q
pinkish cast to 1t. II some one were
to hold bottle OF that stuff under
our nose today, and ask it's name. we
would reply unhesitatingly. Some
things are unforgetable.
This same dog later got into a fight
with another dog. and managed to
spike himself on his own collar. which
was set with brass studs, a custom
which ought to be, and. we believe,
has been. obliterated. The protection
which such spikes offered to the
wearer was problematical, whereas the
danger to vigorus dog actual.
Various applications failed to re-
lieve the swelling. With dogs as with
cats, although to a lesser extent. the
danger comes from a too quick heal
ing over at the top, rather than from
the bottom.
The remedy finally proposed was to
keep the paw constantly bathed with
hot water. This required an INNER
sion for a few minutes every quarter
OF an hour or so. The faithful full
fillment Of this prescription. by one
on Summer vacation, led to the COM
plete cure OF the ailment. The under
standing Of the big dog helped con-
siderably. He seemed at all times
TO realize that the ordeal was neces-
sary. and stood as still as possible.
never once Offering any real resist
ance. Whether this was mere docil-
ity or intelligence we leave to others
to decide, but there can be no doubt
that it is intelligence, when ones own
dog displays it.
Persistence and patience are the
two cardinal virtues in the home
treatment OF sick animals. II these
are used. such treatment has much
to recommend it. since the patient
IS saved the shock Of strange sur
roundings and handling. 1t must
never he forpOtteD that nature 10
after all. the real doctor. II she
cannot do it. none can; others may
help her. but the cure is not theirs.
though they claim it. Nature is the
doctor, now and forever more,