Another bad Indian habit is the washing of dogs. If
carefully brushed, combed, and properly fed, even long-
haired dogs seldom require washing more than once a month.
Then choose the best time of day, about twelve o’clock in
winter, or eight in summer, and let him be thoroughly and
immediately dried. Soap spoils the gloss of a dog’s coat, as
it sj)oils human hair, and a beaten-up egg will do the cleans-
ing work quite as well. If you suspect fleas or parasites, the
addition of a teaspoonful of turpentine to each yolk will do
wonders. Water in which a dog is washed should only just
have the chill off. 'I’lie sweeper should have orders never
to wash the dog without asking permission ; but every day
after the morning run, brush and comb should be diligently
employed, long hair being jjarted and cleansed by brushing
different ways. If this is really well done, parasites will be
unknown. It is a mistake in India only to feed a dog once
a day ; and though the morning meal be only a saucer of
jiorridge, or bread and milk, it should invariably be given.
The eagerness with which the dog will look for the mouthfid
or two shows that he needs it. If you value your dogs, never
give the sweeper so much a month for dog’s meat, but take
the trouble to order so much alia to be made into chupatlics,
so much meat or milk.
It is the fashion nowadays to keep house dogs without
meat, but their teeth proclaim the absurdity of feeding a
carnivorous animal on slops alone. Variety is the great thing.
Give a dog cJmpalties and milk one day ; liver, vegetable, and
rice the next ; porridge and milk the third ; soup and chi/patli
the next, and so on, arranging as a rule to have meat or soup
three times a week. With regard to the kind of meat, the
coarser bits are best, and in hot weather the head or the
liver is most suitable. The proportion of meat to chupdtti or
rice should be small, and the gravy and meat shoidd not be
put to the broken chupdUi till just before meal-time, as dogs
loathe pajipy and slithery food. Curry, spices, turmeric, I'tc.,
should be tabooed ; but once or twice a week a pinch of
l>owdered sulphur may be sprinkled on the food. Seeing
how intensely a dog enjoys bones, it is cruel to deprive him
Housekeeper and Cook
127
of such a pleasure ; so even when no meat is given, a bare
bone or two may be conceded, if only to clean and sharpen
the teeth ; but chicken or game bones should be withheld,
as they are liable to stick in the intestines. Water should
be in a fixed place where the dog knows it is to be had. If
a dog seems out of sorts and will not eat his food, do not
worry him, or tempt him to eat. He has probably got a fit
of indigestion, and means to cure it by that best of all
remedies — starvation.
Page 86
Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Another bad Indian habit is the washing of dogs. If carefully brushed, combed, and properly fed, even longhaired dogs seldom require washing more than once a month. Then choose the best time of day, about twelve o’clock in winter, or eight in summer, and let him be thoroughly and immediately dried. Soap spoils the gloss of a dog’s coat, as it sj)oils human hair, and a beaten-up egg will do the cleansing work quite as well. If you suspect fleas or parasites, the addition of a teaspoonful of turpentine to each yolk will do wonders. Water in which a dog is washed should only just have the chill off. The sweeper should have orders never to wash the dog without asking permission ; but every day after the morning run, brush and comb should be diligently employed, long hair being parted and cleansed by brushing different ways. If this is really well done, parasites will be unknown. It is a mistake in India only to feed a dog once a day ; and though the morning meal be only a saucer of porridge, or bread and milk, it should invariably be given. The eagerness with which the dog will look for the mouthfid or two shows that he needs it. If you value your dogs, never give the sweeper so much a month for dog's meat, but take the trouble to order so much alia to be made into chupatties, so much meat or milk.
It is the fashion nowadays to keep house dogs without meat, but their teeth proclaim the absurdity of feeding a carnivorous animal on slops alone. Variety is the great thing. Give a dog chupatties and milk one day ; liver, vegetable, and rice the next ; porridge and milk the third ; soup and chupatti the next, and so on, arranging as a rule to have meat or soup three times a week. With regard to the kind of meat, the coarser bits are best, and in hot weather the head or the liver is most suitable. The proportion of meat to chupatti or rice should be small, and the gravy and meat should not be put to the broken chupatti till just before meal-time, as dogs loathe pappy and slithery food. Curry, spices, turmeric, etc., should be tabooed ; but once or twice a week a pinch of powdered sulphur may be sprinkled on the food. Seeing how intensely a dog enjoys bones, it is cruel to deprive him
Housekeeper and Cook
of such a pleasure ; so even when no meat is given, a bare bone or two may be conceded, if only to clean and sharpen the teeth ; but chicken or game bones should be withheld, as they are liable to stick in the intestines. Water should be in a fixed place where the dog knows it is to be had. If a dog seems out of sorts and will not eat his food, do not worry him, or tempt him to eat. He has probably got a fit of indigestion, and means to cure it by that best of all remedies — starvation.