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6643. The pointer, setter, and spaniel, (fig. 708.), it might seem at the first view unnecessary to introduce to the notice of the agriculturist; but a little examination of the subject will show that they 708

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may be made an object of considerable importance to the farmer. Few dogs command such prices as sporting dogs; and few persons have such opportunities of rearing them so cheaply, or so well, as farmers. Many farmers shoot game; most of them do it more or less: and it would be very easy to make two brace of pointers or setters, with one or two brace of spaniels, pay a considerable part of the rent of the farm, without other expense than skimmed milk and potatoes, or occasionally a little barley meal. We will suppose that a farm has on it three pointer bitches, and one pointer dog, all of acknowledged excellence, and two out of the three bitches may be expected to go to heat early, and to produce progeny between the seasons of shooting, when they are wanted: from these, four brace of puppies may be saved, and by continually following the servants and their master, they will become so handy, that their breaking will be ef fected daily, and without any other trouble than what occurs in restraining them when a little wild. If their breed is very good, their stopping and barking will commence towards the end of the first season, and during the periods between this and the next autumn they may be steadied and practised in fetching their game, &c., as directed in good sporting works. At the commencement of the following season, if they have been well attended to, although only fifteen months old, the whole may be sold to the London or country dealers, to average six or seven guineas each: or if sold privately, they will fetch from eight to twelve and fifteen guineas each: out of which, perhaps not more than half a guínea can fairly be deducted for keep, &c. The trouble occasioned to the master will be trifling, because connected with a pleasing employ to him as a sportsman, and who will thus have his own sporters for nothing.

6644. Setters, as more valuable, will fetch a higher price: but they do not always command so ready a sale, and are more troublesome to break.

6645. Spaniels are commonly thought, but most erroneously, almost to break themselves. A really well broke spaniel, however, is so rare, that instead of being worth two or three guineas, which is the usual price, it will fetch from five to ten pounds. It would be even less difficult to the farmer to rear spaniels than pointers; and by following him continually about the grounds they might be taught to perfect obedience, and close rangings, which are the grand requisites, without trouble or expense. In this way, four or five brace might be easily brought every season to market, and would always command a ready sale, and a price according to the perfection of their breaking.

6646. In the breeding and rearing of dogs for the above purposes, it is necessary to observe the greatest care in their original selection; that the breed be of the very best, and one which as it were breaks itself, for this shows the purity of the breed. It is likewise no less necessary that the breed be carefully pre served so: to do which, the moment the dogs begin to smell a bitch, shut her and the intended male closely up, in a confinement inaccessible to other dogs, and there let them remain a fortnight. It is likewise, almost equally necessary, that the dogs peculiarly appropriated to agriculturists, particularly the shepherd's dog, should be bred as pure, for no animal is more liable to sport into varieties. No crossing can on any account be permitted; but choice may be made among families of the same variety. In the rearing of this dog, his education should be early and carefully attended to, to make him hardy and familiar with all the signs of the shepherd; who ought himself to be equal to the regular education of his own dog.

6647. The diseases of dogs are very numerous. The following are described by Blaine, as the most prevalent, with their methods of cure.

6648. The canine asthma is hardly ever observed to attack any but either old dogs, or those who, by canfinement, too full living, and want of exercise, may be supposed to have become diseased by these deviations from a state of nature. It is hardly possible to keep a dog very fat for any great length of time, without bringing it on. This cough is frequently confounded with the cough that precedes and accompanies distemper, but it may be readily distinguished from this by an attention to circumstances, as the age of the animal, its not affecting the general health, nor producing immediate emaciation, and its less readily giving way to medicine.

6649. The cure is often very difficult, because the disease has in general been long neglected before it is sufficiently noticed by the owners. As it is in general brought on by confinement, too much warmth, and over-feeding; so it is evident the cure must be begun by a steady persevering alteration in these particalars. The medicines most useful, are alteratives, and of these occasional emetics are the best. One gram of tartarised antimony (i. e. tartar emetic) with two, three, or four grains of calomel, is a very useful and valuable emetic. This dose is sufficient for a small dog, and may be repeated twice a week with great saccess, always with palliation.

6650. Of diseases of the eyes, dogs are subject to almost as great a variety as ourselves, many of which end in blindness. No treatment yet discovered will remove or prevent this complaint.

6651. Sore eyes, though not in general ending in blindness, is very common among dogs. It is an af. fection of the eyelids, is not unlike the scrofulous affection of the human eyelids, and is equally benefited by the same treatment: an ungent made of equal parts of nitrated quicksilver ointment, prepared tutty and lard, very lightly applied. Dropsy of the eyeball is likewise sometimes met with, but is incurable.

6652. Cancer. The virulent dreadful ulcer, that is so fatal in the human subject, and is called cancer, is unknown in dogs; yet there is very commonly a large schirrous swelling of the teats in bitches, and of the testicles (though less frequent) in dogs, that as it sometimes becomes ulcerated, so it may be characterised by this name. In the early state of the disease discutients prove useful, as vinegar with salt, and camphor and Spanish flies, with mercurial ointment, have sometimes succeeded; taking care to avoid irritating the part so much as to produce blister. But when the swelling is detached from the belly, and hangs pendulous in the skin, it had better be removed, and as a future preventive suffer the bitch to breed. Schirrous testicles are likewise sometimes met with; for these no treatment yet discovered succeeds but the removal of the part, and that before the spermatic chord becomes much affected, or it will be useless.

6653. Colic, Dogs are subject to two kinds of colic; one arising from constipation of the bowels, the other is of a kind peculiar to dogs, apparently partaking of the nature of rheumatism, and also of spasm. From a sudden or violent exposure to cold, dogs become sometimes suddenly paralytic, particularly in the hinder parts; having great tenderness and pain, and every appearance of lumbago. In every instance of

this kind, there is considerable affection of the bowels, generally costiveness, always great pain. A warm bath, external stimulants, but more particularly active aperients, remove the colic. Colic arising from costiveness, is not in general violently acute from the pain it produces; sometimes, however, it appears. accompanied with more spasm than is immediately dependant on the confinement of the bowels. In the former give active aperients, as calomel with pil, cochic, i, e. aloctic pill and glysters; in the latter castor oil with laudanum and ether.

6654. Cough. Two kinds of cough are common among dogs, one accompanying distemper, the other in an asthmatic affection of the chest. (See 6648. 6655.)

6655. Di temper. This is by far the most common and most fatal among the diseases of dogs; hardly any young dog escaping it; and of the few who do escape it in their youth, three-fourths are attacked with it at some period afterwards: it being a mistake that young dogs only have it. It, however, generally attacks before the animal arrives at eighteen months old. When it comes on very early, the chances of recovery are very small. It is peculiarly fatal to greyhounds, much more so than to any other kind of dog, generally carrying them off by excessive scouring. It is very contagious, but it is by no means necessary that there should be contagion present to produce it; on the contrary, the constitutional liability to it is such, that any cold taken may bring it on and hence it is very common to date its commencement from dogs being thrown into water, or shut out on a rainy day, &c. There is no disease which presents such varieties as this, either in its mode of attack, or during its continuance. In some cases it commences by purging, in others by fits. Some have cough only, some waste, and others have moisture from the eyes and nose, without any other active symptom. Moist eyes, dulness, wasting, with slight cough, and sickness, are the common symptoms that betoken its approach. Then purging comes on, and the moisture from the eyes and nose froma mere mucus becomes pus, or matter. There is also frequently sneezing, with a weakness in the loins. When the disease in this latter case is not speedily removed, universal palsy comes on. During the progress of the complaint, some dogs have fits. When one fit succeeds another quickly, the recovery is extremely doubtful. Many dogs are carried off rapidly by the fits, or by purging; others waste gradually from the running from the nose and eyes, and these cases are always accompanied with great marks of putridity. 6656. The cure. In the early stages of the complaint give emetics; they are peculiarly useful. A large spoonful of common salt, dissolved in three spoonfuls of warm water, has been recommended; the quantity of salt being increased according to the size of the dog, and the difficulty of making him to vomit. While a dog remains strong, one every other day is not too much: the bowels should be kept open, but active purging should be avoided. In case the complaint should be accompanied with excessive looseness, it should be immediately stopped by balls made of equal parts of gum arabic, prepared chalk, and conserve of roses with rice milk as food. Two or three grains of James's powder may be advantageously given at night, in cases where the bowels are not affected, and in the cases where the matter from the nose and eyes betokens much putridity, we have witnessed great benefits from balls made of what is termed Friars balsam, gum guaiacum, and chamomile flowers in powder: but the most popular remedy is a powder prepared and vended under the name of Distemper Powder, with instructions for the use of it. Dogs, in every stage of the disease, should be particularly well fed. A seton we have not found so useful as is generally supposed; where the nose is much stopped, rubbing tar on the upper part is useful, and when there is much stupidity, and the head seems much affected, a blister on the top is often serviceable.

6657. Fits. Dogs are peculiarly subject to fits. These are of various kinds, and arise from various causes. In distemper, dogs are frequently attacked with convulsive fits, which begin with a champing of the mouth and shaking of the head, gradually extending over the whole body. Sometimes an active emetic will stop their progress, but more generally they prove fatal. Worms are often the cause of fits in dogs. These deprive the animal wholly of sense; he runs wild till he becomes exhausted, when he gradually recovers, and perhaps does not have one again for some weeks. Confinement produces fits and likewise costiveness. Cold water thrown over a dog will generally remove the present attack of a fit; and for the prevention of their future recurrence it is evident, that the foregoing account of causes must be attended to.

6658. Inflamed bowels. Dogs are very subject to inflammation of their bowels, from costiveness, from cold, or from poison. When inflammation arises from costiveness it is in general very slow in its progress, and is not attended with very acute pain, but it is characterised by the want of evacuation and the vomiting of the food taken, though it may be eaten with apparent appetite. In these cases the principal means to be made use of, are the removal of the constipation by active purging, clysters, and the warm bath. Calomel with aloes forms the best purge. But when the inflammation may be supposed to arise from cold, then the removing of any costiveness that may be present is but a se. condary consideration. This active kind of inflammation is characterised by violent panting, total rejection of food, and constant sickness. There is great heat in the belly, and great pain; it is also accompa. nied with great weakness, and the eyes are very red. The bowels should be gently opened with clysters, but no aloes or calomel should be made use of. The belly should be blistered, having first used the warm bath. When the inflammation arises from poison, there is then constant sickness, the nose, paws, and ears are cold, and there is a frequent evacuation of brown or bloody stools. Castor oil should be given, and clysters of mutton broth thrown up, but it is seldom any treatment succeeds.

6659. Inflamed lungs. Pleurisy is not an uncommon disease among dogs. It is sometimes epidemic, carrying off great numbers. Its attack is rapid, and it generally terminates in death on the third day, by a great effusion of water in the chest. It is seldom that it is taken in time, when it is, bleeding is useful, and blisters may be applied to the chest.

6660. Madness. The symptoms of madness are concisely summed up by Daniel, in the following words: " at first the dog looks dull, shews an aversion to his food and company, does not bark as usual, but seems to murmur; is peevish and apt to bite strangers; his ears and tail drop more than usual, and he appears drowsy; afterwards he begins to loll out his tongue and froth at the mouth, his eyes seeming heavy and watery : if not confined he soon goes off, runs panting along with a dejected air, and endeavors to bite any one he meets. If the mad dog escapes being killed, he seldom runs above two or three days, when he dies exhausted with heat, hunger, and disease. As this is a subject of no slight importance, we shall stand excused for introducing the criteria as described by Blaine, whose account of the disease, founded on long experience and attentive observation, is calculated to remove many unfounded and dangerous prejudices relative to it. He describes it as commencing sometimes by dullness, stupidity, and retreat from observation; but more frequently, particularly in those dogs which are immediately domesticated around us, by some alteration in their natural habits; as a disposition to pick up and swallow every minute object on the ground; or to lick the parts of another dog incessantly; or to lap his own urine, &c. About the second or third day the disease usually resolves itself into one of two types. The one is called raging, and the other dumb madness. These distinctions are not however always clear; and to which is owing so much discrepancy in the accounts given by different persons of the disease.

6661. The raging madness, by its term, has led to an erroneous conclusion, that it is accompanied with violence and fury; which, however, is seldom the case: such dogs are irritable and snappish, and will commonly fly at a stick held to them; and are impatient of restraint: but they are seldom violent except when irritated or worried. On the contrary, till the last moment they will often acknowledge the voice of their master and yield some obedience to it. Neither will they usually turn out of their way to bite human persons; but they have an instinctive disposition to do it to dogs; and in a minor degree to other animals also: but as before observed, seldom attack mankind without provocation. 6662. Dumb madness is so called, because there is seldom any barking heard, but more particularly, because the jaw drops paralytic, and the tongue lolls out of the mouth, black, and apparently strangulated: a strong general character of the disease, is the disposition to scratch their bed towards their belly; and equally so is the general tendency to eat trash, as hay, straw, wood, coals, dirt, &c. and it should be remembered, that this is so very common and so invariable; that the finding these matters in the stomach after death, should always render a suspicion formed of the existence of the disease, confirmed into certainty. Blane is also at great pains to disprove the notion generally entertained, that rabid dogs are averse to water; and neither drink or come near it. This error he contends has led to most dangerous results; and is so far from true, that mad dogs from their heat and fever are solicitous for water, and lap it eagerly. When the dumb kind exists in its full force, dogs cannot swallow what they attempt to lap; but still they will plunge their heads in it, and appear to feel relief by it: but in no instance out of many hundreds, did he ever discover the smallest aversion to it. He lays very great stress on the noise made by rabid dogs, which he says is neither a bark nor a howl, but a tone compounded of both. It has been said by some that this disorder is occasioned by heat or bad food, and by others that it never arises from any other cause but the bite. Accordingly this malady is rare in the northern parts of Turkey, more rare in the southern provinces of that empire, and totally unknown under the burning sky of Egypt. At Aleppo, where these animals perish in great numbers, for want of water and food, and by the heat of the climate, this disorder was never known. In other parts of Africa, and in the hottest zone of America, dogs are never attacked with madness. Blaine knows of no instance of the complaint being cured, although he has tried to their fullest extent, the popular remedies of profuse bleedings, strong mercurial and arsenical doses, vinegar, partial drowning, night shade, water plantain, &c.: he therefore recommends the attention to be principally directed towards the prevention of the malady.

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6663. The preventive treatment of rabies or madness is, according to Blaine, always an easy process in the human subject, from the immediate part bitten being easily detected; in which case the removal of the part by excision or cautery is an effectual remedy. But, unfortunately for the agriculturist, it is not easy to detect the bitten parts in cattle, nor in dogs; and it would be therefore most desirable if a certain internal preventive were generally known. Dr. Mead's powder, the Ormskirk powder, sea bathing, and many other nostrums are deservedly in disrepute while a few country medicines, but little known beyond their immediate precincts, have mantained some character. Conceiving that these must all possess some ingredient in common, he was at pains to discover it; and which he appears to have realized by obtaining among others the composition of Webb's Watford drink, In this mixture, which is detailed below, he considers the active ingredient to be the buxus or box, which has been known as a prophylactic as long as the times of Hippocrates and Celsus, who both mention it. The recipe detailed below has been administered to nearly three hundred animals of different kinds, as horses, cows, sheep, swine, and dogs: and appears to have succeeded in nineteen out of every twenty cases where it was fairly taken and kept on the stomach. It appears also equally efficacious in the human subject; in which case he advises the extirpation of the bitten parts also. The box preventive is thus directed to be prepared:

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chop these fine, and boil in a pint of water to half a pint; strain carefully, and press out the liquor very firmly; put back the ingredients into a pint of milk, and boil again to half a pint; strain as before; mix both liquors, which forms three doses for a human subject. Double this quantity is proper for a horse or cow. Two thirds of the quantity is sufficient for a large dog; half for a middling sized, and one third for a small dog. Three doses are sufficient, given each subsequent morning fasting; the quantity directed being that which forms these three doses. As it sometimes produces strong effects on dogs, it may be proper to begin with a small dose, but in the case of dogs we bold it always prudent to increase the dose till effects are evident, by the sickness, panting, and uneasiness of the dog. In the human subject, where this remedy appears equally efficacious, we have never witnessed any unpleasant or active effects, neither are such observed in cattle of any kind. About forty human persons have taken this remedy, and

in every instance it has succeeded equally as with animals: but candor obliges us to notice, that in a considerable proportion of these, other means were used, as the actual or potential cautery: but in all the animals other means were purposely omitted. That this remedy, therefore, has a preventive quality, is inquestionable, and now perfectly established; for there was not the smallest doubt of the animals mentioned either having been bitten, or of the dog being mad who bit them, as great pains were in every instance taken to ascertain these points.

6664. To prevent canine madness, Pliny recommends, worming of dogs; and from his time to the present it has had, most deservedly says Daniel, its advocates. He tells us, that he has had various opportunities of proving the usefulness of this practice, and recommends its general introduction. Blaine, on the contrary, asserts, that the practice of worming is wholly useless, and founded in error; and that the existence of any thing like a worm under the tongue is incontestibly proved to be false; and that what has been taken for it, is merely a deep ligature of the skin, placed there to restrain the tongue in its motions. He also observes, that the pendulous state of the tongue in what is termed dumb madness, with the existence of a partial paralysis of the under jaw, by which they could not bite, having happened to dogs previously wormed, has made the inability to be attributed to this source, but which is wholly an accidental circumstance; and happens equally to the wormed and unwormed dog.

6665. Mange. This is a very frequent disease in dogs, and is an affection of the skin, either caught by contagion, or generated by the animal. The scabby mange breaks out in blotches along the back and neck, and is common to Newfoundland dogs, terriers, pointers, and spaniels, and is the most contagious. The cure should be begun by removing the first exciting cause, if removable, such as filth or poverty; or, as more general the contrary (for both will equally produce it), too full living. Then an application should be made to the parts, consisting of sulphur and sal ammoniac: tar-lime-water will also assist. When there is much heat and itching, bleed and purge. Mercurials sometimes assist, but they should be used with caution; dogs do not bear them well.

6666. Worms. Dogs suffer very much from worms, which, as in most animals, so in them, are of several kinds; but the effects produced are nearly similar. In dogs having the worms the coat generally stares; the appetite is ravenous, though the animal frequently does not thrive; the breath smells, and the stools are singular, sometimes loose and flimsy, at others hard and dry; but the most evil they produce is occasional fits, or sometimes a continued state of convulsion, in which the animal lingers some time, and then dies; the fits they produce are sometimes of the violent kind, at others they exhibit a more stupid character, the dog being senseless, and going round continually. The cure consists, while in this state, in active purgatives joined with opium, and the warm bath; any rough substance given internally, acts as a vermifuge to prevent the recurrence.

6667. The worming of whelps is performed with a lancet, to slit the thin skin which immediately covers the worm; a small awl is then to be introduced under the centre of the worm to raise it up; the farther end of the worm will, with very little force, make its appearance, and with a cloth taking hold of that end, the other will be drawn out easily; care should be taken that the whole of the worm comes away without breaking, and it rarely breaks unless cut into by the lancet, or wounded by the awl.

6668. The cat (Felis catus, L.) is distinguished from the lion, tiger, leopard, and others of the genus Felis, by its annulate tail. Its habits are thus given by Linnæus. Inhabits woods of Europe and Asia; domesticated every where; when tranquil, purrs, moving the tail; when irritated is very active, climbs, spits, emits a fœtid odor; eyes shine at night, the pupil by the day a perpendicular line; by night large, round; walks with its claws drawn in; drinks sparingly; urine of the male corrosive; breath fœtid; buries its excrements; makes a horrid mewling in its amours; mews after and plays with its kittens; wags its tail when looking after prey; the lion of mice, birds, and the smaller quadrupeds; peaceful among its tribe; eats flesh and fish, refuses hot or salted things, and vegetables; washes behind its ears before a storm; back electric in the dark; when thrown up, falls on its feet; is not infested with fleas; gravid 63 days, brings three to nine young, blind nine days; delight in marum, cat-mint, and valerian.

6669. The cat is of great use in the farmery in catching mice, rats, and even birds. It is most desirable to keep males, as where females are kept, the noisy gallantry of the adjoining tom cats is exceedingly annoying.

6670. The Genet cat (Viverra genetta), is a species of weasel, with an annulate tail, and spotted blackish tawny body. It is a native of Asia, Spain, and France; is mild and easily tamed, and answers all the purposes of a cat at Constantinople and other places.

6671. The ferret (Mustella ferro, L., fig. 709.), is an animal of the weasel and polecat kind, distinguished by its red fiery eyes. It is a native of Africa, but is tamed in Europe for the purpose of catching rabbits. It procreates twice a year, is gravid six weeks, brings from six to eight young: smells very fœtid. The ferret is very susceptible of cold, and

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must be kept in a box provided with wool, or other warm materials, and may be fed with bread and milk. Its sleep long and profound, and it awakes with a voracious appetite, which is most highly gratified by the blood of small and young animals. Its enmity to rats and rabbits is unspeakable, and when either are, though for the first time, presented to it, it seizes and bites them with the most phrensied madness. When employed to expel the rabbit from its burrows, it must be muzzled, as otherwise it will suck the blood of its victim, and instantly fall into a profound sleep, from which it will awake only to

the work of destruction, committing in the warren, where it was introduced only for its services, the most dreadful waste and havoc. It is possessed of high irritability, and when particularly excited, is attended with an odor extremely offensive.

СКАР. ІХ.

Of Animals of the Bird kind employed in Agriculture.

6672. Though poultry form a very insignificant part of the live-stock of a farm, yet they ought not to be altogether despised. In the largest farm, a few domestic fowls pick up what might escape the pigs and be lost; and on small farms, and among cottagers, the breeding and rearing of early chickens and ducks, and in some situations the rearing of turkies, and the keeping of geese, are found profitable. There are few who do not relish a new egg or a pancake, not to say the flesh of fowls; and there are some of these comforts which happily can be had in as great perfection in the cottage as in the palace. The various kinds of domestic fowls and birds which are used in agriculture, may be classed as gallinaceous, or with cleft feet; anserine, or web-footed; and birds of fancy or luxury. Before proceeding to the first division, we shall offer some remarks on poultry-hovels.

SECT. I. Of Poultry Houses and their Furniture and Utensils.

6673. The situation of the poultry house should be dry, and exposed either to the east or south-east, so as to enjoy the sun's rays in winter as soon as he appears above the horizon. Though in many cases all the commoner sorts of poultry are lodged in the same apartment, yet to be able to bestow on each species its proper treatment, they ought to be separated by divisions, and enter by separate doors. Apartments for aquatic fowls may be made in part under those of the gallinaceous tribe, and the peacock often prefers roosting on a tree, or on the roof of high buildings, when it forms an excellent watch bird to the poultry yard or farmery.

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6674. Where a complete set of poultry houses are intended, then a situation should be fixed on near or close to the farmery, and with ample space around for the fowls to disperse over in the day time, and one or more ponds for the aquatic sorts. A space thirty feet by fifty feet may be made choice of for the buildings and yard (fig. 710.); the building may be ranged along the north side, and the three other sides enclosed with a trellis or wire fence, from six to eight feet in height, and subdivided with similar fences, according to the number of apartments. The hen-house (a, and turkeyhouse (6), may have their roosts (cc), in part over the low houses for ducks (d) and geese (e), and besides these there may be other apartments (f, g, h) for hatching, or newly hatched broods, for fattening, to serve as an hospital, or for retaining, boiling, or otherwise preparing food, killing poultry, and other purposes. A flue may pass through the whole in moist or very severe weather; the walls should be built hollow in the manner already described, (6304.) which will at the same time be a saving of material; and the windows ought to have outside shutters both for excluding excessive heats and excessive colds. In every apartment there ought to be a window opposite the door in order to create a thorough draught when both are opened, and also a valve in the roof to admit the escape of the hottest and lightest air. Every door ought to have a small opening at bottom for the admission of the fowls when the door is shut. The elevation (fig. 711.) should be in a simple style, and there may be a pigeonry over the central building.

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6675. In ordinary cases, where poultry are kept on a farm merely to consume what would otherwise be lost, one or two compartments of the low range of buildings on the south side of the yard are usually devoted to them; or any dry convenient place according to the general plan of the farmery.

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