128 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [183G 



A more serious drawback to the wind-up of the season 

 arose from another source. At the beginning of January 

 it became evident that disease had attacked the hounds, 

 and by March nine couples and a half of the best of the 

 bitches and five couples of the dog hounds died. A similar 

 disorder attacked other kennels. 



From " Notitia Venatica ": 



Amongst the clog hounds, which were kept in a separate kennel, there was 

 not one single instance of the malady showing itself, although they had been 

 fed from the same trough and breathed the same air. The disease had 

 evidently been introduced amongst them by inoculation, as it was a well- 

 known fact that about three weeks or a month prior to its first appearance, 

 when hunting at Wolford Wood, the hounds were joined by a cur dog, which 

 was observed by the whipper-in to quarrel with and bite several of them. 

 By taking the precaution of separating the hoimds Avhen the madness first 

 broke out, the remainder, about fifteen couples of valuable bitches, were saved. 



[Jack Boore, kennel huntsman of the Warwickshire, was bitten by a dog 

 in a state of rabies, when administering castor oil to him. He displayed 

 extraordinary and commendable nerve, and never gave way to any dread that 

 he would go mad. A celebrated surgeon told Lord Willoughby de Broke 

 that he attributed the escape of Boore from any evil consequence to the 

 chance that some of the castor oil probably was on his hands at the time. 

 Lord Willoughby provided the men with gloves to wear while the epidemic 

 lasted, but it is thought that they were not always very particular about 

 using them. — W. R. V.] 



In the course of this season new and commodious 

 stables and kennels were erected at Shottery, within one 

 mile of Stratford-on- Avon, and after one season at Welles- 

 bourne, the establishment was removed there. 



Mr. Thornhill gave up the hounds at the end of this 

 season, and they were taken to Wellesbourne, as the lease 

 of the Butlers Marston Kennels had expired. 



The Warwickshire Hunt Ball, for 1836, was held in 

 the Shakspeare Hall, at Stratford- on- Avon, on Tuesday 

 evening, the 12th of January. The meeting was one of 

 unusual splendour and magnificence, being composed of 

 most of the noble and distinguished families in this part of 

 the county. No less than 330 personages were present. 

 The members were dressed in the uniform of the Warwick- 

 shire Hunt. Officiating stewards : Joseph Townsend, 

 Esq. ; Captain CunjTighame ; R. Barnard, Esq. ; and 

 Arthur Shirley, Esq. 



