OF INTEREST AND AMUSEMENT 111 



A very few days' confinement plays the very mis- 

 chief with a growing puppy, and, sooner than shut 

 one up because he chases a fowl, transplants a shrub, 

 or digs a grave in the tennis court, I would send him 

 back to kennels. 



But for all these sins of puppyhood there is a 

 remedy, and, of course, great watchfulness is required 

 in order that bad habits may be checked at once. 

 Would that one could say the same of their physical 

 deficiencies ! Why do some have open feet, and what 

 can be done to improve them? Why should some 

 be swine-chopped ? — a defect for which there is, alas ! 

 no remedy. And then their accidents ! What collie 

 or terrier ever cuts his foot and gets "a toe down"? 

 When did any other of the canine species break his 

 stern or get his eye struck out by the stable cat ? 

 — an accident which I have twice known to happen. 

 And their ailments ! That distemper ! Take that 

 first ! When are we going to get any reliable cure 

 for that ? When is the microbe going to be captured 

 which shall point the way to immunity by inocula- 

 tion? But why should distemper visit foxhounds ten 

 times more severely than it does other sporting dogs ? 

 What anxiety the fell disease gives to us who walk 

 a couple for the Master ! But think of the anxiety 

 of Master and huntsman, who have often twenty 

 couples down with it at the same time ! 



And then the yellows ! I have known a M.F.H. 

 who very closely supervises everything connected with 

 the kennel, to declare that he dreads the attacks of 

 yellows more than he does distemper ; and I know 

 of one place in a neighbouring county where it is 



