THE HOUND 51 



old saying that prevention is better than cure, and 

 if you will only keep your hounds healthy they 

 will require very little doctoring. The three 

 most important things to observe in keeping 

 them healthy are fresh air, exercise, and cleanli- 

 ness. You might reply that every one must 

 know this to be as necessary to the welfare of 

 the dog as it is to the human being ; but though 

 people may know, they seem to forget very often. 

 Few fox-hound kennels are guilty of want of 

 cleanliness, but in a great many the time allotted 

 for exercise is much too short. By fresh air and 

 exercise I do not mean ventilation in the kennels 

 and getting the pack in condition, but having 

 them out of doors and walking them about. It 

 is the usual custom to walk hounds out early in 

 the morning, and with the exception of a few 

 minutes after being fed they never get another 

 airing until the following morning. When horse 

 exercise begins they are more in the open air, 

 but they then get only three hours instead of 

 eight. Of course it is rather difficult to arrange, 

 as the men have other duties to perform; but I 

 am speaking of what is best for the welfare of 

 the hound, and I say that he should be out in 



