340 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



pui-pose — without stint, save that of their own appetites, having 

 care to give them a sufficiency of sulphur in their water to keep 

 their bodies open. 



Well-fed, nay even rendered fat, upon this strong and hearty 

 food, and worked down into hard flesh and sound condition by 

 constant, and, toward the commencement of season, sharp and 

 fast exercise, Setters or Pointers will have raised such a stock 

 of muscle, and will be so high in courage, that they may safely 

 dispense with all solid animal food during the prevalence of 

 the shooting season. 



We have one advantage in this country over the residents of 

 Great Britain, in regard to dog-feeding, that whereas both oat 

 and barley meal are apt to heat the blood of the animal to such 

 a degree as to produce cuticular eruptions and redness, not 

 very dissimilar to mange, we possess in the meal of the maize, 

 or Indian corn, a substance admirably adapted to the food of 

 the dog ; which moreover has a tendency to act on him as a 

 slight and gentle alterative. 



This I consider to be the perfection of dog-food, and the fol- 

 lowing is the best way of preparing it. 



Take a caldron half full of water, set it over a small furnace, 

 and when boiling cast in a handful of salt : then stir in the 

 meal, keeping the water still boiling, until it has attained the 

 consistency of very thick pomdge. Remove it from the fire, 

 and let it cool gradually, running the blade of a knife round 

 the side of the pot, which will prevent its adherence to the 

 metal. When cold, it will have hardened into the consistency 

 of stiff batter pudding, and than this, either alone, or with 

 milk, butter-milk, or pot liquor, no better food can be given to 

 hunting dogs. Observe, however, that the pot liquor of ham, 

 salt-pork, salt-beef, or the like, is objectionable ; as is the fat, 

 grease or scraps of such food ; the excess of salt having a ten- 

 dency to produce a very obstinate species of mange. 



For a person who keeps several dogs, there is no better mode 

 than to let the butcher regularly supply him with sheep heads, 

 which will cost a mere trifle, at the rate of one for each dog 



