166 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



covers the muscles, having the effect, 

 when the animal has been some time at 

 I est, of creating a certain degree of 

 adhesion. Thus a hound badly affected 

 with kennel lameness, on first being taken 

 out, is so stiff and sore as scarcely to be able 

 to move — a state in which I have seen so 

 many, that the remembrance is accompanied 

 with feelings of commiseration and pity that 

 would prompt me to any trouble or exertion 

 that would produce the effect of subduing the 

 complaint. When hounds thus disordered 

 have been in motion a short time, so as to 

 increase the circulation of the blood, the 

 extreme rigidity or stiffness goes off to a 

 certain extent, dependent upon the violence of 

 the attack. But paralytic affections would 

 not be attended with any such results : 

 exercise would rather tend to increase than 

 to improve the capabilities of action. 



" I have very little doubt but the severe 

 work which staghounds occasionally undergo, 

 and the numerous changes of temperature 

 which they have to contend against, are 

 causes for the aggravation of this malady. A 

 foxhound generally has some preparatory 

 exercise, besides the exertion of going to 



