THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



of as many couples of puppies eveiy year to allow for the 

 usual diminution of the entry, by malformation, under size, 

 and that banc to the kennel, tlie distemper, wliich often takes 

 oil* a third of them. As the period of gestation in bitches is 

 somewhat over two calendar months, they should, if they can 

 be spared, be put to dog in January, as then they will litter in 

 the spring, when the weatlier is comparatively warm, and the 

 puppies will come early into kennel, generally be of good size 

 and powerful, and be entered without loss of time. 



'It is said that a dog, in a state of nature, is subject to 

 few diseases, and for those he finds his cure by an instinctive 

 faculty : in a domesticated state he is subject to many, and 

 some of an awful nature, which may be classed amongst the 

 opiorohria niedicorimi, no certain remedy being discovered for 

 them. Amongst these is one called " distemper," not known 

 to our forefathers, but, at present, become a sort of periodical 

 disorder in kennels of hounds, to the destruction of thousands 

 of young ones annually. The first symptoms of this disease 

 are, generally, a dry husky cough, want of appetite, and 

 consequent loss of flesh ; extreme dulness, and a running from 

 the eyes and nose. As the disease advances, it is attended 

 with distressing twitchings of the head and, occasionally, of 

 the whole frame, while the animal becomes very weak in the 

 loins and hinder extremities, and is greatly emaciated ; convul- 

 sive fits, too, often close the scene. For the cure of this 

 disorder I venture not to prescribe; there is no specific, but 

 the severity of the disease may be diminished by lowerino- the 

 system of young hounds by gentle doses of salts when they 

 first come into kennel, and, to a great extent, successfully 

 guarded against by very great attention to their diet, cleanli- 

 ness, and exercise. 



' With respect to the age of hounds, few are found in a 

 kennel after their eighth year, and still fewer after their ninth ; 

 and not many hard-working hounds can " run up," or keep pace 

 witli the rest, after their sixth season. Hounds are in their 

 prime in the third and fourth year, but there are instances, 

 rare ones, of their hunting in their eleventh and twelfth. I 

 should place the average at four seasons. Old hounds are 

 useful in tlie field, but when they cannot run up they sliould be 

 drafted. The perfection of a pack consists in the great body 

 of it being composed of hounds quite in tlieir prime. 



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