6o Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



lie about indefinitely in the grass-yards and 

 paddocks. 



Wherever there is drainage, manure, blood, or 

 dead flesh exposed, there will disease-germs be 

 present, with swarms of flies, rats, and other living 

 disseminators of such germs. In such conditions 

 where distemper breaks out there is every chance for 

 its unchecked spread, and in unfavourable circum- 

 stances for an increase in its normal virulence. 

 There is probably no reason why the disease should 

 not be permanently stamped out in the kennels of 

 Great Britain. But it is not enough to have the lodg- 

 ing-houses and runs kept clean ; the whole surround- 

 ings of a perfect kennel of hounds should be kept 

 as sweet and wholesome as those of a model dairy. 

 In many cases, I believe that the germs of distemper 

 are actually " fed " to puppies in the kennels 

 before they go out to walk ; and again when they 

 are returned from farms and private dwellings, 

 where they have escaped the disease owing to a 

 superior standard of cleanliness, coupled with free- 

 dom from the confinement necessarily incidental to 

 hound-kennels. 



The other scourge of kennels is that distressing 

 form of rheumatism known as " kennel lame 

 ness," which can only be combated successfully 

 by keeping the lodging-rooms absolutely dry. If 

 they are built upon the upper slope of a hill, with a 



