Kennels. i8i 



general condition of the body can be noted at a 

 glance by one accustomed to it, but many minor 

 troubles can be brought to sight by the hand. 

 After each run a careful examination should be 

 made of every hound participating in the run. 

 Holding hound with one hand by the muzzle, ex- 

 amine eyes, feel ears, place back of hand to nose, 

 run the hand down each leg, squeezing the foot, 

 and examining pads and stoppers. Remove 

 thorns or foreign substances which are likely to 

 set up inflammation, and incapacitate hound from 

 next hunt. Look for barb wire cuts, wood ticks, 

 burs, and feel texture of coat and general condi- 

 tion of body. 



In handling strange hounds, attract their at- 

 tention and look them straight in the eye. When 

 irritated or angry, the pupil invariably dilates. 

 Advance the back of the hand and let the hound 

 smell of it before taking hold of him; do not 

 either withdraw the hand or take hold of him 

 suddenly. If he has a vicious or surly disposi- 

 tion, remember kindness and consideration, by 

 appealing to his sympathetic nature, will accom- 

 plish more than force. 



If necessary to mark hounds for purposes of 

 identification, I consider the best plan is to brand 

 them. This should be done on the foreshoulder, 

 the brand made of quarter-inch iron, the brand- 

 ing surface dressed down to one-eighth. The 

 letters should be two and a quarter inches long 



