THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 197 



fed all at once, but allowed to decline or return to their 

 food according to inclination. As soon as the pack is 

 in kennel, on returning from hunting, previously to 

 being fed, every hound should be immersed in a warm 

 bath of pot hquor ; the temperature should be kept up 

 by continual supplies from the boiling-house. One or 

 two large tubs will serve for the purpose. The whip- 

 pers-in, provided with muzzles for such as are refrac- 

 tory, should plunge them in up to their necks, and 

 detain them at least a minute or two, while the hunts- 

 man is summoning to the feeding-trough such as have 

 undergone the process of ablution. The advantage of 

 pot Hquor over hot water, is, that it induces them to hck 

 themselves, and each other, all over ; and the healing 

 properties of a dog's tongue are far superior to any 

 other application, for wounds and sores. The relaxation 

 of the warm bath, and the steaming evaporation which 

 proceeds from their bodies, prevent stiffness, relieve pain 

 from blows, and produce a state of enjoyable refreshment. 

 Some hounds appear so to relish the proceeding that 

 they wait with apparent anxiety for their turn. Two 

 large scrubbing-brushes may be well employed at the 

 same time, in cleansing them from the accumulated mud 

 and dirt, as it is not till they are thoroughly clean that 

 cuts, bruises, wounds, thorns, &c. &c. can be properly at- 

 tended to. Friar's balsam is useful enough as a healing 

 application to a green wound, which it may be necessary 



