THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 185 



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 liquor over hot water, is, that it induces them to lick 

 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 

 to bind up ; but, for all cuts or strains of more than 

 ordinary severity, the sovereign remedy, hot water, 

 will be found to answer, beyond all others, in allaying 

 inflammation ; not only preventing the increase of evil, 

 but, in many instances, serving in itself for a cure. In 

 mentioning its wonderful effect upon lameness in horses, 

 I should have added the fact, that if broken knees are 



