230 KENNELS AND KENNEL >L\NAGEMENT. 



in various ways, and totally incapacitated from working ; some- 

 times they are attacked in the loins, but more often in the 

 shoulders, both proceeding either from a damp situation, damp 

 lodging-room, or damp straw, often combined with the abuse 

 of mercury in the shape of physic. In building kennels, there- 

 fore, the earth should be removed from the lodofinff-room floor 

 to the depth of a foot at least, and in its place broken stones, 

 sifted gravel, or cinders, should be substituted, with a layer of 

 fine coal-ashes, upon which the brick floor is to be laid, in 

 cement or hot coal-ash mortar, taking care to use bricks which 

 are not porous, or to cover them with a layer of cement, which 

 last is an admirable plan. Outside the walls and close to them, 

 an air-drain about three feet deep should be constructed with 

 a draining pipe of two inches bore at the bottom, and filled 

 up with broken stones to within six inches of the surface. 

 This drain is to be carried quite round the building, and should 

 fall into the main sewer. For a roof to the building I prefer 

 thatch to tiles as afibrding more warmth in winter and coolness 

 in summer; but as slate or tiles are more agreeable to the eye, 

 a thin layer of reed placed under the tiles will answer the 

 purpose. 



Over the centre of the lodging-rooms should be a sleeping- 

 apartment for the feeder, which being raised above the level 

 of the other roof will break the monotony of its appearance. 

 At the rear of the kennel should be the boiling-house, feeding- 

 court, straw-house, and separate lodgings for bitches. In front 

 of the kennels, and extending round to the back door of the 



