TRAINING. 73 



bark, well bruised, boiled slowly in two gallons of water 

 down to one gallon, and loz. of alum dissolved in it. The 

 decoction has to be strained from the bark through a 

 cloth, and may be used over and over again. 



Such training as I have spoken of may be considered 

 as merely preliminary and general; but when the date 

 of a coursing meeting is fixed, and certain dogs are selected 

 to be entered and must be ready for the contest, the most 

 active and important work begins. The object is to have 

 the dog, at a given date, in that condition in which he 

 can best display his qualities as a Greyhound. The questions 

 for the courser and the trainer are What is such condition, 

 and how can it be best attained? 



" Stonehenge," universally recognised for a generation 

 past as the highest authority on the subject, with equal 

 strength and terseness says : " Training should not attempt 

 to produce an unnatural condition, but rather the highest 

 state of health." 



As already observed, that highest state of health, in- 

 cluding the utmost possible physical development with 

 perfect functional order which combined makes possible 

 the acme of vital energy displayed in some given direc- 

 tion, must be attained at a certain fixed date. Now here 

 comes in one of the greatest difficulties and sorest annoy- 

 ances that afflict the coursing man and his trainer. The 

 night before the coursing is fixed to commence the dogs 

 are perfect; they are all "go," full of life, with flesh firm, 

 and muscles standing out like cords, when Jack Frost 

 steps in and puts the ground in irons, and commits man 

 and dogs to idleness. It is most difficult in these circum- 

 stances to keep the dogs up to the mark, for exercise 



