LETTER IV. 



As I have before observed, prevention is better than 

 cure ; and where attention is paid to the diet of hounds, 

 relaxing from the high state of feeding which is required 

 in the hunting season, as soon as that season is over, the 

 strong measures resorted to in many kennels for keeping 

 hounds free from mange, and other maladies, may be 

 rendered totally unnecessary. High feeding is, with 

 both old and young hounds, highly prejudicial to their 

 health, in the spring and during the summer months, but 

 it is rather a difficult thing to convince huntsmen of this 

 fact, as they all like to see their hounds fat and in high 

 condition during the idle months. It is the practice in 

 some kennels to bleed their hounds and dress them with 

 some severe ointment, as soon as the hunting season is 

 over. 



Some few years since I paid a visit to a gentleman 

 who has been for many years a master of hounds, and is 

 so still, and a capital pack of hounds he has. Being at 

 that time from home I went to the kennel to see the 

 hounds, as a matter of course. The huntsman appeared 

 very reluctant to admit me, saying the hounds had been 

 dressed a day or two before, and were not fit to be seen. 

 All his excuses, however, would not avail ; having come 

 some distance I resolved to have a look at them. Truly 

 enough, they were not fit to be seen, for this huntsman, 

 somewhat notorious for his sharp dressings, had dressed 



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