LETTER V. 53 



white leiither, and use it as a plaster till the wound is 

 healed. This is a most excellent recipe for boils or 

 swellings in man and beast, which require to be brought 

 to a head and healed. For bad cuts or bites, fomenting 

 first with some warm liquor from the flesh copper, and a 

 small quantity of salt dissolved in it, is the safest and 

 surest way to ensure a cure ; and this alone, with the 

 dog's tongue, will be sufficient in many cases. In others 

 Fryar's Balsam, with an equal proportion of brandy, may 

 be applied. 



In flinty countries, where hounds' feet are much 

 bruised, I have known huntsmen adopt the barbarous 

 practice of cutting the ball of the foot, by which means 

 the hound is totally incapacitated from working for some 

 days, at least. Foment first with warm water or liquor 

 until the inflammation subsides, and then apply some 

 spermaceti or elder ointment ; on the following day alum 

 or salt water to harden the foot. 



For sprains or rheumatism the following is a good 

 recipe : — 3oz. of spirits of wine, 4oz. of spirits of w^hite 

 lavender, 4oz. of oil of origanum, and ^oz. of camphor. 



The best food for hounds is unquestionably good old 

 oatmeal, a stock of which should be kept in hand. The 

 best time to lay it in for the ensuing season is about 

 Christmas, when it is generally cheapest. The Irish and 

 Scotch is considered superior to the English. If pressed 

 down in casks, or placed in good binns, it will keep well 

 for a twelvemonth or two years. I have tried wheat 

 meal, Indian corn, and barley. These may do in the 

 summer months, but hounds cannot work upon them in 

 the hunting season as upon oatmeal. No race of men are 

 more hardv, or can do more work than the Scotch la- 



