18 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



expect farmers, or even cottagers, will put up with 

 the raking and scouring of their fields and pre- 

 mises? and loth to say, a foxhound mother with 

 a litter a month old is somewhat shark-like as to 

 voracity, not being very particular whether she 

 snaps up a young lamb out of the farmer's fold, or 

 steals a leg of mutton from the shop of the village 

 butcher. But then you must remember such 

 depredations are not committed for the gratifica- 

 tion of their own appetites, but from the natural 

 instinct to supply the wants of their progeny, when 

 requiring stronger aliment than their mother can 

 aflford. From improper food, or injudicious treat- 

 ment, the mother's milk often loses its nutritive 

 qualities, and the juices of her body, if corrupt, 

 are imparted to her whelps. For a month previous 

 to her confinement, she should be fed sparingly 

 on flesh, and a small quantity of well -boiled man- 

 gel-wurzel or cabbage, mixed with the oatmeal 

 pudding. In using the former vegetable, great 

 caution is at first necessary, in consequence of its 

 laxative properties ; but when accustomed to it, I 

 have never found it disagree v/ith hounds. If, 

 from too long confinement in kennel, or want of 

 air and exercise, those in whelp show symptoms of 

 heat of body, by eruptions breaking out on the 

 skin, they ought to be dressed with a little sulphur 

 and rape-oil, mixed as thick as cream, ten days at 

 least before whelping, and a teaspoonful of sulphur 

 and cream of tartar given to them twice a week. 

 In cutaneous diseases, we have found the following 

 recipe very efiicacious : — 



