A year's work in the KENNE[.. 49 



I will now pass on to the latter part of the hunting 

 season, when many of the young hounds will be sent 

 in from quarters. As much time as can possibly be 

 spared should be bestowed upon them, and they 

 should be led out singly for the first few days, and 

 then in couples, until they get settled and accustomed 

 to their new quarters. 



I have known huntsmen who would never tackle 

 their young hounds until the hunting season was 

 finished. This I consider a great mistake, as it 

 often leads to very little care and attention being 

 bestowed upon them at the most critical time ot 

 their existence. 



Distemper often plays sad havoc in the early 

 spring, carrying off the best of the young entry. 

 It is most disappointing to a master after all his 

 trouble to see the best of his young hounds going 

 down under this horrible complaint ; but, if it is any 

 consolation to him, he can reflect that his brother 

 masters have the same trouble, and that if it were 

 easy to breed a good pack of hounds, would not 

 some of the pleasure be taken away ? As far as my 

 experience goes, there is no preventative against 

 disterhper. My only advice is to carefully watch 

 your young hounds, and as soon as you see any 

 signs of the disease to place the puppy in a warm^ 

 comfortable lodging-room, and keep him there. 



With luck and good nursing he will pull through, 

 and when he is round the corner, be very careful 



