110 HOESES A^-D HOUNDS. 



consequence than many suppose. There is no necessity for ru1> 

 bing a dog all over with neatsfoot oil, as I have seen recom- 

 mended, two or three times in the year, if these little trifiesare 

 attended to. In a well conducted kennel of fox-hounds, ticks 

 and fleas have no chance of existing to any extent, if they da at 

 all, and, although persons ignorant of the great attention here 

 paid to cleanliness might suppose these vermin would be con- 

 stantly generating amongst such a number of dogs when lying 

 and sleeping together, they would be surprised to find the coat 

 of a well tended fox-hound more free from this nuisance than a 

 lady's parlour dog. With the aid of a little plain sulphur 

 sprinkled down their backs, which is to be thoroughly brushed 

 out again on the third morning, clean straw, a healthy kennel, 

 with "the occasional use of the white-washing brush on the 

 walls, our fox-hounds are seldom troubled with such unpleasant 

 visitors. 



The brush I consider a great auxiliary in promoting circula- 

 tion and keeping the skins of hounds as well as horses, in a clean 

 and healthy state, and the oftener it is used the better they will 

 look. "\Mien requiring cleaning the brush should be dipped in 

 spirits of turpentine. It ^^ill not occupy much time to brush 

 over twenty couples of hounds, and this I used to have done in 

 the summer months, whilst they were out of the kennel under 

 the shade of trees. My old kennel huntsman, who lived many 

 years with the late Mr. "Ward, generally carried a brush in his 

 coat pocket, and employed his leisure time in making his 

 favourites look smart, by brushing them over when walking 

 about the park. He was very attentive and particular as to the 

 good appearance of the pack, as we had many visitors to the ken- 

 nel during the vacation time, and, if any particular hound did 

 not look clean enough to suit his fancy, the wash tub was put 

 in requisition, and a thorough good scouring with soft soap and 

 hot water administered. The hounds subjected to this ordeal 

 were, however, wiped thoroughly dry afterwards, and then 

 brushed and combed with a small tooth comb, which the old 

 gentleman always carried in his waistcoat pocket, and I sus- 

 pect, applied as well to smooth down his own grey locks. 



In those days the warm bath after hunting was not in fashion, 

 at least in our kennel, and I have stated elsewhere that, after 

 having fairly tried the experiment, it was given up, because in 

 the cold winter months I considered its use attended with more 

 injury than benefit to the hounds, simply for this reason, that 

 they could not be thoroughly dried afterwards, except at the 

 expense of much more time and labour than could be con- 

 veniently spared. That which cannot be well done is scarcely 



