HORSES AND HOUNDS. 275 



CHAPTER XLII. 



On the management of young hounds, when first coming into kennel — Preju- 

 dices of huntsmen — Air and exercise — Fox-hunting an antidote to 

 melancholy — A few remarks on hare-hunting — Hounds best suited to 

 this sport — Hmitsmen and whipper-in — Peculiar knowledge requisite for 

 breeding hounds successfully — The late Mr. Ward — Harriers should be 

 kept strictly to then* own game. 



As the season of the year arrives when the young hounds are 

 returned from their walks to the kennel, I would remind 

 masters of hounds of the necessity of a more rational treatment 

 than generally prevails with regard to these young hopes of the 

 pack. Having before alluded to this subject, and treated gene- 

 rally of the distemper, which often makes such fearful ravages 

 among young hounds when first brought into the kennel, I 

 shall only here remark, that air and exercise are not only the 

 most necessary to keep them in health, but will be found the 

 most certain means to prevent this scourge of the canine race 

 assuming that malignant character which it often does. The 

 very fact of shutting up a lot of young hounds together within 

 four walls for weeks together, which have been accustomed up 

 to that period to the free exercise of lungs and limbs in the 

 open air, must strike any one, who for even ten minutes con- 

 siders the subject, as being not only absurd, but cruel. That it 

 has been the custom for many years, and is so still in very 

 many hunting establishments, is no argument in its favour, but 

 proves only that the master gives himself little concern about 

 the matter, and leaves it to his huntsman. Can we be sur- 

 prised, then, with so little attention on his part to the proper 

 treatment of his young hounds, to hear of the many and serious 

 losses which result from the distemper, which is actually 

 invoked by this culpable and negligent mode of treatment ! I 

 shall be told, that the hunting season not being ended, the 

 huntsman and feeder are too much occupied to have any spare 

 time to exercise the young hounds, and therefore they must do, 

 as others have done before — take their chance. So, of course, 

 they must, if such is your excuse, and you will run the risk of 

 losing several of, perhaps, your best young hounds, merely to 

 suit your huntsman's fancy, or because you do not think it 

 worth your while to adopt any remedial measures. The cost 

 of employing two extra hands for the first month — and that 

 would be the only one necessary — would amount to the large 

 sum of four pounds sterling, supposing that two meii were 



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