62 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



of washiag tliem after work : while I practised it, tlie hounds were per- 

 i'ectly sound ; but kennel lameness having shown itself upon the hounds 

 beino- placed in a new lodging-room, which was built at a short distance 

 from the one previously used, I desisted from the practice ; and when 

 occupying another kennel at ten miles' distance, where the pack was 

 most grievously affected with that disease during the winter months, 

 Avashing even their feet after work was entirely dispensed with. The 

 lameness, however, eyen continued to increase, which circumstance con- 

 vinced me, that selecting an improper situation when building the kennel 

 is the sole cause of the existence of this most dreadful curse upon hound- 

 flesh, and that the practice of Avashing has nothing to do Avhatever with 

 it. This opinion about Avashing was afterAvards confirmed when I hunted 

 the Holderness country. 



The benches may be made of cast-iron or Avood : the closer they arc 

 to the ground the better, proAnded there is room for ventilation and 

 cleaning out, as tired hounds Avill prefer sleeping on the bricks to the 

 trouble of climbing up, if they are too high, and emptying themselves on 

 the beds instead of jumping oft", when tired after work. Cast-iron has 

 been recommended as being free from vermin, and more durable ; but 

 they are more expensive at first cost. And I have heard from those 

 that have used them that the hounds more frequently become lamed 

 Avhen getting on to them than Avhen made of wood ; but even Avhere 

 wooden benches are used they should be l)ound Avith iron, or the hounds, 

 especially in summer, AAall soon destroy them by gnaAving the edges of 

 them. They may be either placed round the room or in the centre, 

 allowing a free passage by the side of the walls. There are advocates 

 for both plans ; but I should think it less likely that the hounds should 

 be affected by damp Avhen aAvay from the Avails. The circular benches 

 are considered by some as a modern invention ; but I saAV the system 

 practiced in Mr. John Warde's kennel nearly tAventy years ago. 



Some lodging-rooms are Avhite-washed only once during the year ; but 

 it should be done much more frequently. The objection to their being 

 damp for the hounds to enter may be easily remedied by lighting a fire 

 in them during this necessary operation, Avhich may be removed a short 

 time before they are occupied. There are stoves made on purpose for 

 airing damp stables, kennels, &c., Avith a long flue to conduct the smoke 

 out through the AvindoAV. If a stove is not at hand, the easiest method 

 is to turn the benches carefully up, and form a fire-place of loose bricks 

 in the centre, placed diagonally : open the AvindoAVs and keep the door 

 shut. No lodging-room which has been long unoccupied should be ever 

 used unless it has been w^ell aired for a Avhole day ; it is certain to be 

 more or less damp ; and nothing is more likely to produce that disease 

 called the yellows, or jaundice, in hounds than lying in a damp place : 

 amongst the puppies it is almost certain to produce distemper. The 

 building a noAv kennel is attended Avith a very great expense, and fre- 

 quently with a very considerable sacrifice, as after a fcAV years in many 

 instances, from unforeseen events, it becomes useless for the purpose for 

 Avhich it Avas intended. If a hunt committee arc about building one by 

 subscription, care should be taken to select such a situation that it may 



