78 NOTITIA VBNATICA. 



many I have cured, or rather fancied I have cured, and hundreds I have 

 seen sink under the disease, even when they have been attended with 

 the strictest care and attention. Vaccination was considered a few 

 years since as a certain preventive, but I have been credibly informed 

 that the disciples of this foolish doctrine are daily on the decrease. The 

 only trial I have ever given this remedy failed, as the puppies upon which 

 I operated all sickened soon after and died. They were a litter of four 

 spaniels, and were vaccinated inside the flap of the ears : the incisions 

 inflamed and crusted over, but whether they were good and genuine cow- 

 pock pustules I was unable to determine. Numerous other sportsmen 

 with Avhom I am acquainted have given vaccination a fair trial, but the 

 results have been by no means satisfactory. When very young puj^pies 

 are attacked vrith distemper, the only remedy is to administer gentle 

 dozes of castor oil, keep them very clean and moderately cool, and 

 nature must do the rest. Huntsmen difler as to the keeping young 

 hounds, when sufiering from distemper, warm or cold ; I should recom- 

 mend them to be kept cool, provided they were not starved, and at the 

 same time that the ventilation should be pure and free. In May, 1840, 

 I visited the late Duke of Cleveland's kennels at Raby, about a fort- 

 night previous to the sale of his Grace's hounds at York, to the tune of 

 Mr. Tattersall's hammer. Upon my entering the lodging-room of the 

 young hounds, who were stretched about in all directions, looking like 

 suft'erers from the plague in the streets of Alexandria, the whole of the 

 windows being open, and rain accompanied by a west wind driving in, 

 which gave the place more the character of a dairy or butcher's slaugh- 

 ter-house than a kennel, I remarked to the feeder, the only person 

 about the premises, that I thought the puppies full cool and airy, but the 

 only answer I got was — "Us always keeps 'em so." I can only add 

 that most of them died between that day and the day of the sale. 

 Neither huntsman nor Avhipper-in was in attendance ; and how forcibly 

 the old saying about " the master's eye, <fec.," struck at the moment ! 

 These hounds were kept cool enough to be sure ; but when coolness is 

 recommended, it is understood that cold starvation is not imphed in the 

 treatment. When puppies are grown to a larger size, other attempts 

 may be made to eftect a cm-c ; but although I have tried many 

 recipes with partial success, the only and best system to pursue is the fol- 

 lowing : — Be beforehand Avith the thseasc if you can, and upon the first 

 symptom, which is a dry cough or husk, attended with loss of ajjpetitc 

 and lassitude, bleed freely, but not after any discharge has shown itself 

 at the nose. Then give the foUowiiig ]»ills : to a small dog one pill, but 

 to a large dog two pills. Remember, there is a vast diflerence between 

 a terrier and a hound. Each pill should contain of — 



Calomel three grains 



Compound powder of antimony four grains 



Camphor half a drachm. 



Give one at daylight, and tie the dog's head up for three hours, if he is 

 strong enough to stand so long ; if he is weak, he must be watched by 

 a trusty person to sec if he throws ofi" his pill, and if he does he must 



