DOGS t THEIR MANAGEMENT. 239 



being entirely removed, the animal may be treated as 

 advised for indigestion. 



Sporting dogs are frequently sent to me suffering under 

 what the proprietors are pleased to term " Foul." The 

 history of these cases is soon known. They have been 

 withdrawn from the field at the close of the season, and 

 have ever since been shut up in close confinement, while 

 the working diet has been persevered with. The poor 

 beast is supposed capable of vegetating until the return 

 of the period for shooting requires his services. He 

 remains chained up till he acquires every outward disease 

 to which his kind are liable ; and then, when he stinks 

 the place out, his owner is surprised at his condition, 

 pronouncing his misused animal to be " very foul." 

 " Foul " is not one disease, but an accumulation of disor- 

 ders brought on by the absence of exercise with a stimu- 

 lating diet. The sporting dog, when really at work, may 

 have all the flesh it can consume ; but at the termination 

 of that period its food should consist wholly of vegetable 

 substances, while a little exercise daily is necessary, not 

 to health, but absolutely for life. The dog with " foul " 

 requires each seat of disease to be treated separately ; 

 beginning of course with the dressing for mange or for 

 lice, one or the other of which the animal is certain to 

 display. 



