ETC. 209 



FOXHOUND AND HARRIER KENNELS, ETC. 



Unlike the greyhound kennel in many respects, that which we 

 are now considering must be adopted for from thirty to a hundred 

 couples of hounds, and the accommodation should therefore be 

 more extensive, while a less degree of protection from the weather 

 is desirable, because these hounds must be constantly exposed to 

 long-continued wind and wet, and should therefore be hardened 

 to them. 



The kennel should be placed upon some high and dry situation ; 

 the building should face the south, and there should be no large 

 trees near it. 



Nothing is more prejudicial to hounds than damp lodging, 

 rooms, a sure cause of rheumatism and mange, to which dogs are 

 peculiarly liable. I have seen them affected by rheumatism in 

 various ways, and totally incapacitated from working. Sometimes 

 they are attacked in the loins, but more often in the shoulders, 

 both proceeding either from a damp situation, damp lodging-room, 

 or damp straw, often combined with the abuse of mercury in the 

 shape of physic. In building kennels, therefore, the earth should 

 be removed from the lodging-room floor to the depth of a foot at 

 least, and in its place broken stones, sifted gravel, or cinders, 

 should be substituted, with a layer of fine coal-ashes, upon which 

 the brick floor is to be laid, in cement or hot coal-ash mortar, 

 taking care to use bricks which are not porous, or to over them 

 with a layer of cement, which last is an admirable plan. Outside 

 and close to the walls, an air-drain about three feet deep should 

 be constructed with a draining pipe of two inch-bore at the bot- 

 tom, and filled with broken stones to within six inches of the 

 surface. This drain is to be carried quite round the building, and 

 should fall into the main drain. For a roof to the building, I pre- 

 fer shingles to tiles as affording more warmth in winter and cool- 

 ness in summer ; but as slate or tiles are more agreeable to the 

 eye, a thin layer of paper placed under the tiles will answer the 

 purpose. 



Over the center of the lodging-rooms should be a sleeping-aparfr 



