PHYSIC. 49 



alone will not. Much also depends on the good- 

 ness of the meal itself, which, I believe, is not 

 often attended to. If you do not use your own, 

 you should buy a large quantity of it any time 

 before harvest, and keep it by you, — there is no 

 other certainty, I believe, of having it old ; 

 which is more material than perhaps you are 

 aware of. I have heard that a famous Cheshire 

 huntsman feeds his hounds with wheat, which 

 he has found out to be the best food. He gives 

 it them with the bran. It would, I believe, 

 cause no little disturbance in many neighbour- 

 hoods, if other sportsmen were to do the same. 



I am not fond of bleeding hounds, unless I 

 see they want it ; though it has long been a 

 custom in my kennel to physic them twice a 

 year; after they leave off hunting, and before 

 they begin. It is given in hot weather, and at 

 an idle time. It cools their bodies, and with- 

 out doubt is of service to them. If a hound is 

 in want of physic, I prefer giving it in balls.* 

 It is more easy to give him in this manner the 

 quantity he may want, and you are moi'e certain 

 that he takes it. In many kennels, I believe, 



* One pound of antimony, four ounces of sulphur, and 

 sj^rup of buckthorn q. s. to give it the consistency of a ball. 

 Each ball weighs about seven drachms. 

 D 



