218 EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT 



is the blood only that signifies, which in every 

 kind of riot should carefully be prevented.* 



My general orders to my whipper-in are, if, 

 when he rates a hound the hound does not mind 

 him, to take him up immediately, and give him 

 a severe flogging. Whippers-in are too apt 

 to continue rating, even when they find that 

 rating does not avail. There is but one way to 

 stop such hounds, which is, to get to the heads 

 of them. I also tell him never on any account 

 to strike a hound, unless the hound is at the 

 same time sensible what it is for : never to strike 

 a hound that does not deserve it, and to strike 

 those hard that do. 



It is seldom necessary to flog hounds to make 

 them obedient, since obedience is the first lesson 

 they are taught. Yet, if any are more riotous 

 than the rest, they may receive a few cuts in 

 the morning, before they leave the kennel. 



When hounds are unsteady, every possible 

 means should be taken to make them otherwise. 



* It is not meant that hounds should be suffered to con- 

 tinue on a wrong scent longer than may be necessary to 

 know that the scent is a wrong one. This passage refers to 

 page 87, where the author's meaning is more fully ex- 

 plained. It is introduced here more strongly to mark the 

 danger of encouraging hounds on a wrong scent, and in- 

 dulging them afterwards in the blood of it. 



