50 . LORD KINTORe's HOUNDS. 



situation was the sole cause of kennel lameness existing 

 in hounds ; his were invariably afflicted with the malady 

 if they remained at Beilby after the damps of autumn 

 came on, but by being removed to his hunting kennel 

 five miles distant from that place, they were pre- 

 vented from being attacked by this dreadful complaint. 

 To such an extent has this rheumatic affection shown 

 itself during some seasons at the Beilby kennels, that 

 the bitches heavy with whelp when running at large, 

 have been grievously attacked, and even puppies when 

 only a month or six weeks old have been completely 

 distorted in their limbs, and consequently destroyed. 

 Lord Kintore's hounds have also been martyrs to this 

 curse on hound-flesh for a long period, and his lordship 

 after fighting against it for ten years, is fully convinced 

 that the situation of his kennel at Gask is the only cause 

 for the existence of kennel lameness in his pack. 

 I am happy to say that the kennel has been con- 

 demned, and a new one is to be erected at some 

 distance from the old site. I could enumerate many 

 kennels subject to this dreadful calamity, even where 

 they are situated upon healthy looking spots of ground, 

 and I could also mention some instances where they 

 are to all appearance damp, but which are, at the same 

 time, free from all sorts of diseases. It is truly dis- 

 gusting to see what make-shift places some masters of 

 hounds are content with by way of kennels, where the 

 floors not even covered with bricks are allowed to 

 remain saturated with filth and urine. I always make 

 it a rule when travelling, to visit all kennels conti- 

 guous to my line of march, whether in England or on 

 the continent, and during these inspections I have 



