130 ON EXERCISE. 



they are confined to the kennel from the effects of the 

 above discipline, which will be about four days, the 

 whole of the court-yards and the floors of the lodging- 

 rooms should be carefully covered with straw, parti- 

 cularly in the doorways, to prevent them from slipping 

 and breaking their thighs, which I have known to 

 occur; the grease from their coats rendering the 

 ground as slippery as ice; sometimes I have seen a 

 portion of mercury added to the dressing, but, unless 

 the mange has shown itself, it had better be omitted, 

 as from the heat and fever occasioned by the oint- 

 ment, the hounds will be continually lying on the 

 open floors, and when under the influence of that 

 powerful mineral, animals are more likely to take 

 cold, than at any other time. By the first of August, 

 the whole of their physic, requisite to prepare them 

 for their approaching labours, should have been 

 administered, consisting of two more doses of salts 

 and sulphur, as before directed ; and after the old 

 ones have been walked two or three times into a deer 

 park and amongst hares, particularly the two and 

 three year olds having had a few extra bouts by them- 

 selves, the new entry may be taken out with them, 

 and regularly exercised until cub-hunting commences, 

 going every day, if possible, into that country where 

 the covers are situated in which they are about to 

 hunt. The exercise of hounds during the summer 

 should be slow and protracted, rather than quick, 

 particularly in the early part of that season. The 

 keeping them out with slow walking exercise does 

 their constitutions, as well as their legs infinitely more 

 good than "long trots," or "brushing gallops." The 



