OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 27 



before it commences. Many people dress them 

 twice a year ; I did it, because it was the fashion ; 

 but, if ever I have the good fortune to keep 

 hounds again, I will not resume the practice. 

 Old Tom Grant, who was a capital kennel Hunts- 

 man, told me he never dressed his hounds ! and 

 they always looked well in the field throughout 

 the season. His idea was, that dressing them 

 brought off their coats at an unnatural time, 

 and hounds often dressed seldom looked well 

 after Christmas. 



The following recipe is frequently made use of 

 upon tlie Continent, particularly by the French, 

 to remove any redness or scurf from the skins of 

 dogs. It certainly has the effect of making their 

 coats look as fine as if they had been dressed, 

 without taking off the hair, and it will destroy 

 ticks and all other vermin. In short, I have 

 every reason to belie\'e it will answer all the pur- 

 poses of dressing without it's inconvenience ; at 

 the same time, the viercurial 'preparation in the 

 recipe is so very mild, that the animal runs no 

 risk of taking cold. 



Mercurial Ointment \ oz. 



Stone Brimstone (finely powdered) . | oz. 



The ingredients shovild be well rubbed ujj together, 

 and then thoroughly mixed with \ lb. of hogs-lard. 



