128 DRESSING HOUNDS. 



to do, although relating to birds instead of 



hounds — 



Ducks hatched in June 

 Aren't worth an old tune. 



At any rate, 1 never had any luck with late whelps, 

 which were often crooked in their legs, weakly, 

 and soft in their constitutions, and always more 

 liable to distemper. If foul in their skins, or tor- 

 mented by ticks and fleas (those pests of old and 

 dirty kennels), the brood bitches may be dressed 

 over with three parts rape oil and one of spirits of 

 turpentine, reduced to the consistency of cream, 

 with yellow or black sulphur, a month or three 

 weeks before whelping — no other ingredient is 

 necessary — but the day before dressing, all hounds 

 require a good dose of physic ; syrup of buck- 

 thorn, with Ethiop's mineral, may be mixed up in 

 their food, when they are to be fed late in the 

 evening, and half an ounce of Epsom salts given the 

 next morning, in some broth or thin lap, and, as an 

 alterative, equal quantities of sulphur and cream 

 of tartar may be administered twice a- week. 



Eleas and ticks being generated by filthy beds, 

 the benches in every kennel should be well brushed 

 over with a stiff" besom every alternate morning at 

 the least, if not every day, and all the dust well 



