THE PLAN GENERALLY ADOPTED. 189 



storatives to a man after a severe day's work ; and 

 so, no doubt, it would prove to hounds also, pro- 

 vided the dogs' coat could be rubbed thoroughly 

 dry immediately, without exposure to cold drafts ; 

 but it would take half the night to accomplish 

 this object as it ought to be done, with sixteen or 

 eighteen couples, by the exertion of huntsman and 

 feeder, unless several extra hands were employed 

 for the purpose. 



The plan generally adopted in regard to the 

 warm bath was to plunge the hounds into a large 

 wooden trough, filled with warm pot liquor from 

 the boiler, immediately on their return to the 

 kennel after hunting, keeping them immersed up to 

 their necks for a few minutes, whilst the process 

 of ablution was being carried on by the aid of a 

 rough brush, then feeding and sending them to 

 their straw pallets without further trouble, and 

 trusting to their being licked diy by one another. 

 An attempt was made in my own kennel to im- 

 prove upon this summary process, by the use of 

 sponges and rough cloths ; but failing to accom- 

 pHsh my piu-pose of getting the hounds sufficiently 

 dry within a reasonable time, the practice was dis- 

 continued, and the more readily from witnessing 

 the evil effects of this slovenly method upon a 

 neighbouring pack, whose unhealthy appearance 



