140 THE PRINCIPLE OF WARM BATHING. 



at the end of the season was, I think, attributable 

 to the injudicious use of the warm bath, and sub- 

 sequent exposure to cold air. In place of the 

 warm bath, therefore, I returned to my old plan 

 of the foot-bath, by passing the hounds two or 

 three times through warm water and pot liquor, 

 up to their knees only, and using a hard brush 

 to rub off the dirt sticking to their legs and 

 stomachs. 



The principle of warm bathing, when hounds 

 are tired, and torn with briars and thorns, is quite 

 right if they can be passed from the bath-room 

 into the feeding house, and thence transferred into 

 a warm lodging-room, heated by hot air, without 

 encountering any chilling currents ; and with a 

 change of dry straw, and plenty of it, I have little 

 doubt of their being all the better for their ablu- 

 tions, and more quickly renovated in strength and 

 spirits ; but lacking attention to all these particular 

 observances, about which huntsmen and feeders 

 are not disposed to be very punctilious, the warm 

 bath is of very questionable benefit as a general 

 practice. The duties of a huntsman, if properly 

 discharged, are sufficiently onerous in the common 

 way, without imposing additional and unnecessary 

 burthens upon his time and patience, and it is 

 in most cases a good maxim '' to let well alone.'* 



