USE OF THE WARM BATH loi 



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 Hcked dry by one another. An attempt was 

 made in my own kennel to improve upon this summary 

 process, by the use of sponges and rough cloths ; but 

 failing to accompUsh my purpose of getting the hounds 

 sufficiently dry within a reasonable time, the practice 

 was discontinued, and the more readily from witnessing 

 the evil effects of this slovenly method upon a neighbour- 

 ing pack, whose unhealthy appearance at the end of the 

 season was, I think, attributable to the injudicious use 

 of the warm bath, and subsequent 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 ablutions 

 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 



