HEALTHY FOOD 125 



being killed. This plan was adopted by the late Lord 

 Ducie (than whom a better judge of hounds or hunting 

 never existed), and no establishment is complete without 

 it. There can be no objection to horses which have been 

 killed from accidents ; but the flesh of those which have 

 died from disease should never be given to fox-hounds. 



In the autumn, when farming operations have generally 

 ceased, and the price, on the advent of winter, warns 

 small horse-keepers of the value of hay, animals, old, 

 lame, and nearly useless, of the genus equine, may be 

 readily bought up, and if not absolutely fattened, got 

 into tolerable condition for the kennel ; and it is far better 

 to give a guinea or twenty-five shillings for one of this 

 description, which may put on flesh, than twelve shillings 

 for a bag of bones, or a " stiff 'un," as my feeder used to 

 call a dead horse, rolled out of a farmer's cart, as round 

 as a beer barrel and tight as a drum. Such we were 

 obliged to take in sometimes, but they were consigned 

 to the orchard to help the growth of the apples. Old 

 ladies' pet carriage-horses, as fat and sleek as their coach- 

 man, would occasionally arrive, with " Missus's compli- 

 ments to the young Squire," to entreat that the poor 

 creatures (a misnomer) might be put out of their misery 

 (looking quite happy), which was quickly done by a 

 rifle ball being sent through their brain, when they fell 

 dead instantaneously. Upon one occasion, however, a 

 young lady's horse was sent by her papa with similar 

 instructions, because he was a little touched in the wind ; 

 and in this case I not only ventured to disobey orders, 

 but kept her pet, cured him, restored him to her again, 

 and received, as the reward of my kindness, her own 

 hand in return, which has proved the greatest blessing 

 ever bestowed on "Scrutator." 



