PUBLIC COURSING. 3'7 
serve to prepare the dog earlier in his training, is now to be dis- 
continued, because it interferes with the spirit, and will render 
him disinclined to exert himself with that fiery courage which 
is requisite for success. The slipping-work is effected by the 
aid of an assistant, who leads the greyhounds off in one direction, 
while the trainer walks to another point; and when half a mile 
apart or thereabouts the dogs are let loose, one after another, the 
trainer whistling and shouting to them, so as to excite them to 
their highest speed. The assistant should be a stranger to them, 
and it is better to buckle a stirrup-leather round his waist with 
the noose at the end of each leading-strap inserted, so that he 
may have both his hands at liberty to unbuckle the collars in 
succession. If there is a gently sloping valley composed of ground 
similar to that over which the public coursing is to take place, 
it is better to select it, as the dog then sees his trainer plainly, 
and also finishes up-hill, which is of great service in “‘ opening the 
pipes.” By means of these two kinds of work properly propor- 
tioned, and taking care not to overdo them, the dog is at last 
rendered equal to any ordinary amount of exertion; but in hardy 
animals which are allowed to eat as much as they like, the work 
which would reduce them sufficiently would make them stale in 
their joints and dull in spirit, so that it is found necessary to call 
in the aid of physic and a reduction of food. 
Since the introduction of enclosed coursing, the necessity for severe 
training has not been so great as before, but still training cannot 
be entirely dispensed with even before these particular meetings. 
If a dog, however, is moderately fit in point of flesh, a very few 
slips of half a mile or a little more are considered sufficient. 
The physic proper for a dog in training should be of such a 
nature as simply to cause an increase of his secretions, without 
rendering him liable to catch cold. Hence mercury should be 
carefully avoided ; and jalap, salts, or aloes will be found to be 
the best. Some people use emetics, but these do not reduce the 
weight of the dog, and they are solely useful in giving tone to the 
stomach, which they certainly appear to do. Even within two or 
three days of running they are often given, and will then render 
the dog lively and full of spirits, when he would otherwise be dull 
and disinclined to exert himself. The trainer, throughout, should 
