44 cocker's manual. 



required for seven or eight days before he can be brought to the hit,. 

 at least such is the regime pursued by our first feeders and is pretty 

 generally as follows : His tail and spurs being cut short he is put into- 

 his pen, and the first day received no food; second, he has his physic, 

 consisting of cream of tartar or jalap, or both united, in the dose of 

 about five grains of each ; or if it be a very fat and large fowl, the 

 dose may be increased to ten grains of cream of tartar. These are 

 given him mixed in fresh butter ; this generally purges briskly and 

 scours out the intestines. Immediately after the physic is given and 

 before it affects him he is placed on loose straw or a grass plat with 

 another cock and allowed to spar with him, the boots or muffles being- 

 previously tied on their short spurs. In this way he is exercised till 

 he is a little weary; he is then returned to his pen. Before putting 

 him up it is necessary to examine his mouth to see if he has been 

 picked or wounded in the inside, as'such wound is apt to canker. To- 

 prevent this it is washed with a little vinegar and brandy. He is now 

 allowed his warm nest to work off his physic. This is a diet made of 

 warm ale or sweet wort, and bread in it, with a little sugar candy, or 

 bread and milk and sugar candy, a large tea cup full. He is then 

 shut up close till the next morning, or about twenty-four hours. If 

 the weather is cold the room should be made warm, or a blanket 

 placed over the pen ; if in warm weather he may be clipped out for 

 fighting ; but if the weather is cold this should be left till the time of 

 fighting. The room should be kept dark except at feeding. Early on 

 the following morning, that is about the third day, his pen must be 

 cleaned out from the effects of the physic, etc., and clean dry straw 

 put in ; this should be done every day. His feet should be washed 

 and wiped clean before he is returned to his pen. If his feet feel cold 

 his pen should be made warmer. He is next to be allowed some 

 bread; that is, a sort of bread made of. ingredients in the following 

 proportions : about three pounds of fine flour, two eggs, four whites 

 of eggs and a little yeast ; this is kneaded with a sufficiency of water 

 for a proper consistency, and well baked. Some add, as a great secret 

 a small number of annis seeds or a little cinnamon. Of this bread as 

 much as would fill a tea cup, cut into pieces, is given him twice that 

 day ; no water is allowed him then, as it is considered highly injuri- 

 ous at the early part of the feeding. On the fourth day early in the 

 morning he should receive half a tea cup of good barley and a little 



