88 COURSING 



Butchers form a class that are in great request, and if they have 

 the necessary knowledge, and take a personal interest in their 

 charge, no better can be found, because they have plenty of good 

 food at hand, and can prepare it properly ; but if, on the other 

 hand, one's puppy is stuffed with raw scraps and offal, he is a 

 pretty sure victim of mange and eczema, and distemper will 

 hardly pass him by. The crime of chaining a greyhound up 

 is one that must be condemned most forcibly, and the watch- 

 ful eye must see that it has not been committed ; for the 

 wife of our friend, having had a dozen of her chickens de- 

 molished one fine morning, is prone to insist on the culprit 

 being so treated, and by-and-by a rheumatic, twisted-legged, 

 splay-footed, and useless creature is sent in. Unless a puppy 

 Walker has had any real experience with dogs, he should com- 

 municate with the owner or his kennelman directly he becomes 

 aware of the fact that his charge is ailing, when the matter 

 should be seen to without a moment's delay. A little knowledge 

 is a dangerous thing ; and save us from the man who, on the 

 appearance, or supposed appearance, of distemper, forces salt, 

 tobacco, and other such nostrums down our puppy's throat. 

 Another danger that threatens puppies that are walked in 

 villages and towns is that of being run over, an accident of far 

 too frequent occurrence ; there are brutes in human shape 

 who will not trouble to turn their cart-wheels aside to avoid 

 crushing to death an innocent and valuable dog standing in 

 the road or basking in the sun. 



At least once a week the head kennelman, or trainer, 

 having armed himself with a good supply of worm powders, 

 mange lotion, and other products of the canine pharmacopoeia, 

 should drive round and thoroughly overhaul all the ' walks,' 

 and, if he finds ailing puppies, should there and then supply 

 the necessary drugs and give careful instruction as to feeding. 

 In this way much mischief is avoided. Very often greyhound- 

 puppy walkers take a keen interest in their charges, not only 

 during the time they are under their care, but also when the 

 time comes for the animal to go to the slips for an important 



