692 
KENNEL LAMENESS. 
It will be remembered by our sporting readers, that during the 
hunting season of 1842-43, and also during the past season (though 
in a somewhat less degree), the Royal buckhounds were seriously 
attacked by what is called “ kennel lameness;” a disorder, the ori- 
gin of which, as well as the means of the cure, has puzzled the 
most experienced huntsmen and managers of hounds throughout 
the kingdom. It was the opinion of Mr. Davis, her Majesty’s 
huntsman, as well as of several scientific gentlemen who were con- 
sulted on the subject, that this disorder was caused by the water 
which supplied the kennel passing through a considerable length of 
leaden pipe, and taking up, in its progress from the spring on Ascot- 
heath, a portion of lead, the deleterious effects of which are so well 
known when taken inwardly by either man or beast. It was then 
determined by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests that the 
water should be analyzed, in order to ascertain if any lead was the 
cause of the lameness that was then so general throughout the 
pack. The necessary experiments to be made were confided to 
Mr. Philips, the well-known chemist, who discovered, upon analy- 
sis, that the water was so impregnated with lead, as not only to 
render it extremely injurious to the human system, but that it con- 
tained the poison in sufficient quantities to produce paralysis upon 
those persons who were in the constant habit of drinking it. The 
commissioners, upon receiving this report from Mr. Philips, imme- 
diately ordered the whole of the leaden pipes through which the 
water passed from the spring to the kennel to be removed, and 
earthen pipes substituted ; and it now remains to be seen, at the 
approaching hunting season, whether it may be fairly presumed 
that the lead detected in the water under the old plan of supplying 
the kennel was or was not the occasion of lameness in the Royal 
pack. The water from the source of the spring, and before its 
coming into contact with the old leaden leaden pipes, was analyzed 
by Dr. Ryan, but it was not found to contain one particle of carbon- 
ate of lead. Another examination of the water, after it had 
passed through the pipes on to the Royal kennel, was afterwards 
made by Dr. Ryan, when, upon an imperial pint of this water 
being evaporated to dryness, it was found to yield two grains of 
solid matter, viz. — 
Grains. 
Carbonate of lead 164 
Organic matter, and traces of chlorides of sodium and 
magnesium and sulphate of lime .038 
.202 
Excess in the course of analysis 002 
