DISEASE AMONG THE MID-LOTHIAN FOXHOUNDS. 
43 
Edinburgh Veterinary College; 
'2.2nd October., 1862. 
Sir,—I duly received yours of the 30th September, and have delayed 
writing to you until the analytic report on the contents of the dog’s 
stomach and intestines was drawn up. Nothing poisonous has been 
found. You will confer an additional favour by supplying me with 
replies to the following interrogatories. I understand the dogs were 
taken out on Saturday morning, the 20th ult., at 6 a.m., and did not get 
home till 1 p.m.: is that correct ? When were they fed after getting 
jjome ?—and what was their food ? Did they seem quite well on Saturday 
nio-ht? Was there any change in their food ? How many hounds were 
taken out ?—and whether were they hunted for a longer or shorter period 
than usual? What were the ages of the dogs ? What was the number 
of the respective deaths among the old and young dogs, as well as the 
proportion between the dogs and bitches, that died. How many have 
altogether died ? What were the intervals between their deaths ? Have 
the dogs in your kennel at any time been seized with similar attacks, and 
if so, how many died ? Under what circumstances have the dogs been 
affected, whether in the hunting or close season ? What is the difference 
in their food when hunting or not hunting? Have the dogs which 
recovered been able to be hunted ? How long after their attacks were 
the dogs able to be taken to cover ? You will oblige me by sending me 
full particulars to these questions, as I propose drawing up a professional 
paper on so interesting, important, and instructive a subject. 
I am. Sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) William Dick. 
To Mr. Atkinson, 
Huntsman to the East-Lothian Hounds, West Salton. 
I enclosed to Sir David Baird a copy of the preceding 
letter, when I transmitted to him by post on the 8th of 
November the medical and analytical report drawn up by 
Dr. Murray Thomson, with a request that he would be so 
obliging as to procure the information I was so desirous of 
obtaining, and which the following communication so fully 
supplies : 
Gilmerton, by Drem ; 
Nov. 1862. 
—Sir David Baird has been very busy for some time past, and has 
not been able to attend to your letter of the 8th instant. Not being at 
all well, and feeling anxious that you should not have_ to wait any longer 
for an answer to your questions, he has begged me to write to you in 
reply. You will remember that I answered a number of questions 
which you put to me one day I called on you, in Clyde Street, early in 
October. I will now take the questions you put to the huntsman, and 
answer them seriatim. 
The hounds must have left their kennel soon after 4 a.m. on the Satur¬ 
day morning; they were thrown into covert at 6 a.m., and were hard at 
work till 1 p m.; they did not get home before 3 p.m.; they were not fed 
till they had been home for an hour and a half; their food was the cus¬ 
tomary porridge and milk, with some flesh added ; the porridge or pud¬ 
dings being made half of oatmeal and half of Indian corn; they were 
quite well on Saturday night. The food described above is their usual 
