UPLAND SHOOTING. 
349 
either consists in reducing the animal from* too full and soft a 
state to one of firmness and less bulk; or it consists in raising 
a lean and reduced dog to lustiness, hardness, and vigor. Some 
sportsmen prefer the one state, and some the other to begin 
upon. If a dog be fat, his treatment must be entered on by 
physic and sufficient exercise, but not by two great a privation 
of food; and it must be particularly observed, that his doses of 
physic be mild, but more in number. The exercise should be 
at first gradual and slow, but long continued; and at last it 
should be increased to nearly what he will be accustomed to 
when hunting. If there be the least foulness— i. e. if the secre¬ 
tions of the skin are impure—apparent in the habit, besides 
physic and exercise, alteratives should be given also: these 
medicines immediately follow the subject of condition. Some 
sportsmen regularly dress their dogs, before the hunting season, 
with sulphur, even though no breaking-out appears, and I by 
no means think the practice a bad one. Others curry or brush 
their dogs, whether any skin affection appears or not; and, to 
Greyhounds, it is a very proper means of keeping-up the equili¬ 
brium of the circulation, and of promoting muscular elasticity. 
When a lean dog is to be got into condition , less physic is neces¬ 
sary ; but good flesh feeding, plenty of exercise, and a due ad¬ 
ministration of alteratives, are principally to be resorted to: 
nevertheless, one or two doses of very mild physic will here 
also promote the condition and even assist the accumulation 
of flesh.” 
ALTERATIVES. 
“ Various substances are used as alteratives ; as antimonials, 
and the different preparations of mercury, iron, and tin. The 
nitrate of potash (nitre,) the supertartrate of potash (cream of 
tartar,) aloes, salines, &c., &c., &c., are excellent alteratives. 
Tartarized antimony (emetic tartar) often proves a very useful 
* This I conceive to be the true, and by far the easiest mode. It is easy to 
reduce fat into solid flesh, but very difficult to raise leanness into muscle, and 
preserve hardness at the same time. 
