having them, if he put his foot upon a stone, or any hard substance, is in great danger of falling; independent of which, it is the seat of secretion of an ichorous humour, the presence of which is always objectionable. Various remedies are adopted for their cure-many of them being powerful styptics, which, closing the outlet prematurely, exclude the escape of secretion hitherto finding a vent, and which, still generating in a greater or lesser degree, must for a time circulate within the foot until the absorbent vessels are enabled to dispose of them; if the quantity be great, owing to their acrid properties, they are very likely to produce inflammation in the part.

I never had an instance of thrushes making their appearance in the frogs of any horse that I have had in my possession, having been at all times very particular in attending to the feet; but I have purchased many that have been troubled with them, and some to a considerable extent. My method of cure has been as follows:-First of all, to take the shoe off; after which, to put the foot in a bucket of warm water for an hour at least. The blacksmith then pares the foot out, and cuts away all the carious or rotten parts of the frog, and even, if the case requires it, lays bare the sensible frog; the foot is again immersed in warm water; when taken out it is made perfectly dry, after which the diseased part is moistened with compound tincture of myrrh the shoe is then put on. Some dry tow is inserted in the parts of the frog where the discharge escapes, in order to absorb the humour; the foot is dressed with the tar ointment, both externally and internally, and afterwards filled with tow, so as to afford some considerable degree of pressure, especially at the heels, when the horse's weight is thrown, upon that part, splints of wood are placed over the tow so that it is secured within the foot when the horse is at walking exercise, for the purpose of excluding grit or dirt. If the case be a bad one, the foot is daily immersed in warm water, and the frog supplied with dry tow as long as there exists the slightest symptoms of discharge; tincture of myrrh is occasionally applied, perhaps every other day, or every third day, as appearances indicate its necessity. The tar ointment is also applied to the diseased part in order to promote the growth of the frog, and, by the time that substance is completely renewed, I have always found the disease is removed: this course is so mild in its operation that I never experienced the least inconvenience, and, if circumstances did not interfere to prevent it, I have generally embraced the opportunity of introducing a dose of physic. When there is reason to apprehend inflammation in the feet, arising from excessive exertion, or the effect of any inflammatory disease by which the animal may have been attacked, the first resort to have recourse to is bleeding in the toe, paring the sole moderately thin, and rasping the outer hoof so as to give the utmost liberty to the distended vessels within: in this state, immersion in warm water and poultices will be essentially serviceable, after which the coldest applications that can be applied will be necessary; but, in all probability, the assistance of an experienced veterinary surgeon will be sought in those cases which are severe: they are ticklish subjects to tamper with, for, if once inflammation of the lamina is established to an extent to disorganize their functions, all the science of the Veterinary College will be of no avail.

DOGS FOR THE GUN.

BY AN A.M. OF CAMBRIDGE.

"Non ignoro, quæ bona sint, fieri meliora doctrina, et quæ non optima, aliquo modo acui tamen et corigi posse."

It is some months since I indited the last of a series of articles relative to the treatment and training of dogs for the gun. Circumstances prevented me continuing my remarks; and in again taking up the pen in behalf of my canine friends, I hope the sight of Latin will not be sufficient to deter the reader from proceeding further. It may be disputed whether Cicero had in view the treatment and training of dogs for the gun, or for the chase, when he wrote the above aphorism. At all events, I take the first opportunity of assuring the reader, even if he should have somewhat forgotten his youthful instructions, he need be under no apprehensions whatever that it will be at all necessary for him, in perusing the following remarks, to brush up his classics; though, possibly, the Latin quotation may recall to his remembrance certain delectable reminiscences of the discipline of his early years.

In the hints upon this subject which I have already submitted, my object has principally been to induce gentlemen who are fond of shooting to look more after the treatment and management of their dogs, and not to leave them so entirely to the care of their keepers, as I know most gentlemen do. If they can be persuaded to take this trouble (and such a superintendence, to a sportsman, can scarcely be called so), they will not be long in discovering the advantages of it, in the improved appearance of their dogs, in having fewer accounts to pay for turpentine, oil, and sulphur, and the like abominations, and in the scent of the dogs, which they will consequently find much more acute. I make no pretensions whatever to introducing any new system; whilst, therefore, the old sportsman who, like myself, has given his attention to the matter, may find little in my remarks that he did not know before, still, I flatter myself that many may have found useful information upon the subjects treated of. "Indocti discant, et ament meminisse periti."

In taking up the works of even some of the best sporting writers, relating to sporting, I have frequently been provoked to observe how cursorily everything connected with the treatment of dogs is passed over, whilst their remarks are generally so abundantly copious whereever their own performances are the subjects of them; and if the sport of a friend meets with the author's especial notice, it is always pretty well understood that he is thus very modestly describing his own. This may be natural, and perhaps allowable enough. I cannot but feel, however, that if some whose writings show them to be real

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sportsmen had been little more lavish in their instructions regarding "the Dog,"that it would have taken away somewhat of that egotistical appearance, perhaps not altogether avoidable, in such works. Besides, every real sportsman should feel a pleasure in doing what he can to secure for dogs, which contribute so much to his amusement, better treatment than I believe they are generally in the habit of receiving, and which is especially incumbent, as he must be well aware that a shooter will find so much advantage from it, both on the moor and in the field.* No doubt, a certain class of sporting writers, which may be denominated Cockney Scribblers, find this a topic on which they are most apt to flounder, and on which it is difficult to glean much for the amusement of the generality of their readers, and they are, therefore, fain to pass it over, if they allude to it at all, with some very brief observations. But how comes it that an author of the calibre of Col. Hawker can give the subject the go-by, because it would be redundant to those of his readers who are sportsmen, and set all others to sleep? I would pluck a crow with the gallant colonel for this omission. He prefaces his chapter on "Dogs" with a sort of apology for its meagreness:-" Dogs have been such an universal subject for every sporting writer, that scarcely a word can be said about them, but that of which we may find the counterpart in some publication or other." Differing, as I do, entirely with this observation, I would ask, at any rate, might not the same remark apply, with equal force, to everything else "relating to guns or shooting?" Why, then, has the gallant colonel been so very chary in his advice upon this particular subject, when he has thrown the sporting world under such infinite obligations to him for the sound advice and the practical information he has given in his invaluable "Instructions to Young Sportsmen," on all matters connected with shooting, which he has so skilfully treated of? Surely he will not say that the subject is not of sufficient importance. I think he will agree with me in saying, that a thorough sportsman must not only be a good tactician in the field, but he must also be well skilled in the management of his dogs, otherwise he is dependent on another to take him up to his game; and if a shooter is not capable of managing his own dogs, and manoeuvring game himself, he, of course, loses the chief interest and excitement of shooting. But, though every real sportsman must be capable of managing his dogs when trained for him, not one in twenty are capable of training them. The consequence is, that they are left entirely to the management of keepers, whose only object is to drill them in to the usual points, and to have them under thorough subjection; and if they make them perfect in these respects, any deficiencies in finding game are not laid to their account, but are ascribed to the natural defects of the dogs. It is quite true, that if a dog is deficient in any of the requisite qualifica

*These remarks do not apply to foxhounds. But why should dogs for the gun be less cared for? I am persuaded there is quite as great a demand made on their powers of exertion and endurance, at least when a couple of dogs are made to do a whole day's work. The pace of a high-travelled pointer or setter is not much slower than a foxhound in full cry, and that kept up not for the burst of half-an-hour or an hour, but for eight or nine hours at a time.

tions for finding game, it is not in the power of any man to supply them; but I am quite persuaded that the training is more frequently the cause of those alleged natural defects than is generally imagined. As the 12th is again drawing near, I would recommend every young sportsman, at least for once, to try his hand at breaking a couple of dogs. By so doing, he will be better able to judge, in future, how far a keeper has been doing justice to his breed in training them; and he will find those dogs which he has broken himself hunt much pleasanter with him, than if they had been trained by another person. Indeed, I find it such an easy business, that I would never allow any one to train my dogs for me, if I happened to be at home during the proper season. A couple of dogs should last at least nine or ten years, if taken proper care of, and if a proper system is pursued: in a fortnight, taking them out only for a few hours every day, any young dog may be made as steady as possible. You have only, then, to be careful that he does not deviate from those habits which you wish him to retain, till, in fact, they have become to the dog a second nature. For this reason, never allow your keeper, or whoever is intrusted with the care of your dogs, to take those out which you have been at the trouble of training, without the couples, on any consideration whatever.

THE CRACK SPORT OF CEYLON.

BY MASTER HARRY.

There is an idea very prevalent among English sportsmen that there is a tameness, an uninteresting slowness in foreign sporting, that keeps it far below the par of the sports of our native land. Many writers have done all that brain and pen combined together can do to dissipate this idea, and although their graphic descriptions of Indian sporting are read and admired, it is generally accompanied by a shrug of most stiff-necked incredulity. Now reader, my dear fellow, I would not be guilty of an attempt to "bore" you, for all my sporting reputation; but if you will allow me to give you a hint in case you are un homme blasé, or "used up" (as the playbills have it), how to dissipate your ennui most effectually, and to show you examples of the very" revivifying" effects of the "crack sport of Ceylon," we will, in imagination, doff the scarlet coat and the velveteen shooting jacket, and having invested ourselves with the most appropriate Cingalese costume de chasse, viz., a huge straw hat, and blue jacket and trowsers of the lightest material, we will just diverge from the fort of Trincomalee into the jungle, and I will show you what is to be done there, and enlighten you as to what has been done. If you expect to have an account of Ceylon, moral, social, political, and statistical, I am sorry to say I must disappoint you, and refer you to other scribblers. I have only to do with the practical part of sport; but if now

and then, when we reach the top of some ten-syllabled, never-ending mountain, and behold the scene around us and below us, I say if I then do burst out in a strain, à la Manfred, why, you can either put up with it, or "skip" it, and beg the Editor to administer a fitting check to my aspiring Pegasus.

By the bye, whilst we are speaking, you see this plain that we have just emerged into, and from which I was about to let you slip before I had given you its history, for every inch of ground in this locality could tell a tale of daring, a fearfully narrow escape, or a scene of blood. It was in this very place that Capt. G, of H.M.S. D——s, had so narrow an escape with his life, owing to the remarkable presence of mind of one of the persons that composed his party.

The D-s having arrived at Trincomalee, it was agreed at mess that an elephant party should be made up in the course of the week, for the purpose of showing some of the officers of the ship some elephant shooting. The day came, and half a dozen fellows-two of them being crack elephant shots of the island-sallied forth after the animals, which are to be found in all directions in the neighbourhood. Of all people in the world to go out elephant-shooting with, naval officers are the very worst, from a reckless sort of feeling what danger they incur or bring on those with them, as long as they get a "pop" at the animal they are pitted against: "Jack" goes into the field determined to blaze away until he has not a shot left in the locker; and, in the present instance, this circumstance nearly cost a gallant post-captain a life that had far better have been lost on his own quarter-deck.

The beaters having given notice that an elephant was in the patch of jungle opposite, away hurried the party to see who would get first shot, in spite of all the sober remonstrances of the old stagers, who knew they must look out for squalls. The firing soon commenced, and as soon as the smoke of the guns had cleared off, a scene presented itself that brought our heroes to their senses, and gave them a vivid picture of the "crack sport of Ceylon :" trumpeting, yelling, and screeching from pain caused by her wounds, the elephant had dashed from her cover, had seized hold of the first person that came in her way with her trunk (which was Captain G-) and was rushing round the plain with him held high in the air, and apparently only looking out for a convenient place where she could kneel on him, and crush him to death. What was to be done? To have fired with any chance of slaying the animal would have been doubly dangerous to G, as he was in such a position that he covered the mortal part of the elephant's head. It was a horrible scene to those that viewed it; what it was to the sufferer he alone can tell, and he is still alive and able to tell the story. The elephant at last having got into a corner, far from the others, pulled up, and began to lower G-to the ground. A scream from the jungle from which the elephant had first emerged brought every one to " attention," in expectation of having an attack made on his own life; in a moment after, a little calf (young elephant) shewed itself on the plain, and, quick as thought, a bullet was lodged behind its shoulder, where it is not mortal. An