Hounds are constantly liable to those distressing disorders the DISTEMPER and CANINE MADNESS, as well as to that vexatious and troublesome disease called the MANGE. As well with hounds as with horses, prevention, in all cases, is preferable to CURE: unfortunately, there is as yet no mode discovered by which either of the former can be prevented. The distemper, if attended to upon its first appearance, may with as much certainty be counteracted, in the severity of its symptoms, by medical interposition, as the variolus matter is divested of its malignant miasma by the alleviating preparatives previous to inoculation. The only specifics by which a purpose so desirable can be effected, are the preparations of MERCURY blended with small proportions of EMETIC TARTAR, as the judicious practitioner may find applicable to the predominant appearances of the case. It has been observed, and with great reason, that as the universality of the distemper has evidently increased during the last twenty or thirty years, so the more destructive calamity of MADNESS amongst the species has evidently declined.

As it is certain the distemper may be arrested, in the severity of its progress, by timely intervention, so the first symptoms of its appearance cannot be too perfectly explained. It is preceded by a husky dryness in the throat; as if a small bone, or some similar obstruction, was fixed there, from which the animal, by an incessant kind of straining and half cough, seems constantly endeavouring to relieve itself. This is soon followed by a slimy discharge from the nostrils; and an adhesive gummy matter exudes from the eyes: food of every kind is refused; the eyes become sunk and glassy: the carcase, behind the ribs, is invariably contracted, and a stricture is to be observed upon the abdominal muscles, as if bound with a cord. As the disorder becomes more inveterate in its progress, other symptoms ensue; every day demonstrates additional debility and emaciation; eternal strainings to vomit, and those severe and violent, producing nothing more than a mere viscid phlegm or slimy mucus from the glands: a frequent tenesmus, or straining to evacuate by stool, without effect, is also attendant: to this succeeds a distressing weakness of the loins, occasioning a twisting and distortion of the hinder extremities, as if a disjunction of the vertebræ had taken place. If the disorder is not counteracted at or before its CRISIS, spasms and twitchings become perceptible about the head and neck; the discharge from the nose and eyes assume a dry and barky appearance, forming a kind of matted eschar upon the surface; the eyes become more and more sunk, till nearly closed: a ropy slime oozes from each side the jaws, which seem nearly fixed; a drooping dizziness, and frequent disposition to turning round, is commonly seen during this stage; and fits soon follow, which, more or less, continue till, during some one of these paroxysms, DEATH closes the SCENE.

In the earlier stages of the distemper, the well-known powder of Doctor James has been brought into use with success. It may, however, be necessary to premise, that no good effect is to be expected from small and ineffectual doses; they must be large to be efficacious: no relief can be obtained, but by taking off the general stricture, removing the obstructions, promoting the various secretions, and constituting revulsion. When it is so evidently ascertained, that all dogs labouring under the distemper, have both the stomach and intestinal canal disordered, and in a state of extreme irritation, it is natural to advert a little to the filth, dirt, gravel, sand, dry grass, straw, and various other extraneous particles, young DOGS and PUPPIES ravenously swallow with the chance food they happen to pick up: and it is equally worthy attention, that the prelude to visible amendment is generally the discharge of an indurated MASS or PELLET from the ANUS, which, when broken to pieces is found to consist of the before-mentioned articles; and, beyond a doubt, by retarding some secretions, and obstructing others, contributes in no small degree to increase the inveteracy of disease. For explanatory remarks upon CANINE MADNESS and HYDROPHOBIA, see Dogs.

The MANGE, when it has once found its way into a kennel, is a most troublesome, loathsome, and infectious disorder: if it has not been introduced by the latter, it must have originated in an acrimonious and vitiated state of the BLOOD, arising from too long a perseverance in some impoverished or putrified kind of food; a want of proper AIR or EXERCISE; or a culpable deficiency in cleanliness; without all which, health and strength need not long be expected. The mange is a disorder too well known not only in HOUNDS, but every other kind of DOG, to require description; and for the cure of which, AUTHORS, COMPILERS, and EDITORS, of every class, have furnished means in abundance, sulphur vivum, oil of turpentine, gunpowder, ginger, train oil, foot, and a tedious COMBINATION of COMBUSTIBLES, (with various alternatives, in cases of failure,) are recommended to extirpate what may be completely eradicated without half the nastiness or trouble. All that externals can do, may be expected from three plentiful bastings of a very cheap and easily-procured composition, consisting of sulphur vivum, four ounces; white hellebore powder, two ounces; black pepper, very finely powdered, one ounce; sal armoniac, (finely powdered likewise,) half an ounce; oil of tartar, one ounce; and common olive oil, one pint; with which the diseased subject should have every affected part fully and forcibly impregnated with the hand at three different times, three days apart during which process, at the same equal distances of time, three MERCURIAL PURGING BALLS of a proper strength (proportioned to the age, size, and strength, of the dog) should be administered, if a sure and speedy cure is to be expected.

The disorder called the RED MANGE does not appear to be nearly allied to what is so well known by the common appellation of MANGE, but to be a species of disease within itself, seated in the skin, and not always infectious amongst dogs laying together, but almost invariably communicated by a BITCH to her LITTER of WHELPS, particularly if she had it upon her during the time she was in pup. This disorder is most malignant in its effect; the incessant and severe itching, which, from all observation, seems accompanied by a burning heat, and this too increased by the perpetual biting and scratching of the tortured animal, gives such parts of the frame as are severely affected, the appearance of having been scalded by some boiling liquor, with a consequent loss of hair. It is this distinct kind of MANGE that so constantly baffles DOG-DOCTORS and dog-mongers of every description, and reduces them to their ne plus ultra, where the fertility of invention can go no further. It is, perhaps, the most deceptive disorder to which any part of the animal world can become unluckily subject; for when it has (seemingly and repeatedly) submitted to, and been subdued by, some of the combination of combustibles before described, it has as suddenly, as repeatedly, and as unexpectedly, made its reappearance with all its former virulence. Great care, nice attention, and long experience, can discover but one infallible mode of perfect eradication. Let half an ounce of CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE be reduced in a glass mortar to an impalpable powder; to this, by a very small quantity at a time, add two ounces (half a gill) of spirits of wine; and, lastly, one pint of rain or river water, and, with a sponge dipt in the solution, let every part palpably affected be well washed, every third day, till thrice performed; then leave three clear days, and repeat the former ceremony of thrice as before; letting three MERCURIAL PURGING BALLS be given at the equal distances stated in the common mange, and no doubt of cure need be entertained, if the mode prescribed is properly and judiciously attended to.

However opinions may vary upon the manner of FEEDING hounds, as well in respect to time, as the occasional changes in, and property of, the FOOD best adapted to the purpose of nutritious SUPPORT, no opposition whatever can arise to the general inculcation of CLEANLINESS, as indispensibly conducive to the preservation of HEALTH, and consequent exclusion of DISEASE. In the acceptation of the word cleanliness, may be included the true intent and meaning of both internal and external circumspection and attention, as well in PHYSIC, and in FOOD, as in the neat and judicious arrangement of the KENNEL; where the conjunctive force of which is wanting, what a train of disease, misery, and wretchedness, frequently ensues! To avoid all which, at the times and seasons found most proper for their introduction, ANTIMONIAL ALTERATIVES, and MERCURIAL PURGATIVES, should be brought into use. Upon this practice Mr. Beckford has given his opinion in the following words.

"I am not fond of bleeding hounds, unless they want it; though it has long been a custom to physic them twice a year; after they leave off hunting, and before they begin. It is given in hot weather, and at an idle time. It cools their bodies, and, without doubt, is of service to them. If a hound be in want of physic, I prefer giving it in balls. [3] It is more easy to give in this manner the quantity he may want, and you are more certain that he takes it. In many kennels, they also bleed them twice a year, and some people think that it prevents madness. The anointing of hounds, or dressing them, as huntsmen call it, makes them fine in their coats: it may be done twice a year, or oftener, if found necessary."

The necessity of introducing something medicinal for the preservation of health, and prevention of disease, is thus admitted upon the best of all foundations, practical experience; but as medical precision cannot be expected from those who have not made the profession their study, so Mr. Beckford seems to have applied "physic" in a general sense to every kind of MEDICINE, as well to ALTERATIVES as to PURGATIVES; though the term, when used technically, is conceived to imply the latter only. According to this construction, it is to be presumed, Mr. Beckford administered the balls as "physic," when, in fact, they can only be termed antimonial alteratives, calculated to obtund acrimony, and alter the property of the blood. Mercurial purgatives perfectly cleanse the intestinal canal, and correct morbidity at the same time. External applications, called "dressings," are more particularly directed to bodily eruptions, and cutaneous diseases of the skin: in all these, SULPHUR is a principal ingredient, and looked upon as a specific: in fact, its efficacy is too well known to admit of a doubt upon the occasion.

Hounds, as well as HORSES, are rendered subservient instruments to the support of Government, and exigencies of the State. Persons keeping them pay a tax of THIRTY POUNDS per annum.