There  have  been  two  opinions  as  to  the  state,  warm
or  cold,  of  food  given  to  hounds.  It  is  fortunate  that
both  are  right  in  the  two  seasons  of  the  year — cold
may  be  given  during  the  summer  months,  when  the
hounds  are  lying  idle,  but  in  winter,  especially  after
hunting,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  hot  broth,
mixed  with  oatmeal  and  meat,  is  the  most  proper
and  nutritious  ;  besides  which,  warm  food  goes
much  further  than  cold.  A  hungry  man  will
devour  almost  any  quantity  of  cold  boiled  beef,  of


272  SYSTEM    OF    KENNEL   AND

which^  when  hot^  a  very  few  slices  would  suffice  for
his  dinner^  and  although —

* 'While  winter  chills  the  blood,  and  binds  the  veins,
No  labours  are  too  hard,"

yet  the  body  requires  heatings  or  warmings  after
them.  Light  feeders  require  humouring  with  the
best  of  the  trough,  more  meat  and  richer  broth
than  the  others ;  neither  will  they  eat  much  when
tired,  therefore  it  is  wiser  to  give  them  a  little  at
first,  and  about  two  hours  after  to  offer  more,  when
the  stomach  has  regained  its  tone  for  digestion.
