Page 43
Of the Election of a Dog and Bitch for good Whelps.
Your Bitch must come of a good kind, being strong, and well proportioned in all parts, having her Ribs and Flanks great and large. Let the Dog that lines her be of a good fair breed; and let him be young, if you intend to have light and hot Hounds: for if the Dog be old, the Whelps will participate of his Dull and heavy nature.
If your Bitch grow not naturally Proud so soon as you would have, you may make her so, by taking two heads of Garlick, half a Gastor's Stone, the juice of Cresses, and about twelve Spanish Flies, or Cantha∣rides: boil these together in a Pipkin which holds a pint, with some Mutton, and make Broth thereof; and of this give to the Bitch twice or thrice, and she will in∣fallibly grow proud. The same Pottage given to the Dog, will make him desirous of copulation.
When your Bitch is lined, and with Puppy, you must not let her hunt, for that will be the way to make her cast her Whelps; but let her unconfined walk up and down in the House and Court, and never lock her up in her Kennel; for she is then impatient of food; and therefore you must make her some hot Broth once a day.
If you would spay your Bitch, it must be done be∣fore she ever had Litter of Whelps: And in spaying her, take not away all the Roots or Strings of the Veins; for if you do, it will much prejudice her Reins, and hinder her swiftness ever after: but by leaving some behinde, it will make her much the stronger and more hardy. Whatever you do, spay her not when she is proud; for that will endanger her life: but you may do