p1891ane5er6e1n5qjrf1agj1fcm4.pdf

44 cocker's manual.
required for seven or eight days before he can be brought to
the hit,.
at least such is the regime pursued by our first feeders and is pretty
generally as follows : His tail and spurs being cut short he is put intohis
pen, and the first day received no food;
second, he has his physic,
consisting of cream of tartar or jalap, or both united, in the dose of
about five grains of each ; or if it be a very fat and large fowl, the
dose may be increased to ten grains of cream of tartar. These are
given him mixed in fresh butter ; this generally purges briskly and
scours out the intestines. Immediately after the physic is given and
before it affects him he is placed on loose straw or a grass plat with
another cock and allowed to spar with him, the boots or muffles beingpreviously
tied on their short spurs. In this way he is exercised till
he is a little weary; he is then returned to his pen. Before putting
him up it is necessary to examine his mouth to see if he has been
picked or wounded in the inside, as'such wound is apt to canker. Toprevent
this it is washed with a little vinegar and brandy. He is now
allowed his warm nest to work off his physic. This is a diet made of
warm ale or sweet wort, and bread in it, with a little sugar candy, or
bread and milk and sugar candy, a large tea cup full. He is then
shut up close till the next morning, or about twenty-four hours. If
the weather is cold the room should be made warm, or a blanket
placed over the pen ;
if in warm weather he may be clipped out for
fighting ; but if the weather is cold this should be left till the time of
fighting. The room should be kept dark except at feeding. Early on
the following morning, that is about the third day, his pen must be
cleaned out from the effects of the physic, etc., and clean dry straw
put in ; this should be done every day. His feet should be washed
and wiped clean before he is returned to his pen. If his feet feel cold
his pen should be made warmer. He is next to be allowed some
bread; that is, a sort of bread made of. ingredients in the following
proportions : about three pounds of fine flour, two eggs, four whites
of eggs and a little yeast ; this is kneaded with a sufficiency of water
for a proper consistency, and well baked. Some add, as a great secret
a small number of annis seeds or a little cinnamon. Of this bread as
much as would fill a tea cup, cut into pieces, is given him twice that
day ; no water is allowed him then, as it is considered highly injurious
at the early part of the feeding. On the fourth day early in the
morning he should receive half a tea cup of good barley and a little