ANECDOTE OF A STAG. 89 



In killing deer, it is necessary to select the head, or aim 

 directly behind the shoulder. A body-wound may eventually 

 destroy the animal, but the chances are, that he will carry off 

 the ball. Many, when severely struck, escape the shooter ; 

 and there have been stags killed in these mountains, who bore 

 the marks of severe wounds, from the effects of w r hich they 

 had entirely recovered. The following singular and authentic 

 instance of a bullet lodging in what is usually considered a 

 mortal place, and failing to occasion death, is extracted from a 

 scientific periodical.* 



" A buck, that was remarkably fat and healthy in condition, 

 in August, 1816, was killed in Bradbury Park, and on opening 

 him, it was discovered, that at some distant time he had been 

 shot in the heart, a ball being found in a cyst in the substance 

 of that viscus, about two inches from the apex. The surface 

 of the cyst had a whitish appearance ; the ball weighs two 

 hundred and ninety- two grains, and was quite flat. Mr. 

 Richardson, the park-keeper, who opened the animal, is of 

 opinion the ball had struck some hard substance before 

 entering the body of the deer. That the animal should subsist 

 long after receiving this ball, is endeavoured to be accounted 

 for from the instance of a soldier, who survived forty-nine 

 hours after receiving a bayonet wound in the heart : however, 

 the recovery from a gun-shot wound in an animal inferior to 

 man can, in no respect, materially alter the importance of the 

 fact, and of the great extent to which this vital organ may 

 sustain injury from external violence." 



CHAPTER XVII. 



An alarm Deceptive appearance of the weather A blank fishing day 

 Recovery of the setter Hydrophobia Melancholy anecdote Loss 

 of a kennel Strange apathy of Irish servants Extraordinary pre- 

 servation. 



A CIRCUMSTANCE to-day has given us considerable uneasi- 

 ness ; one of our best setters, who had been observed to look 

 rather dull yesterday, has refused his food, and continues 

 listless of what is passing around him. He was a sprightly, 



* The Edinburgh Medical Journal. 



