The Mastiff. 



As I have already hinted, the mastiff was not 

 originally a righting dog ; he was used as a watch 

 and guard, and as such had special legislation 

 given him so far back as the reign of Henry III., 

 when the obnoxious Forest Laws were still in 

 operation. At that time, and ever since William 

 the Conqueror had appeared on the scene, no 

 ordinary individual was allowed to keep a dog 

 within the precincts of the Forests, though a special 

 provision was made for mastiffs kept by farmers 

 and substantial freeholders dwelling therein ; indeed, 

 no other dog than a mastiff was allowed to be kept 

 within these precincts. They might keep such 

 dogs for the protection of their houses and stock, 

 provided that such dogs be expeditated according 

 to law. This iniquitous law was carried out by 

 cutting off the claws of the fore feet close to the 

 skin. The operation was performed by " sitting 

 one of the fore feet upon a piece of wood eight 

 inches thick and a foot square, and with a mallet, 

 setting a chisel of two inches broad upon the three 

 claws of his fore feet, and at one blow cutting them 

 clean off. And this expeditating (by some called 

 h- mbling or lawing of dogs) ought to be looked 

 af er by the caretaker of the forest every third 

 year." 



Dr. Caius, so well known and so often quoted 



