44 THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 



necessary, a natural, and consequently a healthy process ; and the 

 theory is borne out by the fact ; for attentive observation, ex- 

 tended to all the varieties of the species^ will shew, that the suflFer- 

 ing of bitches to breed not only tends to keep them in health, but 

 that those which have been allowed to bring up numerous litters 

 have more invariably attained a great age than such as have been 

 debarred the intercourse. It may be added, that the same is ob- 

 served in the human, where the average of longevity among females 

 is decidedly in favour of the married, compared with the single. 



Bitches in heat are very cunning, and often elude all but the 

 greatest vigilance in their attempts to escape in search of a mate ; 

 and thus, for want of due caution, may frustrate the hopes of their 

 owners in the desired breed ; and many others meet their death 

 by becoming lined by a dog so extremely disproportionate in size, 

 that the mothers are found unable to bring forth. When, there- 

 fore, a bitch has so escaped, it will be prudent immediately to 

 follow her ; not only to prevent the intercourse altogether, but to 

 guard against the brutal folly of boys and others, who, when it 

 has taken place, often throw cold water over the animals, or tear 

 them away from each other by violence. I have seen the parts of 

 the female actually suffer inversion from this: other injurious con- 

 sequences have also very frequently followed^. To the dog, like- 

 wise, it is no less hurtful, by fatally rupturing the bloodvessels of 

 the parts^, or by other lacerations. 



* Brutal as is the practice of spaying in ordinary cases, it would be ad- 

 missible, in an instance where it was known that a very favourite and very 

 small bitch had copulated with a very large bony dog : for in such case, as 

 little risk would attend the operation of spaying, judiciously performed at a 

 proper time of the pregnancy, but extreme risk would be incurred by waiting 

 the natural time of bringing forth, so it would be very proper to have it done. 

 See Spaying, among the operations, Class XII. 



" This retention of the male within the female parts, after the act has been 

 apparently completed, arises from a peculiarity of structure in both. In the 

 male, the corpora cavernosa have two large lateral protuberances, which, 

 when distended with blood, effectually retain the penis within the vagina of the 



