DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 403 



malformation ] Do not the habits of the animal prove it 

 to be a pampered creation ? It is not generally known, 

 that the disposition of the genuine bull-dog is too fond. 

 It will fondle upon any stranger ; and yet, contrary to 

 the general custom of its race, it displays small prefer- 

 ence for its master. It will fondle a human being as 

 though its heart would burst with affection ; but upon the 

 slightest excitement often upon a sudden sound it will 

 fly at and mangle the hand that was caressing it. Then 

 the hold taken by this animal is more retentive than is 

 strictly natural. It will fix upon an object, and frequent- 

 ly suffer itself to be dismembered before it will let go its 

 hold, although its master's voice be energetically raised 

 to command it. Do not these traits bespeak the being 

 formed rather by man's malice, than created by Nature's 

 goodness ? Look at the likeness of the beast, and say 

 how far it resembles the mild, graceful, and generous 

 race to which it outwardly belongs. 



It is the high, or rather perverted, state in which the 

 breed is kept, that subjects them to accidents ; it is the 

 pampered condition jn which these antipodes to beauty 

 are reared that renders them so liable to afflictions that 

 do not affect the ordinary run of their kind such as fall- 

 ing of the vagina. It comes on generally when heat is 

 present, and mostly disappears when the excitement sub- 

 sides. A red bag is seen to be pendulous from the orifice 

 of the part ; and if no care be taken to prevent it, this 

 by exposure gets injured ; becomes hard ; bleeds freely, 

 and is difficult to return. It often presents a pitiable 



