364 PUNISHMENT BY MAN. 



least, ascribable to morbid imagination. 1 In short, the hue 

 and cry of ' mad dog ' is as little rational as the belief in 

 diabolic possession ; and the wholesale massacre of innocent 

 animals, on the ground of mere possibilities of being affected 

 by this or that disorder, is as cruel and indefensible in the 

 one case as in the other. 



It has already been stated that in the superstitious 

 ages the excitement or passion of the persecuted cat or dog 

 was ascribed to diabolic possession, just as the epilepsy or 

 mania of man was attributed to satanic or demoniac agency. 

 And the treatment was in accordance with the popular be- 

 lief. But it is doubtful whether, in these dark ages, there 

 was any such ruthless sacrifice to man's stupidity or morbid 

 fears as the massacre of the dogs of Glasgow by its magis- 

 trates in the winter of 1876. 



Various animals then are or have been punished by man- 



1. For their own offences. 



2. For possible or supposed offences. 



3. For offences to which they were urged and for which 

 they were specially trained by man. 



The latter category includes the punishments inflicted on 

 sheep-stealing dogs and of other dog-accomplices of man in 

 the various forms of theft. 



In order to be serviceable or salutary as a deterrent or 

 corrective, punishment of other animals by man must be 

 judicious. It ought to be 



1. Well-timed. 



2. Proportioned to the 



a. Nature of the offence. 

 6. Age and character of the animal, 

 c. Special circumstances of provocation or otherwise : 

 while man himself should ever 



3. Maintain his own temper or composure, and possess a 

 strict sense of justice. 



In order that the idea of punishment or penalty may be 

 associated with that of offence in the dog, cat, or other ani- 

 mals, it is desirable that they should be, if possible, caught 



'I have elsewhere specially discussed this subject. Fide 'Bibliography' 

 No. Ixxxii. 



