THE DOG TRIBE. 207 



mortal one at the moment of the bite, still this poor unfortunate 

 victim may be doomed to live in suspense for weeks and months 

 and even years ; and when death at last comes to his relief, the 

 surgeon who opens the body for inspection will find nothing there 

 to indicate disease, Nay, .the most singular part is, that the defunct 

 was enabled to exist in perfect health, and to perform all the ordinary 

 duties of life, as though all were right with him : whereas, in truth, 

 death was within him and ready to strike the fatal blow, at the 

 period, perhaps, when the man himself had forgotten that he had 

 ever been bitten. Although some people who have been bitten by 

 a mad dog live under great apprehensions of their fate, others have 

 been known to labour under hydrophobia without being the least 

 aware of its origin. Who, then, can define the nature of this woful 

 disease so invisible, and for a length of time so harmless and so 

 quiet in the body of its victim, but so outrageous and so incurable 

 when it does at last break out ? This ought to warn incautious people 

 how they become too familiar with any of the dog family. 



As regards myself, having been once in jeopardy, I own that I 

 have no great desire to see dogs in my house. Firstly, the disease 

 alarms me ; secondly, I don't like to have my furniture bedewed 

 every time that a dog passes to and fro ; thirdly, the yelping of a 

 dog, on a stranger's arrival, is very disagreeable to my ears; and 

 fourthly, dogs, by prying into every bush and corner, are sure to 

 drive the wild birds far away. Under these considerations, I appro- 

 priate to dogs their proper domicilium, which is the kennel. Mine 

 is particularly clean and commodious. Many years have now 

 elapsed since the dog and the Hanoverian rat were forbidden to pass 

 the threshold of my house. 



I have heard of a professional gentleman in the north who doubts 

 the existence of hydrophobia. Facts, they say, are stubborn things, 

 I have seen too much myself to doubt that such a malady does pre- 

 vail, although I know not how it is engendered, what are its com- 

 ponent parts, or by what process it brings death into the system. 

 Dozens of letters are lying on my shelf to give me information of the 

 commencement, the action, and the final termination of hydrophobia. 

 When I was a boy, I remember well to have heard the case of the 

 unfortunate Mrs Duff. She was so lovely in her appearance, and 



