for hyclrophobia, and that many a poor beast has been thus 

 sammarily and wrongfully slaughtered. Not that fit^ are 

 harmless, either to the creature or to those who may by chance 

 come within reach of its spasmodically twitching jaws. It is 

 a very serious malady, and its symptoms decidedly lunatic 

 The dog, trotting before or behind his master, wiU suddenly 

 stand stiU and look round mazily, and then emitting a curious 

 cry that is neither a bark nor a howl, will fall on his side, conti' 

 nuing the curious noise, but more feebly As soon as he has 

 fallen his limbs assume a strong rigidity, but after a few mo- 

 ments they relax, the animal kicks violently, the eyes are wide 

 open and staring, and foam issues from the mouth. In this 

 condition he will eagerly bite and snap at anythiug that is put 

 near his mouth. Presently his convulsions will subside, he will 

 raise his head, and look about him, as though wondfering what in 

 the name of goodness he does lying on the pavement in the midst 

 of a crowd of men and boys. No doubt in his present dreamy 

 condition he sees himself surrounded on every side by danger, 

 and is anxious to escape. This he is not long in attempting, 

 Starting to his feet, he makes a bolt at somebody's legs, and 

 somebody is only too anxious to skip aside and let the animal 

 pass. He starts off. Never did dog look more mad. Never 

 did mad dog run faster. Hi ! Hi ! Mad dog ! Mad dog ! 

 Boys bawl, men shout, women scream, stones are thrown, and 

 carters, secure in their vehicles, endeavour to club him, as he 

 dashes past, with the butt-end of their heavy whips. Presently 

 he receives a blow that stuns him, and tumbles him over in the- 

 mud, and he dies the death of a mad dog, however little he 

 may deserve it. 



" The first thing to do," says Mr. Mayhew, " when out with 

 a dog which has a fit, is to secure the animal and prevent it 

 running away when the fit is over. The second thing is, for 

 the person who owns the dog stubbornly to close his ears to 

 the crowd who are certain to surround him. No matter what 

 advice may be given, he is to do nothing but get the animal 

 home as quickly as possible. He is neither to lance the mouth, 

 sUt the ear, nor cut a piece of its tail off. He is on no accoimt 

 to administer a full dose of salt and water, or a lump of to- 

 bacco, or to throw the animal into an adjacent pond ; and of 

 all things he is to allow no man more acquainted with dogs 

 than the rest of the spectators to bleed the animal. Any offer 

 to rub the nose with syrup of buckthonj, however confidently 

 he who makes the proposal may recommend that energetic 



