OFSERPENTS. ^7 



againfl the Dog's Nofe, and produce that Senfation of Smell.— — 

 A^. B. Thelntenfity of Smell in all Creatures, is in proportion to 

 the Denfity or Thicknefs where we are : This Denfity is always 

 diminifh'd in proportion to the Squares of the Diftances from the 

 odorous Body. 



Y E A, a little Cur, by the Power of Smelling, can find out his 

 Mafter among Thoufands, will trace his Steps thro' Crouds in Fairs 

 and Markets ; yea, throughout a whole Country. Our Hiftories 

 inform us of Dogs in fome parts of this Ifland, that being put up- 

 on the Scent, would purfue a Thief and a Murderer ; and if he 

 crofs'd a River, would fmell where he entered, and fwim after 

 him; and when arrived at t'other fide, would hunt about till 

 they found where he landed, and then run on, till they overtook 

 the Criminal. 



In Animals is a fulphurous or oily Matter, fo attenuated and 

 fubtiliz'd as to become volatile, which is denominated a Spirit : 

 Now that there is fuch a Spirit in Man, and a peculiar one too in 

 every Man, is evident from thefe Dogs, which will purfue the 

 Game by their Nofe, and follow their Mafter's Track, and di- 

 ftinguifh it precifely ; yea, tho' a thoufand other Perfons had pafl 

 the fame way. 



I T muft be by meer Force of Smelling, that the Dog is able 

 to do this, that is, to diftinguifh his Mafter from all Men by the 

 Inftrumentality of his Nofe. 



Therefore there mu ft be fome fpecifick Matter exhaled 

 from the Mafter's Body, which the Dog can perfedlly diftinguifti 

 from the various Effluvia flowing from all other Perfons. 



The Dog muft exceed us, in that he can thus exadly difcern 

 his Mafter, by thefe fubtile, oily, or fulphurous Effluvia, which 

 no human Nofe was ever able to do. 



W e find the like Spirit in the. Hound, who when put in the 

 Track which a Deer has lately been in, will follow the Steps of 

 that Deer thro' all crofs Paths of a thoufand others, and at laft 

 fingle out that individual Deer among a whole Herd of thofe Ani- 

 mals. 



In Scotlandzvt afort of Dogs (in Colour generally red andfpotted 

 with black, or black with red) of extraordinary Sagacity, being, 

 as 'tis faid, put upon the Scent, will purfue Thieves with Succefs; 



and the Ufe of them has been authorifed by the Magiftrate 



K 2 Nidhis 



