174 



NOTES ON THE DOG TRIBE. 



the legumes trodden underfoot; and the dogs 

 worrying each other; whilst the drivers, stick in 

 hand, mixed obstinately in the raging battle, each 

 trying to rescue and preserve her own property ; 

 to the infinite amusement of the surrounding 

 spectators. 



Having contemplated the family of the dog, when 

 wild in the woods, and also, when under the 

 tutelary hand of man ; and shewn how serviceable 

 it is to him, if fully trained, and in proper hands ; 

 I will finally consider it, in another point of view, 

 which is anything but favourable to it. There 

 is a stain on its character, fixed and unalterable ; 

 which like the blood-spot on the hand of Lady 

 Macbeth, can never be removed; even though 

 Galen, with all his knowledge, and Hippocrates, 

 with all his drugs, could return from the grave, 

 and direct their energies to this one individual 

 point, 



I allude to canine madness, commonly called 

 hydrophobia. 



As nobody seems to know anything concerning 

 the real nature of this terrible malady, saving that 

 it has its origin in the dog ; and that, by the bite 

 of the dog, it is communicated to other animals ; 

 any speculation on my part, would be quite 

 superfluous. The wolf too, and the fox, both 



