AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
53 
a Dog, as a preventative to his being attacked with mad- 
ness; this is absurd and utterly useless.* The nature of our 
work will not permit us to enter on this subject at greater 
length, we must therefore refer such of our readers as wish 
further information on the subject, to the treatise above 
alluded to. There is one precaution, however, that should 
always be borne in mind; that where a dog bites any per- 
son, the animal should not be killed, but, should be se- 
curely confined, that the fact of the madness may be posi- 
tively ascertained. 
The variety of Dog so well known under the name of 
Newfoundland, has generally been considered by Natural- 
ists as a mongrel, allied to the Esquimaux and Indian; but 
this opinion is evidentlj'- erroneous, as he differs from those 
varieties in the form of his head, and the general robust- 
ness of his figure. When full bred and uncontaminated by 
the blood of any inferior variety, he is certainly the most 
imposing and noble of the canine race. Although, at first 
sight, his great size and strength convey a sensation of fear, 
the mild and expressive character of his countenance mani- 
fests that ferocity is far from being a predominant or dis- 
tinguishing trait of his character. 
Extremely docile and affectionate, this Dog may be 
taught to perform actions which appear almost incredible, 
and which, seemingly, require no slight exercise of the 
reasoning faculties. Equally sagacious as persevering, he 
never relinquishes an undertaking as long as there remains 
the most distant hope of success. He seldom or ever offers 
offence, but will not receive an insult or injury with im- 
punity. The great pliability of his temper, peculiarly fits 
him for the use of man, as he never shrinks from any task 
that may be assigned him, but undertakes it with an ardour 
proportioned to the difficulty of the execution. A full 
sized Newfoundland Dog, from the nose to the end of the 
tail, measures about six feet and a half, the length of the 
tail being about two feet ; from one fore foot to the other 
over the shoulders, three feet four inches; round the head 
across the ears, two feet; round the upper part of the fore 
leg, ten inches; length of the head, fourteen inches. The 
feet are webbed, by which means he can swim with great 
quickness and facility. The body is covered with long 
shaggy hair; that on the legs and tail being very thick and 
* As some of our readers may be unacquainted with this operation, we sub- 
join it. The worm, as it is termed, is the ligament which connects the tongue to 
the under part of the mouth. The tongue is to be raised, and the skin which 
covers the worm slit; a small awl is then to be introduced under the centre of it, 
to raise it up ; the farther end will make its appearance by a little force being 
used, and by being taken hold of with a piece of cloth, it may be easily removed. 
Great care must be taken not to break it: This operation should be performed 
at the time the pups are removed from the mother. It is said to prevent the Dog 
from biting, if he should be affected with madness, and to have proved perfectly 
efficacious in more than one instance; but this is at best but problematical. 
0 
long. This Dog is no't remarkable for symmetry of pro- 
portions, and his motions are heavy; consequently, he is 
not distinguished for speed. 
We are indebted to J. Browne Smith, Esq. for an op- 
portunity of figuring this majestic animal, from a remarka- 
bly fine and well marked specimen in his possession. The 
Philadelphia Museum is also enriched by a well prepared 
example of this Dog, which formerly belonged to Mr. 
Wistar, of Germantown. Both these animals, though not 
so large as the dimensions we have just given, afford excel- 
lent criteria of the form and general proportions of the 
animal. 
The Newfoundland Dog is habitually used in its native 
country, for the purposes of draught. They are easily 
broken in, and soon inured to the trammels of harness; 
three, four, or five are used in a sledge or other vehicle, 
and will convey a load of some hundreds weight for many 
miles with great ease. This, when once instructed in and 
accustomed to the road, they will do without any super- 
vision; and having delivered the load with which they 
have been entrusted, will return to the residence of their 
master, to receive their accustomed food, which generally 
consists of fish, either fresh or in a dried state, of both of 
which they are said to be extremely fond. Captain Brown* 
states, that in 1810, it was computed that there were up- 
wards of two thousand of these Dogs, at and in the vici- 
nity of St. John’s, Newfoundland. They are left to shift 
for themselves during the whole summer, and are not only 
troublesome to the inhabitants, but become absolute nui- 
sances, from starvation and disease. Contrary to their 
natural disposition, where properly taken care of, under 
these circumstances, they assemble in packs and prowl 
about like wolves for their prey, destroying sheep, poultry, 
and every thing eatable within their reach. When the 
fishing season is over, and their inhuman masters again re- 
quire their services, they are reclaimed, and submit with 
cheerfulness to the tasks which are assigned them. The 
same author states, that this reclamation always gives rise to 
much confusion and litigation, the value of these periodi- 
cally deserted animals being estimated at from two to eight 
pounds each. 
In the year 1815, a dangerous disease resembling hydro- 
phobia appeared among them, owing, as was generally 
supposed, to the hardships and starvation to which they 
were subjected. Persons bitten by them exhibited no 
symptoms of hydrophobia; and the disease was attributed, 
by the medical men of the island, to a fever induced by 
severe labour with insufficient nourishment upon salted 
food, and a scarcity of water, caused by the frozen state of 
* Biographical Sketches and Authentic Anecdotes of Dogs, p. 198. 
