166 
THE ADVANTAGE OF 
‘ Naebody can tell/ said the laird, ^ what crotchet a bull beast 
may tak’ into his head in the dog days / so he hobbled off the 
best way that he could to a stone fence which was at hand. 
Breathless he gained the dyke, and attempted to clear it at 
a vault. But it was vain without the aid of science, therefore 
he had to lay hold of the top with his hands, and endeavour to 
arrive at a proper pitch of elasticity ere he could accomplish the 
feat. This he hoped for through the subservience of his legs : 
springing up and dropping down his body, thus to progress in 
his practice. But, alas ! the animal, just at the critical point of 
time when the laird ejaculated, ^ Here for it!’ unceremoniously 
lent him a hearty slap behind : which impetus so much sur¬ 
passed the worthy man’s expectations and arrangements, that it 
drove him heels over head to the safe side of the fence, into an 
ugly pond of stagnant water. On hearing the laird relate this 
story, I said it was a mercy that his bull had so considerately 
watched the moment when he could advantageously volunteer 
his rough aid. But he would not admit that there was any 
kindness or discretion in such a coarse customer; for that he felt 
the effect of the attack for many a long day, which was less than 
agreeable. I next presumed that the docile creature had not by 
this one misdeed entirely forfeited his master’s good will. And 
the choleric man answered, ' I dociled him : for as soon as I was 
able to hirple hame, I took my rifle and shot him as dead as a 
door nail, to teach him manners, and that nane o’ his gets might 
be casten up to me afterwards.’ ” 
A Day with Sir Walter Scott. 
The Advantage of Diaphoretics, and a new Mode of 
APPLYING THEM. 
Edward Buckles was summoned before the commissioners 
by Mr. Masterson, of Aldgate High Street, for the price of a 
fine poodle-dog. 
The plaintiff stated, that he had given into the care of the 
defendant, who is a dog-doctor and fancier, a very beautiful 
poodle, for the purpose of making him frost-proof.” In about 
a fortnight, news was brought to him that Prince was dying; 
and, upon inquiry, he ascertained that the poor animal had been 
harnessed between two great mastiffs to a cat’s meat waggon, 
and had sunk under such severe toil. The dos: had cost him a 
guinea, and was in perfect health when he put it into the hands 
of the defendant, from whom he now sought the amount, and 
the expenses of the proceeding. 
The defendant said, that the dog was in a galloping consunip- 
