our shores, and have their legs placed behind: their wings are short though not totally incapable of flight. They may be said to live upon the water, in which they are incessantly seen diving, seldom venturing upon land except for the purpose of continuing their kind. The first of this numerous tribe is the great northern diver, nearly the size of a goose: it is beautifully variegated with stripes; the gray speckled diver does not exceed the size of a Muscovy duck, and, except in size, much resembles the former; the red-necked diver, in shape, is more elegant than either of the preceding, and about a fourth less than the grayspeckled diver, which varies in the disposition and form of its spots and colours, some having their necks surrounded with a speckled ring: in some the spots are oblong, in others round. All have a rank fishy taste. DOCK. If a horse gall beneath the dock, the part should be greased every day, and washed with salt and water, or with good brandy. DOCKING. When done early, that is, when the colt is a mere sucker, may be performed with any common knife, and tied up with a common string, to prevent bleeding; but, if the operation be deferred until the horse be full grown, a docking knife is to be used. The hair is to be cut closely off the part of the tail to be cut, and the instrument's edge so placed as to come over the hollow between any of the rings or bones of the tail-a simple motion completes the operation. Some sear the tail with a hot iron after the operation; but if a strong twine be tied on the part above the incision, and before the operation, there will be nothing to warrant searing. DOE. See FALLOW-DEER. DOG. The most sagacious of animals, loves to associate with his kind: he possesses gaiety and gracefulness, a steady eye, and playful countenance; he is endowed with the strongest attachment, even to the loss of his own life; if roused to assail his own species, he only proceeds to conquer, and would not kill, unless urged on by savage man. When the dog howls he laments; but he constantly barks, and in this manner often expresses his joy, or his attachment to his master. Of the early existence of the dog in this island we have but little information, and it was not until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, that any authentic account of the varieties, or different breeds, if they may be so termed, appeared, when Dr. Caius furnished us with a description of sixteen species, several of which appear to be now extinct, or a few individuals only preserved by the curious. Fashion and caprice have from time to time caused the breeds of others to be neglected, so as now to be nearly or quite unknown. England, long eminent for horses, is no less so for the superiority of her breed of dogs, which appear to be preferred in almost every part of the world; but, for some peculiar cause, probably in the climate, are reported to change in their properties, by losing some and taking on others; and instances are afforded of their wholly degenerating. During the time of the Romans, the Mastiff dog seems to have been likewise states that his station was | his tremendous voice gives notice at Winchester. he is on duty, making the lurking Though now but little known, the felon, and the midnight thief tremnoble and generous Mastiff appears ble in their hiding-place. Even the formerly to have been trained to bat-blood-stained tyrant, whose sanguitle by the continental barbarians, nary actions have made him cease to and employed to protect their bag- confide in kindred man, and whose gage during war; and instances are guilty mind ever imagines amid the not wanting of their ably defending spears of his guard the pointed dagit for a long time against the con- ger of the assassin, has safely taken querors. Shakspeare might possi- as his sentinel this unshaken friend. bly allude to this when he says, Well might man erect a tomb, and a cry havock, great poet exclaim, And let slip the dogs of war." Whether the dog be indigenous to this island, like Buffon's hypothesis | of all varieties originating from the shepherd's dog, still remains a problem; and, after all that might be advanced on both sides, the reader would be left much in the same state of doubt; we shall not, therefore, attempt to solve it, for while so tough a controversy extends to MAN, and the question still undecided, as to which was his original colour, and which his native soil, we cannot hope to settle the question. "To mark a friend's remains these stones arise I never had but one—and here he lies!” Some varieties of dogs are endowed with an astonishing faculty and power of smelling. This is strongly exemplified in the spaniel, setter, pointer, hound, &c., but most strongly of all in the blood-hound, or sleuth-hound- -now nearly extinct, although formerly common in England, and partly in Scotland. The learned and philosophic Boyle, in his Essays of Effluvia, c. 4. instances the high perfection the blood-hound was made to arrive at, when his powers were attentively As an humble and faithful companion of man, the affectionate and intelligent spaniel, terrier, and poo-cultivated:-" A person of quality, dle stand preeminent. The active to whom I am near allied, related to setter, the staunch pointer, and mu- me, that, to make trial whether a sical hound, rejoicing with him in young blood-hound was well-inall the pleasures of the chase; while structed (or, as the huntsmen call the shepherd's dog guides and it, made), he caused one of his serguards the flock; and the usefulness vants, who had not killed, or so of the noble, faithful, and generous much as touched any of his deer, to mastiff, and Newfoundland, as a walk to a country town, four miles watch-dog, wherein he unites saga- off, and then to a market town three cious observation, unwearied watch-miles distant from thence; which fulness, and incorruptible fidelity. Extensive premises and valuable property may be safely entrusted to his single protection. His generous docility renders him even safe if loose by day; not neglecting his charge, he will attend the intruding stranger to the limits of his guard, and instantly seize him if he attempts to touch the property. The servants or friends of his master may roam unheeded; but when left to solitary night, he comprehends the importance of his trust, and with done, this nobleman did, a competent while after, put the blood-hound upon the scent of the man, and caused him to be followed by a servant or two, the master himself thinking it fit to go after them to see the event; which was, that the dog, without seeing the man he was to pursue, followed him by the scent to the abovementioned places, notwithstanding the multitude of travellers that had occasion to cross it; and when the blood-hound came to the chief market town, he passed through the streets without taking notice of any of the people there, and left not till he had gone to the house where the man he sought rested himself, to the wonder of those that followed him. The particulars of this narrative, the nobleman's wife, a person of great veracity, that happened to be with him when the trial was made, confirmed to me." See OLFAC TORY NERVES. watch which of them the bitch first takes and carries into her kennel again, and that they suppose to be the best. Others again imagine that which weighs the least when it sucks to be the best: this is certain that the lighter whelp will prove the swifter. As soon as the bitch has littered, it is proper to choose those you mean to preserve, and drown the rest. As pointers and spaniels, when good of their kinds, and well broken, are very valuable to sportsmen, it is worth while to take some care to preserve them in health. This very much depends on their diet and lodging; frequent cleaning their ken From the structure of the teeth, it is evident that the dog is a carnivorous animal. He is possessed of such strong digestive powers as to draw nourishment from the hardest bones. When oppressed with sickness, to which he is very subject, especially in the beginning of sum-nels, and giving them fresh straw to mer, and before ill weather; in order to procure reachings, he eats the leaves of the quicken-grass, the bearded wheat-grass, or the rough cock's-foot grass, which give him immediate relief. His drink is water, which he takes in small quantities at a time, by lapping with his tongue. His excrements are generally hard scybals, which, especially after eat ing bones, are white, and were once in great repute as a drug; but are now justly disregarded. In order to choose a dog and bitch for good whelps, take care that the bitch come of a generous kind, be well proportioned, having large ribs and flanks; and likewise that the dog be of a good breed and young, for a young dog and an old bitch breed excellent whelps. The best time for hounds to be lined in, are the months of January, February, and March. The bitch should be used to a kennel, that she may like it after her whelping, and she ought to be kept warm. Let the whelps be weaned after two months old; and though it be somewhat difficult to choose a whelp under the dam that will prove the best of the litter, yet some approve that which is last, and account him to be the best. Others remove the whelps from the kennel, and lay them generally and apart one from the other; then they lie on, is very necessary; or in summer time, deal shavings or sand, instead of straw, will check the breeding of fleas. A dog is of a very hot nature he should therefore never be without clean water by him, that he may drink when he is thirsty. In regard to their food, carrion is by no means proper for them: it must hurt their sense of smelling, on which the excellence of these dogs greatly depends. Barley-meal, the dross of wheat flour, or both mixed together, with broth or skimmed milk, is very proper food. For change a small quantity of greaves, from which the tallow is pressed by the chandlers, mixed with flour, or sheeps' feet well baked or boiled, are a very good diet and when you indulge them with flesh, it should always be boiled. For stealing a dog a man is to forfeit to the king, for the first offence, not less than 30l. nor more than 50l. with the charges attendant on his conviction, or be imprisoned not less than six, or more than twelve months. Any person keeping a dog accustomed to bite, is liable to be indicted for a common nuisance; and an action will lie against any person for any sheep, horse, &c. torn by a dog, if it be proved that the animal has done so before. DOGS, DISEASES OF. Dogs are sub ject to various diseases; the princi- | of the eyeball is likewise sometimes pal are thus described by Blaine, met with, but is incurable. with the method of their cure. Cancer. The virulent dreadful ulcer, that is so fatal in the human subject, and is called cancer, is un The canine asthma is hardly ever observed to attack any but either old dogs, or those who, by confine-known in dogs; yet there is very ment, too full living, and want of commonly a large schirrous swelling exercise, may be supposed to have of the teats in bitches, and of the become diseased by these devia- testicles (though less frequent) in tions from a state of nature. It is dogs, and as it sometimes becomes hardly possible to keep a dog very ulcerated, may be characterised by fat for any length of time, without this name. In the state of the disbringing it on. This cough is fre- ease discutients prove useful, as quently confounded with the cough vinegar with salt, and camphor, and that precedes and accompanies dis- Spanish flies, with mercurial ointtemper, but it may be readily dis- ment, have sometimes succeeded; tinguished by attention to circum- taking care to avoid irritating the stances; as the age of the animal, part so much as to produce blister. its not affecting the general health, But when the swelling is detached nor producing immediate emacia- from the belly, and hangs pendulous tion, and its less readily giving way in the skin, it had better be removed, to medicine. The cure is often very and as a future preventive suffer the difficult, because the disease has in bitch to breed. Schirrous testicles general been long neglected before are likewise sometimes met with; it is sufficiently noticed by the for these no treatment yet discoowners. As it is in general brought vered succeeds but the removal of on by confinement, too much warmth, the part, and that before the sperand over-feeding; so it is evident matic cord becomes much affected, the cure must be begun by a steady or it will be useless. persevering alteration in these particulars. The medicines most use-kinds of colic; one arising from conful, are alteratives, and of these occasional emetics are the best. One grain of tartarised antimony (i. e. tartar-emetic), with two, three, or four grains of calomel, is a very useful and valuable emetic. This dose is sufficient for a small dog, and may be repeated twice a week with great success-always with palliation. Colic.-Dogs are subject to two stipation of the bowels, the other is of a kind peculiar to dogs, apparently partaking of the nature of rheumatism, and also of spasm. From a sudden or violent exposure to cold, dogs become sometimes suddenly paralytic, particularly in the hinder parts; having great tenderness and pain, and every appearance of lumbago. In every instance of this kind there is considerable affection of the bowels, generally costiveness, al Of diseases of the eyes, dogs are subject to almost as great a variety as ourselves, many of which end in blindness. No treatment yet dis-ways great pain. A warm bath, covered will remove or prevent this complaint. Sore eyes, though not in general ending in blindness, are very common among dogs. It is an affection of the eyelids, is not unlike the scrofulous affection of the human eyelids, and is equally benefited by the same treatment: an unguent made of equal parts of nitrated quicksilver ointment, prepared tutty and lard, very lightly applied. Dropsy external stimulants, but more particularly active aperients, remove the colic. Colic, arising from costiveness, is not in general violently acute from the pain it produces; sometimes it appears accompanied with more spasm than is immediately dependent on the confinement of the bowels. In the former give active aperients, as calomel with pil. cochiæ, i. e. aloetic pill, and glysters; in the latter castor oil, with laudanum and ether. Cough.-Two kinds of cough are common among dogs, one accompanying distemper, the other is an asthmatic affection of the chest. See Canine Asthma. Distemper. This is by far the most common and most fatal among the diseases of dogs; hardly any young dog escaping it; and of the few who do escape it in their youth, three-fourths are attacked with it at some period afterwards: it being a mistake that young dogs only have it. It however generally attacks before the animal arrives at eighteen months old. When it comes on very early, the chances of recovery are very small. It is peculiarly fatal to greyhounds, much more so than to any other kind of dog, generally carrying them off by excessive scouring. It is very contagious: but it is by no means necessary that there should be contagion present to produce it; on the contrary, the constitutional liability to it is such, that any cold taken may bring it on: and hence it is very common to date its commencement from dogs being thrown into water, or shut out on a rainy day, &c. There is no disease which presents such varieties as this, either in its mode of attack or during its continuance. In some cases it commences by purging, in others by fits. Some have cough only, some waste, and others have moisture from the eyes and nose without any other active symptom. Moist eyes, dullness, wasting, with slight cough and sickness, are the common symptoms that betoken its approach. Then purging comes on, and the moisture from the eyes and nose from mere mucus becomes pus or matter. There is also frequently sneezing, with a weakness in the loins. When the disease in this latter case is not speedily removed, universal palsy comes on. During the progress of the complaint, some dogs have fits. When one fit succeeds another quickly, the recovery is extremely doubtful. Many dogs are carried off rapidly by the fits, or by purging; others waste gradually from the running from the nose and eyes, and these cases are always accompanied with great marks of putridity. In the early stages of the complaint give emetics; they are peculiarly useful. A large spoonful of common salt, dissolved in three spoonfuls of warm water, has been recommended; the quantity of salt being increased according to the size of the dog, and the difficulty of making him to vomit. While a dog remains strong, one every other day is not too much: the bowels should be kept open, but active purging should be avoided. In case the complaint should be accompanied with excessive looseness, it should be immediately stopped by balls made of equal parts of gum arabic, prepared chalk, and conserve of roses, with rice milk as food. Two or three grains of James's powder may be advantageously given at night, in cases where the bowels are not affected, and in the cases where the matter from the nose and eyes betokens much putridity, we have witnessed great benefit from balls made of "friar's balsam," gum guaiacum, and chamomile flowers in powder: but the most popular remedy is a powder prepared and vended under the name of Distemper powder, with instructions for the use of it. Dogs, in every stage of the distemper, should be particularly well fed. A seton we have not found so useful as is generally supposed; where the nose is much stopped, rubbing tar on the upper part is useful, and when there is much stupidity, and the head seems much affected, a blister on the top is often serviceable. Vaccination has also been found a valuable remedy for distemper. Safe and certain remedy for lice, &c. in dogs :-first, rub the animal thoroughly over with sweet oil before a fire; secondly, common soap and warm water, made into a strong |