Beeton's book of poultry and domestic animals - Thurman Lodge ...

for hyclrophobia, and that many a poor beast has been thus
sammarily and wrongfully slaughtered. Not that fit^ are
harmless, either to the creature or to those who may by chance
come within reach of its spasmodically twitching jaws. It is
a very serious malady, and its symptoms decidedly lunatic
The dog, trotting before or behind his master, wiU suddenly
stand stiU and look round mazily, and then emitting a curious
cry that is neither a bark nor a howl, will fall on his side, conti'
nuing the curious noise, but more feebly As soon as he has
fallen his limbs assume a strong rigidity, but after a few moments
they relax, the animal kicks violently, the eyes are wide
open and staring, and foam issues from the mouth. In this
condition he will eagerly bite and snap at anythiug that is put
near his mouth. Presently his convulsions will subside, he will
raise his head, and look about him, as though wondfering what in
the name of goodness he does lying on the pavement in the midst
of a crowd of men and boys. No doubt in his present dreamy
condition he sees himself surrounded on every side by danger,
and is anxious to escape. This he is not long in attempting,
Starting to his feet, he makes a bolt at somebody's legs, and
somebody is only too anxious to skip aside and let the animal
pass. He starts off. Never did dog look more mad. Never
did mad dog run faster. Hi ! Hi ! Mad dog ! Mad
dog
Boys bawl, men shout, women scream, stones are thrown, and
carters, secure in their vehicles, endeavour to club him, as he
dashes past, with the butt-end of their heavy whips. Presently
he receives a blow that stuns him, and tumbles him over in themud,
and he dies the death of a mad dog, however little he
may deserve it.
" The first thing to do," says Mr. Mayhew, " when out with
a dog which has a fit, is to secure the animal and prevent it
running away when the fit is over. The second thing is, for
the person who owns the dog stubbornly to close his ears to
the crowd who are certain to surround him. No matter what
advice may be given, he is to do nothing but get the animal
home as quickly as possible. He is neither to lance the mouth,
sUt the ear, nor cut a piece of its tail off. He is on no accoimt
to administer a full dose of salt and water, or a lump of to-
bacco, or to throw the animal into an adjacent pond ; and of
all things he is to allow no man more acquainted with dogs
than the rest of the spectators to bleed the animal. Any offer
to rub the nose with syrup of buckthonj, however confidently
he who makes the proposal may recommend that energetic
!