This Nobleman, the Duke of Kingston, who was equally noto rious, if not quite so fortunate, in a wife, was the first person on record who had a distinct breed of black pointers.

The celebrated Colonel Thornton was subsequently, in his day, noted for them also; and even then they were looked upon as rare: but, in more recent times, they have become an every day concern, and are to be seen in all parts of the kingdom. They are generally fast, stout, remarkably fine-nosed-devils to fight-stand heat and drought extraordinarily, but agree none whatever with cold or wet, a good shower of rain ever bringing them cowering into heel, and are more subject to rheumatism and crippled legs and feet than any other dogs-which disqualifications make them no favorites of mine. I see no such excessive beauty in chub-noses and pig-tails. They may do very well in some places, but are by no means a dog for general work. The second, and most remark

teen or eighteen years ago, in three or four counties in Ireland, which they called the "no-tail breed." They were small shortbacked dogs, liver and yellow, and white, with good ears, and not very broad heads, sharpish to the nose, and the tail about two inches long, exactly similar to an English sheep dog. I could obtain no further information about them but that they were supposed to have come from France or Germany-they were very handsome and good, but not general. I got one, an excellent bitch, but lost her on board ship soon after, which I much regretted. The cross with the setter has been previously alluded to, which, as well as that with the Russian, some of whom make very good useful dogs, are the only ones I can speak to from experience. They are the varieties most likely at present to come under the hands of the breaker; and in my next I shall (with submission) endeavour to explain my thoughts on canine discipline.

A QUARTOGENARIAN.

SIR,

HAVING never heard of, nor

seen, a description of any method by which diseases of the spleen may be detected; and perceiving both in Part III. fol. 489, of Mr. Percivall's Scientific Lectures on the Veterinary Art, and also in a work of great merit, intitled "The Horse," under the patronage of Lord Brougham, that the authors are not acquainted with any means of ascertaining the diseased state of that organ,

I beg leave to lay before you an account of the way in which, in five successive cases (the first of which occurred in 1822), I have found the spleen to be extraordinarily enlarged; which should you consider worthy a place in your widely-circulated Magazine, its insertion at your earliest convenience will much oblige, Sir, your most obedient servant, W. MOGFORD, V. S. Guernsey, April 28, 1832.

Having first emptied the rectum by raking and injections of warm water, &c. I bare my arm to the shoulder (in fact I generally divest myself of my upper garments to the skin), which being previously well oiled (a little also being introduced by the fingers into the anus), I gently pass it up, and at the same time, with a creeping-like motion of my hand, gather as many of the loose folds of the rectum as I possibly can towards me, still pushing it on to its utmost length. at that part of the rectum or commencement of the colon, the hand is at perfect liberty, and turning it over on the left side, the spleen, when enlarged to the sizes subsequently described, may be very distinctly felt. Another thing I would beg leave to suggest is, that as a great anxiety is frequently felt by gentlemen and breeders to know whether mares are in foal before it can be discovered by any external appearances, or before the foetus has left the cavity of the pelvis, by passing the arm up in the same gentle manner it may be felt without incurring the least risk of causing abortion or any other ill consequence.

The first case which came under my notice was in a race horse, the property of George Leach, Esq. of Spichweek, near Ashburton, Devon. He had been ill for some time, under the care of several veterinarians, all of whom were unacquainted with the nature of his disease. When I first saw him, in June 1822, his winter coat was still hanging in patches on him, his skin very dry and hide bound, pulse beating 28 in a minute, and intermit ting every third stroke; urine

dark coloured, full of mucus, and similar in appearance to train oil; his bowels in a very disordered state, continually voiding large quantities of mucus, not in the manner horses do after having been hard ridden, or when under the influence of fever, but separately, and in more of a jelly-like consistence.

I commenced my treatment by slightly purging him, which brought off a large quantity of mucus; but a few days after the physic had set, the mucus was again voided as before. I then gave him, Gum Opium half a drachm, Calomel one drachm, for eight days successively, which brought his bowels into a regular state, but his urine remained unaltered. In consequence of the dark colour and turbid state of the urine, I passed my arm up the rectum to feel if there was any enlargement of the kidneys, and distinctly felt the spleen, which was of a very unusual size: soon after he died. On a post mortem examination the spleen weighed 15lbs. and measured nearly three feet in length.

The second was Clarence, a first-rate hunter, belonging to J. M. Woollcombe, Esq. of Ashbury, near Okehampton, Devon, whose spleen weighed 144lb., and his liver was in a very decayed state. He was subject to inflammatory affections, for which he frequently lost large quantities of blood; and in one attack of inflammation of the lungs he lost 26 quarts before he recovered. He hunted for six years, during which time, at the end of each hunting season, I was in the habit of giving him, Calomel one drachm, Tartarized Antimony half a drachm, Gum Opium

P

half a drachm, every day for ten days following, at which time it produced an inflammation of the gums, and strong foetor of the breath. He would then chew young grass, but could not swallow it, and was supported on bran-mashes and gruel; after which I used to give him, Epsom salts 1lb., and then, as soon as the inflammation of the throat and gums sub sided, repeated it again. This perfectly restored him for his next winter's work, with the exception of his sometimes hunting in a cold wind, with wet, and long checks, which shut up the pores of his skin; and lumps of the size of a small nutmeg would make their appearance, a scurf over the eye-lid, constipated bowels, dung of a light colour, and a peculiar toss of the head. Aloes would then have no effect on his bowels; but he was always relieved by the following ball two or three times administered: -Calomel, two drachms; Tartarized Antimony, two drachms; Powdered Antimony, two drs.; Gum Opium, one drachm.

Notwithstanding these repeated attacks he was a horse of great power, and capable of almost incredible exertions. I once saw him take a leap over a ditch without touching it-the distance from the place where he took off to that on which he landed was 32 feet and he could carry 16 stone to the tail of the fastest hounds; he was well known in the Devonshire Hunts, where he repeatedly signalised himself by his superior speed and bottom. His exploits are recorded in verse, where he is described as the "fleet-flooted Clarence," in an account of Devonshire Hunts, by

George Templar, Esq. of Stovor, near Chudleigh, Devon.

The third was in Sultan, a hunter who was never beaten, and for whom no day was too long, belonging also to J. M. Woollcombe, Esq. The horse was unexpectedly called upon for his services in the field when totally unfit for the exertion. In consequence of the great fleetness of Mr. W.'s hounds he was ridden excessively hard over a very heavy country, and came home completely blown and exhausted; the next day there was a total loss of appetite, a high degree of fever, and his urine in a state similar to that of Mr. Leach's horse. I then passed my arm up the rectum as before, and felt the spleen very much enlarged. I then bled him copiously, administered some laxative medicines, and in about a week he appeared to be perfectly recovered. I then again passed my arm up to feel if the enlargement still existed, but it was beyond my reach, and I concluded diminished to its natural size.

The fourth was in Tom, another hunter belonging to the same gentleman, who was troubled with an inveterate cutaneous affection, for which I introduced (by way of experiment) large quantities of mercury into the system by friction, the hair was shaved off along the course of the spine and on the inside of the thighs, and two active men were employed in rubbing in the strongest mercurial ointment for nearly an hour for ten days successively. This oppressed his breathing, swelled his body to an uncommon size, rendered his mouth sore, and produced a discharge of saliva. There was no mucus in the bowels, nor any in the urine; but it was of a

very high colour, and very pungent: the standard of his pulse was 24, intermitting every third stroke, and he had a peculiar stiffness in his hind legs. Independently of this his health was generally good, and he was able to stand a hard day's hunt; but his spleen is, I am certain, larger than either of the other horses was, as it reached back as far as the pelvis: it must be more than three feet in length, and I should judge 20lb. weight. I saw him in May 1830 looking tolerably well.

Also another, belonging to Major Lane, of Guernsey the spleen weighed 14lb. The liver was

perfectly healthy. He had never done any work, but had always an unthrifty appearance, his old coat sticking to him, and was subject to fits of ague, with great trembling. He was destroyed as useless. There was this difference from any of the abovementioned cases, that the splenic artery was completely clogged up with coagulated blood. Worms* were found in the pancreas and the mesenteric glands. This is by no means an uncommon case, as I believe they will be found there in five out of ten cases in horses which have been long subject to them.

SIR

HE East wind is hushed, THE and reposes in his dusky cavern: I hear not his thirsty howl, I feel not his dry cold breath. Nature rejoices, and genial showers bless the thirsting earth. The beautiful flowers, the most simple of whom Solomon in all his glory could not equalthose beloved guests of spring time-rush forth in all their magnificence: they spread a carpet of sweet smelling odour under my feet. The modest violet-oh, how I love that violet!-is peeping upwards, and blessing me with her delicious savour. Do not stare, gentle readers; do not turn up the lip of scorn, ye hardy fox-hunters. I, who love the violet, am the most enthusiastic lover of the chase that treads upon the floor of the Creation......and I was-I fear not to write it

one of its boldest and most devoted followers. What am I now?......aye, there's the rub. You shall have my picture by and bye! Many a gallant brother fox-hunter, aye and many a hard-riding soldier (MILES one of them), may wish to know how ONEOFUS gangs on over the path of life.

Excuse me for a short time. The blackbird has called my mind away from the path of sorrow: he is pouring his delightful song into my ears: the thrush answers him from the top of yonder high tree: the birds are carolling around me: all Nature is full of sweetness, and harmony, and joy......Ha! ha! the vocal concert ceases; the orchestra of Nature is still other actors appear upon the theatre of the Flowery Carpet. What little gam

boling beauties!-Two young foxes-comical in their Harlequinade Comedy-Keen no doubt in Tragedy-they sniff the tainted gale: there is something in the wind they wot not of .....They are gone......the plumed orchestra returns......I hear them not! that young blood-stained Macbeth, that snarling Richard, have put singing birds, violets, all, all away. I put on the old man ......I look behind the scenes...... there are many more actors there of the same sort, young and apty. Oh, my dear Will of Waterloo, had you but seen them! There they are

"Flava genista suis se fixit pellibus, hastis

Munit vulnificis undique spina domum:" there they are. Tom Limpetty, come and see them! There they are......and here am I......a shadow, a poor melancholy crawling shadow......and there you have my promised portrait.

I wrote this letter to thank

MILES for having done me the honor to address two letters to me. I think I ken my friend. Do I not know thee, Juvenis?— Do'st thou remember a rabbit hole......a fall......being bled in a cottage.....the same day that some other bold ones got rattlers?--If thou be the mon I think, thou art a good one--a bold rider. I hope I shall see thee again. Dum spiro, spero.

I have somewhat to say more in another letter which Madame Maga shall have soon, si vivimus. Excuse this hurry, as Post-offices will not wait for fair copies, nor for your friend, ONEOFUS.

May 3, 1832.

Our valued Correspondent will perceive that we have omitted a portion of his letter and the whole of the Postscript, for which we make no apology, as we feel convinced he will duly appreciate our motive.

SIR,

No O Mecting ever commenced under more inauspicious circumstances than the present Malton assemblage, from the toowell-known fact of the recent disease which has so virulently and fatally attacked the several horses that have been undergoing scholastic preparation at this celebrated ACADEMY previous to public examination; which, independently of placing many in a state of bad health, and consequent inability to make an appearance, would also deter other trainers from journeying with their horses to this land of pestilence, lest the epidemic might be susceptibly

caught and imported to their hitherto abodes of purity and health. However, I am happy to say-and I am sure it will give your numerous readers pleasure to hear that on my arrival I found all the horses fast progressing to health and vigour, the disease entirely abated, and left the place-after having made most dreadful ravages, particularly in Mr.Scott's stables no less anumber than forty-four horses having been attacked, and in nine cases terminated fatally, which (as erroneous statements have gone forth in the public prints), for the information of your numerous