a dog alive under the cornerstone of a church, that its ghost might haunt the churchyard and drive off any who would profane it, such as witches. Among the numerous other pieces of folk-lore associated with this friend of man may be mentioned one which ascribes to it fetichistic notions. Mr. Fiske cites the case of a Skye terrier who, being accustomed to obtain favors from his master by sitting on his haunches, was in the habit of sitting before his pet india-rubber ball, placed on the chimneypiece, "evidently," to quote his own words, "beseeching it to jump down and play with him." As, however, it has been justly pointed out, it is far more reasonable to suppose that a dog who had been day by day drilled into a belief that standing upon his hind legs was pleasing to his master-and who, in consequence, had accustomed himself to stand on his hind legs when he desired anything-may have stood up rather from force of habit and eagerness of desire than because it had any fetichistic notions, or expected the india-rubber ball to listen to its supplications. Mr. Fiske argues however that the behavior of the terrier rested rather upon the assumption that the ball was open to the same kind of entreaty which prevailed with the master-implying not that the dog accredited the ball with a soul, but that in its mind the distinction between life and inanimate existence had never been thoroughly realized. Another idea relating to the dog is that it possesses extraordinary quickness in discerning character. It is said that, whereas it avoids ill-tempered persons, it will generally follow any stranger, if he be of a kind and cheerful disposition. According to some, too, the life of a dog is closely connected with that of its master, and if the latter die, the former will soon do likewise. Among the Highlanders, even at the present day, great care is taken that dogs do not pass between a couple that are going to be married, as endless ill-luck is supposed to result from such an unfortunate occurrence. Formerly, too, in Scotland and in the north of England, it was reckoned so ominous for a dog to jump over a coffin, that the wretched animal was at once killed without mercy. Mr. Henderson relates how, as a funeral party were coming from a lonely house on a fell, carrying a coffin, as they were unable to procure a cart, they set it down to rest themselves, when a collie dog jumped over it. It was felt by all that the dog must instantly be killed before they proceeded any farther, and killed it was. Before concluding our remarks on the many superstitions relating to the dog, we must not omit to mention briefly some of those connected with hydrophobia. There is a very common idea prevalent even among the educated classes, that a strong sympathy exists between the cause of an injury and the victim. Hence, in the case of any one being bitten by a dog not mad, it is said that it should be killed at once, as this alone can insure the person's safety; otherwise, should the dog hereafter go mad, even years hence, he would be attacked with hydrophobia. The following extract from the Pall Mall Gazette for October 12, 1866, illustrates a singular remedy for hydrophobia until quite recently practised in Buckinghamshire: "At an inquest held on the body of a child which had died of hydrophobia, evidence was given of a practice almost incredible in civilized England. Sarah Mackness stated that, at the request of the mother of the deceased, she had fished the body of the dog by which the child had been bitten out of the river, and had extracted its liver, a slice of which she had frizzled before the fire, and had then given it to the child, to be eaten with some bread. The child ate the liver greedily, drank some tea afterwards, and then died in spite of this strange specific." A similar superstition prevails in Sussex. In an old manuscript receipt-book of cookery, quoted by a correspondent of Notes and Queries, the following charm occurs for the bite of a mad dog: To be written on an apple, or on fine white bread: O King of Glory, come in peace, Hax, Max, Adinax, opera chudor. In one of Cervantes' novelas, "La Gitanilla," we read of a young man who, on approaching a gipsy camp by night, was attacked and bitten by dogs. An old gipsy woman undertook to cure his wounds, and her procedure was thus. She took some of the dog's hairs and fried them in oil; and, having first washed with wine the bites the man had in his left leg, put the hairs and oil over them. She then bound up the wounds with clean cloths and made the sign of the cross over them. This superstition, which is still found in our own country, is an instance of the ancient homoeopathic doctrine, that what hurts will also cure. It is mentioned in the Scandinavian Edda: Dog's hair heals dog's bite." T. F. THISELTON DYER. From The Spectator. MR. BRUDENELL CARTER ON book SIGHT. * the eye, does the organ no harm, while it SHORT also shows that an eyeglass does the eye which is less frequently used no perceptiMR. BRUDENELL CARTER in his recent decrease the sight in the other eye, but ble injury. It is supposed popularly to 66 on Eyesight," puts forward some opinions on short sight and weak experience lends no support to that notion. The reason of the watchmaker's sight which are worth record, and which, if not new to oculists, will, we believe, be exemption clearly is that he takes care new to many of our readers. No idea always to work in a good light, carefully about eyesight is so universal, or causes arranged and moderated, so as neither to so much inconvenience, as the one about tire the eye nor to leave it insufficiently the danger of taxing it by fine work, by supplied. Long hours of work by artifistrain, as it is called, and close attention cial light of course tire the sight, and long hours in badly ventilated rooms may serito very small objects. Most men, and almost all women, even in the educated ously increase a predisposition to weakclasses, think that much reading or writ-ness of the eyes; but the evil is not in the ing "tries" the eyes, and that "fine work," particularly fine needlework, is apt to induce, if not total blindness, at least some direct and painful affection of the eye. In thousands of households children are cautioned not to read so much or work so much, lest they should injure their eyes, and women constantly shrink from paying employments from the same latent or expressed fear. Mr. Brudenell Carter evidently does not believe this terror well founded. He doubts whether eyes in their normal condition, or raised to their normal condition by proper spectacles, are injured by exercising sight at all. The muscles which control the eye certainly are not, and there is no proof that any other part of the apparatus is. On the contrary, the class which of all others in the kingdom most strains its eyes is singularly and exceptionally free from eye-disease. Mr. Carter says: "Re markable evidence of the harmlessness of continuous working by the aid of a single convex glass is furnished by watch makers, among whom such work is an unavoidable condition of their calling, and who appear to me to enjoy an enviable immunity from eye diseases. It is exceedingly uncommon to see a working watchmaker among the patients of the ophthalmic department of a hospital; and I entertain little doubt that the habitual exercise of the eye upon fine work tends to the development and to the preservation of its powers." Grant, what is very probable, that the watchmakers are picked inen, with exceptionally good eyes, and still their exemption from suffering under such a strain serves to show that fine work, work requiring painful attention of Eyesight: Good and Bad. A Treatise on the nell Carter, F.R.C.S. London: Macmillan and Co. Exercise and Preservation of Vision. By Robert Brude 1880. exercise of the faculty, but in its exercise has probably not passed twenty days with- tionary, though he can read it in all its แ full of light, but have all the while only | should, as it were, grow to be part of the twilight, or even a deep shadow, falling face. Mr. Carter, however, pushes his upon the work in hand. Light, full light, | theory rather far, when he applies it so but light without glare, is the grand pre- strongly to children as he seems to us servative of the eyes. inclined to do. He is evidently of opinion The next preservative, Mr. Carter says, that children with "myopic" or shortis the habitual use of proper spectacles. sighted eyes cannot wear spectacles too The curious notion, once, we believe, soon, not only because the glasses arrest general in all classes, and still almost uni- the development of the malformation versal among the poor, that glasses wear for it is a malformation, an elongation out the eyes, is, he believes, a mere de- of the eyeball but because they lose lusion. They preserve the eyes. Bad such an enormous amount of instruction glasses or unsuitable glasses, of course, through the eye, and grow up, as it were, produce great fatigue of the eyes, though comparatively inexperienced. A distinthat fatigue is not so injurious as is sup- guished man of science, who is myopic in posed; but glasses of themselves, even a high degree, and who did not receive when a little too "strong," do no perma- glasses until he was nineteen or twenty nent harm whatever. "A popular, but years old, has often told me how much he entirely unfounded, prejudice, which exists had to do in order to place himself upon amongst the public with regard to the the same level, with regard to experience hurtful effects of wearing convex glasses of quite common things, with many of his which are too strong, appears to be trace-normal-sighted contemporaries; and it able to an error founded upon a curious will be manifest on reflection that the coincidence. There is a disease of the matters which are lost by the shorteye termed glaucoma, which formerly sighted, as by the partially deaf, make ended in complete and irremediable blind- up a very large proportion of the pleasness, but which, for twenty years past, ures of existence. I once prescribed has been cured by operation, when rec- glasses to correct the myopia of a lady ognized sufficiently early. One of the who had for many years been engaged in first or even of the premonitory symp- teaching, and who had never previously toms of glaucoma is a rapid failure of the worn them. Her first exclamation of accommodation, and hence a frequent de- pleasurable surprise, as she put on her mand for stronger and stronger glasses. spectacles and looked around her, was a At a time when this disease was very curious commentary on the state in which imperfectly understood, opticians saw her life had until then been passed. She many examples of people who came to said, 'Why! I shall be able to see the them for stronger glasses every two or faces of the children!"" All that is very three months, who were helped by them true, and spectacles in childhood might for a time, but who soon became totally benefit the eyes and we suppose do, for blind; and it was not unnatural for them we begin to see them worn by children to associate the blindness with the use of with ever-increasing frequency-but Mr. the strong glasses." Good pebble spec- Carter's opinion is that of a man who, as tacles, carefully suited to the sight, may he mentions, has very good sight himself, be worn perpetually, as if they were part and never wore spectacles of any sort. of the anatomy of the body, and will pro- Spectacles, he may depend on it, if healthy duce no ill-effects upon the sight of any for children's eyes, are unhealthy for the sort. They rather strengthen it, by the rest of their bodies. They diminish the immense relief they afford to the six desire for activity too much. A squirrel muscles which regulate the eye, and in spectacles would never get a dinner. which in short-sighted people and people A child cannot jump easily in spectacles, with old sight are apt, without spectacles, and if he wears them restrains himself gradually to get strained, in the effort to too much; while he acquires rapidly that enable the owner to see. It is, of course, sense of possible danger to the eyes from important to obtain the right glasses, so a fracture of the glass, which no one who important that it would pay even poor wears spectacles is ever quite without, men to find a guinea for a competent which in fact becomes an instinct, like oculist once or twice in the course of a the winking of the eyelid. A blow from lifetime, merely to obtain an order for the a ball, or a stick, or a hand, which would spectacles exactly suited to their sight; hardly injure the face of an ordinary but once obtained, the glasses may be child, may mean for one who is wearing worn forever, and indeed are most bene- spectacles death by torture. There is an ficial when permanently worn. They instinctive sense of that in most spectacle As we are writing upon spectacles, we may be permitted to ask a question. Would it be wholly beneath the dignity of some great oculist to give a thorough study to the question of the mechanism of spectacle-frames? It is very far from perfect now. The bridge is a great deal too liable to get bent, producing the most distressing confusion, one eye seeing through the centre of the glass, and one not; there can be no sound reason for rims of any sort, and they are a positive interruption to sight; and the whole plan of making the arms is barbarous. The frames should not be made in hundreds, but to fit each face, and the sides constructed in some way which will make them far less mobile. At present they will not stick on well without double arms, they require adjustment every few minutes, and their joints are perpetually getting loose. Spectacles without rims, with some better contrivance for the bridge, and so closely fitted as to require infrequent adjustment, would, we are convinced, prove a fortune to the inventor, and carry the name of the lucky oculist far and wide. wearers, which diminishes unconsciously | imperial ice palace. The cost of erection their activity, and which would be most has amounted to three thousand roubles, injurious to children, who ought to be or at the present rate of exchange, a little always in motion, without thought of pos- above three hundred pounds sterling; sible consequences. Of course, in seri- but this has already been more than covous cases the danger of sedateness must ered, as the first six days of the exhibibe risked; but in ordinary cases we sus- tion brought in something like eight pect it is better to leave things alone, and thousand roubles. The appearance of to take to spectacles only when childhood this structure is most attractive in the is fairly past. evening, when lit up with electric and Bengal lights. It is built on the pond of the Zoological Gardens, and occupies about fifty feet square, including the space inclosed by the ice-railing. Entrance inside is prohibited, owing, no doubt, in great measure to the damage the steps would suffer from the visitors continually passing up and down. The house itself is about twelve feet high, with a roof some nine feet higher. It is built in the form of a parallelogram; and with all due respect to the empress Anna and to the authorities of the gardens, reminds one more of a barn than anything else. This, however, is only an accident of shape. Looking at it when illuminated by electricity, the sight is one well worth seeing. The ice in front is of the purest, and glitters with almost dazzling brightness, and where a corner catches the light, the onlooker might imagine that it was set with precious stones. One end of the house is built of alternate pieces of dark and clear ice- -a combination which, whether brought about intentionally or not, produces a very good effect, and irresistibly reminds one of a chess-board. Both at the front and back, there is a doorway in the centre of the house, and on each side three windows. Round each of these is a cornice, and between the windows plain, flat columns without any capitals. These, with a large shallow shell over the doorway, and a balustrade running along the edge of the roof, are the only attempts at decorating the building itself. About half-a-dozen steps lead up to the doorway in front. At the foot The pleasure-seekers of Moscow have of these, on blocks of ice, repose two dolthis year been gratified by a spectacle phins, one on each side; they in their turn which, for novelty at least, has not been are flanked each by a mortar, and at each surpassed by anything they have wit-extremity are two cannon - all of ice. nessed for a long time. This spectacle To complete the building, two chimneys is a house built entirely of ice. It is a grace the roof. In front of the house and copy of the one the empress Anna Ivan- a little to the side are two ice lodges, in ovna constructed in St. Petersburg on the the form of square towers. The execuriver Neva, and the plans and description tion of the work is worthy of all praise. of which are kept in the archives of Mos- The preparation of the window-panes, COW. From these papers, the enterpris- made to resemble plate-glass, is said to ing managers of the Zoological Gardens | have given some trouble, as it was first here have obtained the details necessary necessary to get blocks of ice of a suitfor constructing a miniature copy of the able size, and then, by means of hot irons, From Chambers' Journal. A RUSSIAN ICE HOUSE. We have received the following description of an ice house from a gentleman resident in Moscow: he says:· to reduce them to the proper thickness | a small scale. How far it is practicable -- about a quarter of an inch. They have in Scotland or England, is another questhe appearance of frosted glass. The tion; but I may mention another icy propreparation of the other parts, though duction which it would be worth trying easier, has required great care; the be- to make - pictures in ice. Take a block stowal of which, however, has been repaid of ice, smooth the surface, and paint some to those on whom fell the responsibility scene on it. The paint will soon dry; of the work, by the consciousness of hav- and then water should be poured over it ing performed their task well, and by the until the block is some inches thicker. general pleasure afforded to the public. A friend of mine a short time ago saw a On Saturday the 14th of February the specimen of this, and declares the effect Prince of Bulgaria, Alexander I., visited was very good. He at first thought the the gardens to inspect the ice house. picture was on the outside; and it was only after examining it more closely that he found out his mistake. Perhaps some who read this may feel inclined to make a similar experiment on this way would be less wretched and live longer if they were more hopeful. It is useless to expect that any one can be reasoned into a lighter frame of mind, but it is desirable that all should be taught to understand the sustaining, and often even curative, power of "good spirits." Lancet. I ESTHETIC CHARM OF A LONDON FOG. – The London fog has, I am aware, been mis. judged by foreigners, like other English .institutions. To me it is as a poetic halo, investing the mighty city with a peculiar charm. speak not here of the simple utilitarian sense of comfort to which it sometimes ministers. When I sit down with lighted candles and cheerful firelight on a yellow London morning, I bless the useful fog-as the "conscious swains" blessed the Homeric moonshinewrap myself in the sense of charmed isolation, and sympathize with the eel who buries himself in the mysterious darkness of mud and water at the bottom of some sullen stream. But here I would only dwell upon the more distinctly æsthetic charm of our peculiar atmosphere. Some people talk as though pitiless sunshine and cloudless skies were an essential condition of landscape beauty. They have not yet discovered that the whole poetry of a land THE POWER OF "GOOD SPIRITS.". - With | short-sighted. Most of the sorrowful and worthe aid or under the influence of "pluck," ried cripples who drag out miserable lives in using that term in a modern sense and in relation to the daily heroism of life in the midst of difficulties, it is possible not only to surmount what appear to be insuperable obstructions, but to defy and repel the enmities of climate, adverse circumstances, and even disease. Many a life has been saved by the moral courage of a sufferer. It is not alone in bearing the pain of operations or the misery of confinement in a sick room this self-help becomes of vital moment, but in the monotonous tracking of a weary path and the vigorous discharge of ordinary duty. How many a victim of incurable disease has lived on through years of suffering, patiently and resolutely hoping against hope, or, what is better, living down despair, until the virulence of a threatening malady has died out, and it has ceased to be destructive, although its physical characteristics remained! This power of "good spirits" is a matter of high moment to the sick and weakly. To the former it may mean the ability to survive, to the latter the possibility of outliving, or living in spite of, a disease. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance to cultivate the highest and most buoyant frame of mind which the conditions will admit. The same energy which takes the form of mental activity is vital to the work of the organism. Mental influences affect the system, and a joyous spirit not only relieves pain, but increases the momentum of life in the body. The victims of disease do not commonly suffi-scape depends upon its atmospheric drapery. ciently appreciate the value and use of "good spirits." They too often settle down in despair when a professional judgment determines the existence of some latent or chronic malady. The fact that it is probable they will die of a particular disease casts so deep a gloom over their prospect that through fear of death they are all their lifetime subject to bondage. The multitude of healthy persons who wear out their strength by exhausting journeys and perpetual anxieties for health is very great, and the policy in which they indulge is exceedingly The dead earth is informed with life by the varying lights and shades; all that is dramatic and vital in scenery, all that the poet sees and that is not seen by the land surveyor, depends upon the shifting effects of vapor and cloud. The very definition of life includes change; and without the ceaseless interchange of gloom and brilliancy, with the infinite gradations of luminous intershades, the world would be as dead as the moon, and the landscape might be fitly represented by a colored diagram. Cornhill Magazine. |