De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
Notwithstanding many make much of those pretty puppies called Spaniels
gentle, yet if the question were demaunded what propertie in them they
spye, which shoulde make them so acceptable and precious in their sight,
I doubt their aunswere would be long a coyning. But seeing it was our
intent to trauaile in this treatise, so that y^e reader might reape some
benefite by his reading, we will communicate vnto you such coniectures
as are grounded upon reason. And though some suppose that such dogges
are fyt for no seruice, I dare say, by their leaues, they be in a wrong
boxe. Among all other qualities therfore of nature, which be knowne (for
some conditions are couered with continuall and thicke clouds, that the
eye of our capacities can not pearse through thẽ) we (22) find that
these litle dogs are good to asswage the sicknesse of the stomacke being
oftentimes thervnto applyed as a plaster preseruatiue, or borne in the
bosom of the diseased and weake person, which effect is performed by
theyr moderate heate. Moreouer the disease and sicknesse chaungeth his
place and entreth (though it be not precisely marcked) into the dogge,
which to be no vntruth, experience can testify, for these kinde of
dogges sometimes fall sicke, and sometime die, without any harme
outwardly inforced, which is an argument that the disease of the
gentleman, or gentle woman or owner whatsoeuer, entreth into the dogge
by the operation of heate intermingled and infected. And thus haue I
hetherto handled dogges of a gentle kinde whom I haue comprehended in a
triple diuisiõ. Now it remaineth that I annex in due order such dogges
as be of a more homely kinde.
A Diall pertaining to the
_thirde Section_.
In the third section is cõtained one kind of dog which is called the
Spaniell gentle or the cõforter,
It is also called
{ A chamber cõpanion,
{ A pleasaunt playfellow,
{ A pretty worme,
generally called _Canis delicatus_.
(23) The fourth Section of this
_discourse_.
Dogges of a course kind seruing for many necessary
vses called in Latine _Canes rustici_, and first of
the shepherds dogge called in Latine
_Canis Pastoralis_.
Dogges of the courser sort are
{ The shepherds dogge
{ The mastiue or Bandogge.
These two are the principall.
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