Today a
paperback book landed on my doormat.It cost me £85 instead of £6.
This
happened as a result of some shady skulldugery by a major internet retail
site which caused me to make a rather expensive mistake. However, being a
half-full person I don't hold anything personal against
the book and settled down to what I hoped to be an absorbing read.
The book
isn't in the "humor" genre, and yet it raised several wry smiles. The
reason?
"I don't believe it! He did what?"
The book in question is a
reprint by Forgotten Books of "The Dog: Their Management, Being a New Plan
of Treating the Animal Based Upon a Consideration of their Nature",
written by the Victorian veterinarian, Edward Mayhew.
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| An illustration by Edward Mayhew on how to drench a horse Courtesy: RCVS Knowledge Library |
Already a
digression, but according to this
article by the RCVS Knowledge Library blog, Mr Edward Mayhew was the
brother of Henry Mayhew – the founding editor of Punch magazine. It seem Edward
also inherited his brother's sense of humor as demonstrated by some
charming watercolors poking fun at everyday life.
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| "Never mount a horse in a crowded place" by Edward Mayhew Courtesy: RCVS Knowledge Library |
Mr Mayhew
spent his early life working in the theatre and his veterinary career did not
start until his 30s (quite late for a Victorian). In the February of 1845 he
graduated from the London Veterinary College, and it nine years later in 1854
he published the book in question about the latest techniques for treating
dogs. It is difficult to gauge how popular Mr Mayhew was, but a brief obituary
in The Veterinarian (November 1868) could be interpreted as damning him with
faint praise.
"He was
well known as the author of several veterinary books."
So, what does
Mr Mayhew have to say?
A quick dip
in to the introduction reveals that Mr Mayhew was fully aware of the
limitations of veterinary knowledge in the 1850s.
"Canine pathology is not fully comprehended,
nor the action of the various medicines upon the poor beast yet clearly
understood."
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| Also by Edward Mayhew, a glimpse into the groom's room. RCVS Knowledge Library |
However, he
goes onto say that never was there a shortage of opinions on how to cure dogs.
"I seldom send a diseased dog
into the Park for exercise, when my servant [My emphasis – I wonder, is the modern day
equivalent a veterinary nurse?] does
not return to me with messages which strangers have volunteered how to cure the
animal."
People were
nothing if not generous with their knowledge.
"I hear of medicines that never
fail…Persons, often upper rank, honor me with secret communications which in
their opinion are of inestimable value…sportsmen command me to do
things which I am obliged to decline."
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| You understand I'm not bitter about the price of the book...right? |
Another quick
flick through the book and my eye lights on the chapter on
"Operations".
Perhaps mercifully for the dogs Mr Mayhew remarks there
are very few operations that are performed on the dog. Bizarrely, he then goes
onto a detailed account of how to amputate a toe (without anesthetic) for a
severely ingrown claw. But let Mr Mayhew explain in his own words:
"There is no absolute necessity
to muzzle the dog, provided the master is present and will undertake charge of
the head …to keep the attention of the dog fixed on himself."
But
apparently, the dog was not so much a problem as the owner.
"I have removed a joint or two
from the leg without the animal uttering a single cry; although the master,
unused to such sights, has been seized with sickness so as to require spirits
for his restoration".
Well, that's
quite enough of that for now, time for tea. Please come back next week for extra helpings.
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