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mon council-why, in a word, to use

the expression of the day, should theynot " petition, petition, petition," until

they are successful? The affairs of that

hospital are now the subject of general con-versation, and there cannot be a more fittingtime. If, however, they should fail, let themthen turn to Hanwell. The visiting justicesof that asylum, at least, profess to be theadvocates of the humane system, and areheld amongst its most strenuous supporters.They ought to be anxious to promulgate thesystem they have so resolutely supported, Iand to give to other institutions the benefitof the talents and experience which directtheir own. With their singularly-gifted re-sident physician and invaluable matron, theHanwell Asylum might be a school for thepractical training of superintendents andmatrons, as well as for the acquisition ofscientific principles; and there seems no goodreason why it should not be so. But, how-ever, this may be. I again say it is for theactors and not the lookers. on to bestir them-selves to obtain these valuable privileges,tending as much to the individual interestsof the medical practitioner as to the generalbenefit of mankind.

I now wish Mr. Bodington good night.May success attend DRIFFOLD HousE, if itbe only for the support it has given to ourcause. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

A LOOKER-ON.Sept. 14, 1841.

CULTIVATION OF THE CANINEBRAIN.

(From a Correspondent.)A SHORT time since, in an adjoining street

to Hanover-square, an exhibition of a highly-interesting nature took place, which is

worthy to be put on record. The writer

having learnt that a French gentleman (M.Leonard) who had for some time been en-gaged in instructimg two dogs in various -Iperformances, which required the exercise ’,not merely of the natural instincts of theanimal, and the power of imitation, but of ahigher degree of judgment and reflectionthan is commonly developed in the dog, wasresiding in London, obtained an introduction,and was obligingly favoured by M. Leonardwith permission to hold a conversazione withhis extraordinary pupils. Two fine dogs ofthe Spanish race were introduced by M.L- with customary French politeness;the largest by the name of M. Philax, theother as M. Brac (or Spot); the former hadbeen in training three, the latter two years.They were in vigorous health, and havingbowed very gracefully, seated themselvesside by side on the hearth-rug. M. Leonardthen gave a lively description of the meanshe had employed to develop the cerebral

system in these animals-how, from havingbeen very fond of the chase, and ambitiousof having the best trained dogs, he had em-ployed the usual course of training,-howthe conviction had been impressed on hismind that by gentle usage, and steady perse.verance in inducing the animal to repeatagain and again what was required, not onlywould the dog be capable of performingthat specific act, but that that part of thebrain which was brought into activity bythe mental effort would become more largelydeveloped, and hence a permanent increaseof mental power be obtained. This reason-ing is in accordance with the known laws ofthe physiology of the nervous system, andis fraught with the most important results-but we must not digress-and can only referthe reader interested in the subject to themasterly little work of Dr. Verity (" Changesproduced in the Nervous System by Civilisa-tion"). After this introduction M. Léonardspoke to his dogs in French, in his usualtone, and ordered the one to walk, the otherto lie down, to run, gallop, halt,crouch, &c.,which they performed as promptly and cor-rectly as the most docile children. Then hedirected them to go through the usual exer-cises of the menage, which they performedas well as the best trained ponies at Astley’s.He then placed six cards of different colourson the floor, and, sitting with his back tothe dogs, directed one to pick up the bluecard, the other the white, &c., varying hisorders rapidly, and speaking in such a man-ner that it was impossible the dogs couldhave performed if they had not had a perfectknowledge of the words. For instance, M.Léonard said, 11 Philax, take the red card,and give it to Brac:; and Brac, take the whitecard, and give it to Philax ;" and the dogsinstantly did this, and exchanged the cardswith each other. He then said," Philax,put your card on the green, and Brac putyours on the blue," and this was instantlyperformed. Pieces of bread and meat wereplaced on the floor, with figured cards, anda variety of directions were given to the dogs,so as to put their intelligence and obedienceto the severest test. They brought the meat,bread, or cards, as commanded, and never at-tempted to eat or to touch the bread or meat,unless ordered. Yet more, Philax was or-dered to bring a piece of meat and give it toBrac, and then Brac was to give it back to

Philax, who was to return it to its place.Philax was next told he might bring a pieceof bread and eat it, but before he had timeto swallow, his master forbad him, and di-rected him to show that he had not dis-obeyed, and the dog instantly placed thecrust between his lips. While many ofthese feats were being performed, M. Léo-nard snapped a whip violently, to provethat the animals were so completely underdiscipline, that they would not heed any in-terruption. After many other |performances

908

evincing the wonderful sagacity and percep-tion of the dogs, M. Leonard invited thewriter to play a game of dominos with oneof them. The younger and slighter animalthen seated himself on a chair at the table,and the writer and M. Leonard placed them-selves opposite. Six dominos were placedon their edges, in the usual manner, beforethe dog, and alike number before the writer.The dog, having a double number, took it

up in his mouth, and put it in the middle ofthe table : the writer placed a correspondingpiece on one side; the dog immediatelyplayed another correctly, and so on till allthe pieces were engaged. Other six dominoswere given to each, and the writer intention-ally placed a wrong number. The dog lookedsurprised, stared very earnestly at the writer,and at length growled, and finally bU1’ked

an-rily ; finding that no notice was taken ofhis remonstrances, he pushed away the wrongdomino with his nose, and took up a suitableone from his own pieces, and placed it in itsstead ! The writer then played correctly,the dog followed, and won the game. Notthe slightest intimation could have been

given by M. Leonard to the dog; his playmust have been entirely the result of his ownobservation and judgment. There was no

trickery, no mesmerism here. It should beadded that the performances were strictlyprivate; no gratuity was allowed even tothe servant. M. Léon3rd is a gentleman ofindependent fortune, and the instruction ofhis dogs has been taken up merely as acurious and amusing investigation.

PUBLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

BY THE

LONDON COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

EDMUND BELFOUR, Sec.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR :-By direction of the president Itransmit to you the inclosed, and requestthe insertion thereof in your Journal. I !

am, Sir, your most obedient servant,EDMUND BELFOUR, Sec.

Royal College of Surgeons, London,Sept. G, 184l.

The council proposing to publish, in thecourse of the ensuing year, a volume, to beentitled "Transactions of the Royal Collegeof Surgeons in London," invite, from themembers of the college and other scientificpersons, communications relating to the

improvement of anatomical and surgicalscience.The subjects proposed to be included in

this publication are specified in the follow-ing extract from the ordinances of the col-

lege :-11 The Transactions shall consist of Origi-

nal Communications on Surgical subjects ;Collegial and Jacksonian Prize Disserta-

tions, deemed of sufficient originality andmerit ; Original Memoirs on Human Ana-tomy ; Original Memoirs on ComparativeAnatomy ; Anatomical Monographs of rareAnimals, dissected in the Museum of theCollege ; Explanations of, and Commen.taries on, important Preparations in the

Museum, with illustrative Plates; Statisti-cal Reports from Hospitals."

It is requested that papers intended forpublication in this volume may be trans-mitted to the president, at the college, on orbefore the 1st of May, 1842.

EDMUND BELFOUR, Sec.July 28,1811.

EDMUND BELFOUR, Sec.

VACCINATION ACT, No. 2.

Anno Quarto and Quinto Victoriœ Reginœ.Cap. 32. AN ACT TO AMEND AN ACT TOEXTEND THE PRACTICE OF VACCINATION.21st June, 1841.

I. Expenses of Vaccination to be defrayed outof the Poor Rates.-Whereas an Act waspassed in the fourth year of the reign of herpresent Majesty, intituled An Act to extendthe Practice of Vaccination; but no expressprovision was thereby made for defrayingthe expenses of carrying the same into exe-cution ; be it therefore declared and enactedby the Queen’s most excellent Majesty, byand with the advice and consent of the Lordsspiritual and temporal, and Commons, inthis present Parliament assembled, and bythe authority of the same, That it shall beand be deemed to have been lawful for theguardians of every parish or union in Eng-land and Ireland, and the overseers of everyparish in England, by whom the contractsfor vaccination may respectively be or havebeen made under the provisions of the saidAct, to defray the expenses incident to theexecution of the said Act out of any rates ormonies which may come or may have comeinto their hands respectively for the relief ofthe poor.

II. Vaccination declared not to be ParochialRelief.-And be it further declared andenacted, That the vaccination, or surgical ormedical assistance incident to the vaccina-tion, of any person resident in any union orparish, or of any of his family, under thesaid Act, shall not be considered to be paro-chial relief, alms, or charitable allowance tosuch person, and that no such person shallby reason of such vaccination or assistancebe deprived of any right or privilege, or besubject to any disability or disqualificationwhatsoever.

*** This Act, although passed in the lastParliament, was only printed and issued tomembers on the first day of the presentsession.