Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Blood-hound

BLOOD-HOUND, Sanguinarius, a species of dog remarkable for possessing the sense of smelling in the highest degree. This animal is distinguished by his long, smooth, and pendent ears, broad chest, muscular form, a deep tan colour, and is generally marked with a black spot above each eye. We beliewe the breeding of this species has of late years been neglected.

These animals were formerly much employed in the discovering of game that had escaped, or been stolen out of the forest. From the acuteness of their smell, they are said to have also been able to trace the footsteps of man with the greatest certainty: hence, they were trained for discovering delinquents who endeavoured to escape the hands of justice.

Dogs of this species were once greatly esteemed on the confines of England and Scotland, and employed to prevent, or detect, the depredations which the inhabitants were, continually committing on each other.