To the Editor:—
In the interest of accuracy, a revision of Dr. Morris's revision of Mr. Terhune's statement (The Journal, September 5, p. 809) seems necessary. "Canines give a vigorous shake to a bite" is altogether too broad a generalization to apply to a genus purposely bred to such wide variations, trained to immensely different modes of action. The quoted statement is true of the terrier breeds, which, seizing small animals such as rats and rabbits, give a shake to break the neck. In contrast, breeds such as the collie and wolfhound, equipped with long shearing jaws, give a swift slash and leap back instantly to escape the enemy's riposte. Then consider the retriever breeds, trained to seize their prey with the utmost gentleness. I have never known one of this breed, even under extreme provocation, to give a human being a bite that could be called more than a