The oldest published record of the Saint Bernard in
the English language appeared in an English newspaper, The Saturday
Magazine, on 11 March 1832. The text of the article follows. It
should be noted that the accuracy of some of the information in this
article is doubted by modern scholars.THE DOGS OF ST. BERNARD
By the kind permission of Mr. Landseer, we are enabled this week to
present a wood-cut, taken from his very interesting print of the
"Alpine Mastiffs," or Dogs of St. Bernard. One of these
sagacious and well-trained animals is represented clearing away the snow
from an unfortunate traveller, who has been overtaken by one of the
sudden avalanches so common in these mountains; the other, with his loud
voice, giving the alarm to the monks at the convent, who are seen
hastening with the pious intention of conveying the sufferer to their
hospitable shelter and restoring, if possible, suspended animation. The
Hospital, or Convent of St. Bernard, is situated on the elevated edge
which runsbetween Mont St. Velan to the east, and Point de Dronay to the
west, and is computed to be 8200 feet above the level of the sea.
It is a massive and substantial building, and contains a small museum of
mineralogical specimens and various antiquities found on the site of the
Roman temple of Jupiter on this mountain. There are also specimens of a
singular sort of ptarmigan, called Herbene. This bird in winter is
perfectly white; in spring and summer, black and white mixed; and, in
autumn, nearly black: they are found in abundance in the neighbourhood
of the convent. The chapel is large and lofty: the congregation consists
entirely of peasants, partly Piedmontese and partly Valaisans. The order
of Bernardines was properly Augustine, till moulded into its present
form by St. Bernard in A.D. 962. He is said to have founded one hundred
and sixty monasteries and convents, and this has survived most of them.
The number of monks varies from time to time, but usually consists of
twenty or twenty-five, all natives of the countries north or the Alps.
They are enjoined to board and lodge all strangers and passengers, at
all seasons, and assist them with guides in traversing the mountains,
without charge or cost. In winter, their rules command them to
send every day, whatever may be the weather, two able and powerful men,
called Maroniers who are accustomed to the mountains, one towards the
Italian side, the other towards Valais. These traverse the pass
the whole day, attended by one of the great dogs, keeping a path open in
the snow, and watching for passengers. If
the Maronier meets with any person bewildered or exhausted, or if his
sagacious companion indicates by his movements that any unfortunate
being is under the snow, he returns with all speed to the Hospital to
give the alarm. Several of the monks then instantly set out with
restoratives, to be used, if the object of their care is not too far
gone. Four carry the body, while the rest go forward to trample the snow,
which is often more than twenty feet in depth, and give facility to the
advance of their brethren. Cold water, with
ice immersed in it, is prepared as the most efficacious remedy, and
thebody placed in it: if this fails in restoring animation, all hope is
at an end. The dogs are of a large,
and, it need not be added, sagacious breed, originally fromSpain. The
largest of the race, called Jupiter, was in high esteem about four years
ago, for the number of lived he had saved, and was considered more than
usually sagacious. In the year 1827, he rescued a woman and child from
death under the following circumstances: It appears, he knew some one had passed near the Hospital,
and set offalone immediately to follow them. After some time his absence
was remarked; and one of the Maroniers, by pursuing his track, found him
posted over the drift where the poorwoman and her child were about to
perish. Several of the dogs have been
brought to England; one now in the possession of a gentleman in
Gloucestershire, has fallen under our observation; his disposition,
however, from change of living and want of his accustomed air and
exercise, must have been much altered, for he had grown so cowardly, as
to run away in terror from the smallest dog. His length from head to
tail was above six feet, his size and height in proportion, and his
colour a yellowish-brown. He had become heavy and dull, owing to the
total change in his habits; but was perfectly good-tempered, and a
general favourite. The monks of St. Bernard
are, for the most part, hale, strong men, yet few of them live to an
advanced age: this may well be attributed to the personal deprivations
and hardships they must suffer. They are simple-minded, and sincerely
devoted to the good work in which they are engaged; and they claim our
respect for that charity towards their fellow-creatures, which induces
them to persevere in a course of patient endurance, and of exertion and
difficulty quite sufficient to account for their generally premature old
age. .
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General Appearance
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Head
 Like the whole body, very powerful and imposing. The massive skull is
wide, slightly arched and the sides slope in a gentle curve into the
very strongly developed, high cheek bones. Occiput only moderately
developed. The supra-orbital ridge is very strongly developed and forms
nearly a right angle with the long axis of the head. Deeply imbedded
between the eyes and starting at the root of the muzzle, a furrow runs
over the whole skull. It is strongly marked in the first half, gradually
disappearing toward the base of the occiput. The lines at the sides of
the head diverge considerably from the outer corner of the eyes toward
the back of the head. The skin of the forehead, above the eyes, forms
rather noticeable wrinkles, more or less pronounced, which converge
toward the furrow. Especially when the dog is alert or at attention the
wrinkles are more visible without in the least giving the impression of
morosity. Too strongly developed wrinkles are not desired. The slope
from the skull to the muzzle is sudden and rather steep.
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| The muzzle
is
short, does not taper, and the vertical depth at the root of the muzzle
must be greater than the length of the muzzle. The bridge of the muzzle
is not arched, but straight; in some dogs, occasionally, slightly broken.
A rather wide, well-marked, shallow furrow runs from the root of the
muzzle over the entire bridge of the muzzle to the nose. The flews of
the upper jaw are strongly developed, not sharply cut, but turning in a
beautiful curve into the lower edge, and slightly overhanging. The flews
of the lower jaw must not be deeply pendant. The teeth should be sound
and strong and should meet in either a scissors or an even bite; the
scissors bite being preferable. The undershot bite, although sometimes
found with good specimens, is not desirable. The overshot bite is a
fault. A black roof to the mouth is desirable. Nose (Schwamm) - Very substantial, broad, with wide open nostrils, and, like the lips, always black.
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| Ears
Of
medium size, rather high set, with very strongly developed burr (Muschel)
at the base. They stand slightly away from the head at the base, then
drop with a sharp bend to the side and cling to the head without a turn.
The flap is tender and forms a rounded triangle, slightly elongated
toward the point, the front edge lying firmly to the head, whereas the
back edge may stand somewhat away from the head, especially when the dog
is at attention. Lightly set ears, which at the base immediately cling
to the head, give it an oval and too little marked exterior, whereas a
strongly developed base gives the skull a squarer, broader and much more
expressive appearance.
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| Eyes
Set more
to the front than the sides, are of medium size, dark brown, with
intelligent, friendly expression, set moderately deep. The lower eyelids,
as a rule, do not close completely and, if that is the case, form an
angular wrinkle toward the inner corner of the eye. Eyelids which are
too deeply pendant and show conspicuously the lachrymal glands, or a
very red, thick haw, and eyes that are too light, are objectionable.
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| Neck
Set high, very strong and when alert or at attention is carried erect.
Otherwise horizontally or slightly downward. The junction of head and
neck is distinctly marked by an indentation. The nape of the neck is
very muscular and rounded at the sides which makes the neck appear
rather short. The dewlap of throat and neck is well pronounced: too
strong development, however, is not desirable. Shoulders ** Sloping and broad, very muscular and powerful. The withers are strongly pronounced.
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| Chest
Very well arched, moderately deep, not reaching below the elbows. Back ** Very broad, perfectly straight as far as the haunches, from there gently sloping to the rump, and merging imperceptibly into the root of the tail. Hindquarters **Well-developed. Legs very muscular. Belly **Distinctly set off from the very powerful loin section, only little drawn up.
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| Tail Starting broad and powerful directly from the rump is long, very heavy, ending in a powerful tip. In repose it hangs straight down, turning gently upward in the lower third only, which is not considered a fault. In a great many specimens the tail is carried with the end slightly bent and therefore hangs down in the shape of an "f". In action all dogs carry the tail more or less turned upward. However it may not be carried too erect or by any means rolled over the back. A slight curling of the tip is sooner admissible.
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| Upper Arms
Very powerful and extraordinarily muscular. Lower Leg **Straight, strong. Hind legs ** Hocks of moderate angulation. Dewclaws are not desired; if present, they must not obstruct gait. Feet ** Broad, with strong toes, moderately closed, and with rather high knuckles. The so-called dewclaws which sometimes occur on the inside of the hind legs are imperfectly developed toes. They are of no use to the dog and are not taken into consideration in judging. They may be removed by surgery.
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| Coat
Very dense, short-haired (stockhaarig), lying smooth, tough, without
however feeling rough to the touch. The thighs are slightly bushy. The
tail at the root has longer and denser hair which gradually becomes
shorter toward the tip. The tail appears bushy, not forming a flag.
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| Color
White with red or red with white, the red in its various shades; brindle
patches with white markings. The colors red and brown-yellow are of
entirely equal value. Necessary markings are: white chest, feet and tip
of tail, noseband, collar or spot on the nape; the latter and blaze are
very desirable. Never of one color or without white. Faulty are all
other colors, except the favorite dark shadings on the head (mask) and
ears. One distinguishes between mantle dogs and splash-coated dogs.
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| Height at
Shoulder
Of the dog should be 27½ inches minimum, of the bitch 25½ inches.
Female animals are of finer and more delicate build. Considered as Faults ** Are all deviations from the Standard, as for instance a swayback and a disproportionately long back, hocks too much bent, straight hindquarters, upward growing hair in spaces between the toes, out at elbows, cowhocks and weak pasterns.
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| Longhaired
The longhaired type completely resembles the shorthaired type except for
the coat which is not shorthaired (stockhaarig) but of medium length
plain to slightly wavy, never rolled or curly and not shaggy either.
Usually, on the back, especially from the region of the haunches to the
rump, the hair is more wavy, a condition, by the way, that is slightly
indicated in the shorthaired dogs. The tail is bushy with dense hair of
moderate length. Rolled or curly hair, or a flag tail, is faulty. Face
and ears are covered with short and soft hair; longer hair at the base
of the ear is permissible. Forelegs only slightly feathered; thighs very
bushy.
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| Faults
Any departure from the
foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness
with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree.
Note ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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Langharige Sint Bernard 
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