Saint Bernard with casks of brandy around his neck (3 photos)

We are talking about rescue dogs, which became known in the 17th century for their service to the benefit of Switzerland.





So, in one of the local monasteries, huge St. Bernards protected the monks from robbers, carried heavy loads, and helped find people caught in an avalanche. At the same time, one of legends, the St. Bernards also carried a barrel of brandy with them, which helped people not to freeze under the snow. And this story has become so popular that thundered around the world.

But in reality, this never happened! And for several reasons at once. First, the contents of the keg didn't help. to keep people warm, on the contrary, it would further aggravate their condition, that even the monks understood. Secondly, monks do not give out brandy to dogs. would become for ethical reasons - it is simply contrary to their faith. Finally, the dogs had another, much more important burden.



So, the dogs carried with them a semblance of a first aid kit, warm blankets and a ration of bread and water. With such with a small margin, a person could wait for the arrival of real help. Actually, since then, the load of rescue dogs has changed little, but brandy definitely not one of them!

So where did this misconception come from? Why is almost all Does the world believe in the story of the barrel dogs? It's all about the picture painted by Edwin Henry Landseer in 1820 "Alpine Mastiffs Save traveller." There he, solely for piquancy, added to the St. Bernards on neck of a keg of brandy. It was just a work of art. Who is knew that in many, many years half the world would believe in his fantasy?