to have healing powers. The Romans thought dogs were only susceptible to gout, distemper, or rabies, and so puppies were often used as a sponge to transfer the pain. Historical references The ancient Roman poet Grattius (or Grattius Faliscus) wrote of British dogs, describing them as superior to the ancient Greek Molossus, saying: What if you choose to penetrate even among the Britons? How great your reward, how great your gain beyond any outlays! If you are not bent on looks and deceptive graces (this is the one defect of the British whelps), at any rate when serious work has come, when bravery must be shown, and the impetuous War-god calls in the utmost hazard, then you could not admire the renowned Molossians so much. The ancient Greek historian Strabo reported that dogs were exported from Britain for the purpose of game hunting, and that these dogs were also used by the Celts as war dogs. The Roman writer Tacitus, in the first century AD, mentions in his accounts of Britain that its principal exports were grain, hides, cattle, iron, silver, slaves, and clever hunting-dogs. The late Roman poet Nemesianus referred to British dogs, describing them as swift and suited to hunting. The even later Roman poet Claudian describes British dogs "that can break the neck of mighty bulls", in a literal flight of poetic licence - all the dog-types that are named, follow Diana’s companions in heavenly chariots through the clouds. Hunting British hunting dogs, despite their role as herding and guard animals, were widely considered to be physically superior to the militarized Molossus of Epirus. In the direct description of what some presume to be a predecessor to the English Mastiff breed, Strabo describes British hunting dogs as notably clever. In other writing, he references hunting dogs being a primary export of British trade as a result of this high quality. A marble epitaph to a hunting dog called Margarita (pearl) from Gaul was put up at Rome in the first or second century AD. This highly unusual inscription uses Virgilian language and says she used to lie in her master and mistress' laps and rest on a blanket rather than have to endure heavy harnesses or beatings. The inscription can be seen in the British Museum. Pets Through zooarchaeological research, evidence has been found that supports the idea that domestic dog ownership was prevalent in Roman Britain.