The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-30
BIDDEFORD MAINE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1855. G.,

theories. We have more than once allud
cd to the ia,,ening properties Of 'urniPs.-
I, is we'll known, and constant practice In
England, that cattle are iatiened upon ,ur'
lips aud hay, The latter being fed in moder'
de quantities aud Of inferior quality
What received theory explains this
We do not remember any careful exper-
imentio determine the connection between
The quality Of the milk and the condition
Of the animal, although general statements
are abundan, (; but il such were made, We
,pprehend the resul, would be very diverse
Some cows are lean becaus they convert
III their fatty feed into butter, etc., which
IS secreted in and is part Of the milk
Other lean cows give very mean milk be-
:ause their secretive organs have an imper-
,-o, action. Some Cows ara fss because
'aey convert all the fatty elements into sol
ID deposits 0: IA, while the milk is almost
destitute Of cream. Others still may no,
,,ossess the power Of converting these els-
nents into anything, but reject them with
'lher useless and effete matters.
We do no, believe ,ha. any two animals
would give precisely the same result, under
such course Of experiments. Physiology.
al phenomena vary like human counlen.
ances.
Facts which are well settled ought to be
understood and acted upon. Those who
experiment, on these and kindred points
'ush, not TO waste their time and labor, and
nislead the public, as many have done, by
'nphilosophic experiments, or by carefully
managed experiments in peculiar or uunai-
aral circumstances. For example, ifa cow
has been accustomed to roam a, large and
5 tied up in a stable, and deprived Of all
'xercise, no experiment in fa.iening her is
sliabls. She may be fre,,ei by the mode
II confining her, or she may be discomfort
ed and uneasy for los. OF company, or The
sudden change in her habits may have n
material influence. or the food given her
nay be that 10 which she is unaccusomed
md for which her disgestive organs are not
prepared. or the quantity may be improper.
Some animals require more food than 9th.
srs, though Of equal weight. So other
causes Of error may exist. Hence although
ill positive arrangements may be as they
should be, in a given experiment, the neg.
lee, OF some other condition may be fatal 10
its value as a representative Of class.
Certain differences, Of little apparent
consequences, are oNen les, points. Thus.
raw. sour apples are not valued much as
feed tor k,,ening hogs. When cooked they
ire very generally approved. Boiled po,a-
toes are much more efficient in this away
han raw potatoes. Some exercise is necess-
ary for the health Of all animals. Too
much ]. fatal to Any ofrsr to E..,o". These
md such-like canno, be safely overlooked
any experiment on this subject. So too
given amour, OF exercise may, under the
circumstances, be excessive, while !, would
he only moderate for another Of more rov.
ing habits, although this nigh, perhaps be
regarded only as scource OF discon,ept.-
Bu, we do not believe this is Of so little i'm
oor,ance as seems 10 be supposed. In the
human species this is an essential point
Why may il no, be with all animals Shut
up person, long accustomed 10 much soci-
ETY., in room by himself, or from which
only certain persons are excluded, Of what
value would any experiment be in relation
to digestion, appetite, and even general
heal,h' And it should no, be forgotten
,ha: natural propensilies and instincts are
quite as strong in brutes as in men.
So too warmth OF temperature has an
important influence in the fatiening Of an
lmals. A cold temperature requires an
increase offood, and rice versa. II is there
fore difficult to fa,,en animals that suffer
from cold. Even when fa,,ened such ex-
posure consumes the fat and diminishes
their energies.
We have much To learn on this subject,
bu, We fail in making practical use even oI
what We do know. Perhaps j, is because
we consider the truths as Of small impor'
lance. For example. carding COW daily
as one would groom a horse is, and is ad-
miIied 10 be, Away. useful. Bu, how sad.
ly this ,reaimen, is neglected. i, is as
valuable to the COW, so lar as her good con
di,iUn is involved, as !, is for the horse
And ye, even few hardworking oxen art
properly cared for in this respeci.-Plor
Loom y Anril.