The Lambertville press., 1861-02-13
Light for Animals.

A correspondent of the Homestead,
in an article on fattening hogs, gives
the following advice -" One more
important item Of advice, and that is,
locate your pen where your hogs can
have the benefit of light. / don't
mean merely daylight, but the full,
bright light of the sun it will add to
their cheerful contentment, as it does
to the human specie, and ply
gists declare that, other things being
eqnal, families who occupy apartments
in the sunny side of dwellings are the
most healthy and happy, Although
the comparison may to sensitive nerves
appear odious, still it is beyond our
power or province to change the es-
tablished laws Of nature. / have never
known of hog, or any other animal,
kept under the north side of barn or
building, where the dampness and
darkness is never penetrated by the
suns rays, and where the animal was
employed as the scavenger for other
animals, to be sleek looking, fat, clean
or quiet. have seen many pen
where the mud and offal was two or
three feet deep, and no place of retreat
left for the poor occupants upon
higher spot, excepting the bed floor,
ard .hat unfurnished by straw The
rays Of the sun have very powerful
effect in modifying the function of both
animal and vegetable life Many
plants require light, that they may
perfect their organization others less
but few plants ever come to perfection
without a full supply of light COM
mon observation proves this. The
potaio 0 growing in cellar. colorless,
fragile and worthless. The apple
growing on the inside of the tree is
often green, tasteless and imperfect
and the peach that has not been kissed
by the rays of the sun, has not that
high flavor requisite to its perfection.
Without the sun. the leaves could
never decompose carbonic acid from
the air, ami as7imilate its oxygen.
With animals,-the same is true
The sun does as much towards paint
ing roses on the cheek, as does a 'brac-
ing air The skin of those persons
exposed freely to the light, performs
its functions vigorously. while that of
those too much shaded is feeble, and
easily disturbed. Physicians assert
that people living on the shaded sides
of streets, in towns, are more liable to
sickness and less vigorous than those
living on the side influenced by the
sun. We have often noticed that
children reared in shaded and damp
situations, were serofnlous, imperfectly
developed, and deficient in vitality.
Rooms in which the sun never shines,
are gloomy and unpleasant. DR..
Winship, in his lecture on physical
culture, so fully appreciates the i'm
portance oflight, that he says he wonld
always, if possible. select for his sleep
lug room an apartment on the sunny
side and let the sun have full.play, when
it.shines, six hours of the day. AMI
mails like the suns rays, except in the
hottest of weather True they should
have shade, if they desire it. That
hogs should have sun is more impor-
tant than for any other snimals their
habits are filthy, but the rays of the
sun to certain extent will correct
their bad habits. We have little
doubt but that much Of the hog chOl-
era is due want of sunlight, and damp
situations. With these facts before
us, who can fail to see the necessity
of sunlight for all llanimals, if we wonld
retain them in health
]