Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-05-17
How Animals Practice Medicine.
british Medical Journal.


M. Delaunay, in recent communication
to the Biological Society, observed that med
icine, as practiced by animals, IS thoroughly
empirical, but that the same may De sald OF
that practiced by inferior human races, or, In
other words, by the majority of human
species. Animals instinctively choose such
food as is best suited to them. M. Delaunay
maintains that the human race also shows
this instinct, and blames medical men tor
not paying sufficient respect to the likes and
dislikes of their patients, which he belleyes
NAV be depended upon. Women are more
often hungry than men, and they DO not
like the same kinds Of food nevertheless,
in asylums for aged poor, men and women
are put on the same regimen Infants scarce
ly weaned are given diet suitable to adults,
meat and wine, which they dislike and
which disagrees with them. M. Delaunay
investigated this question in the different
asylums of Paris and ascertalned that chill
dren do not like meat before they are four
or five years of age. People who like salt,
vinegar, ETC., ought to be allowed to satisfy
their tastes. Lorain always taught that, with
regard to food, peoples likings are the best
guide. A large number of animals wash
themselves and bathe, as elephants, stays,
birds and ants. M. Delaunay lays down as
general rule that there is not any species OF
animal which voluntarily run the risk OF IN
haling emantions arising from their own ex-
crements. Some animals defRcate far from
their habitations; others bury their eXcre-
ment: others carry to distance the excre-
ment of their young. In this respect they
show more foresight than man, VINO retains
for years excrement in stationary cesspools,
thus originating epidemics. If we turn our
attention to the question OF reproduction, we
shall see that all mammals suckle their
Young, keep them clean, wean them at the
proper time, and educate them; but these
maternal instincts are frequently rudlment-
ary in women of civilized nations In TACT,
man may take lesson in hygiene from the
lower animals. Animals get rid OF their
parasites by using dust, mud, clay, etc. THOSE
suffering from fever restrict their diet, keep
quiet, seek darkness and airy places, drink
water, and sometimes even plunge into II.
When dog has lost its appetite 1T eats that
species of grass known as dog grass (chaen-
dent, witch acts as an emetlc and purgatlVe.
Cats also eat grass. Sheep and cows, when
IN seek ont certain herbs. When dogs are
constipated they eat fatty substances, such
as oil and butter, with avidity, until they
are purged. The same thing is observed in
horses. An animal suffering from chronic
rheumatism always keeps as far as possible
in the sun. The warrior ants have regular
ly organized ambulances. Latrellle cut the
antenna of an ant and other ants came and
covered the wounded part with transparent
fluid secreted from their mouths Ii CHM
panzee be wounded, it stops the bleeding Dy
nlacinr its hand on the wound, or dressing 1t
with leaves and grass. When an animal mas
wounded leg or arm hanging on, 1t COM
pletes the ampution by means of Its teeth.
dog being stung in the muzzle by viper
was observed to plunge its head repeatedly
for several days into running water. Inc
animal eventually recovered. A sporting
dog was run over by carriage during
three weeks in winter it remained lying IN
brook. where it's food was taken to it; the an
imal recovered A terrier dog hurt its right
eve: it remained lying under counter, avoid
ing light and heat, although habitually 1t kept
close to the fire. 1t adopted general treat
ment rest and abstinence from food The
local treatment consisted in licking the upper
surface of the paw, which it applied to the
wounded eye, again licking the paw when 1t
became dry. Cats also, when hurt, treat
themselves by this simple method OF contln-
uous irrigation. M. Delaunay cites the case
of a cat which remained for some time lying
on the bank of a river; also that OF another
cat which had the singular fortitude to re-
main forty-eight hours under a jet of cold
water. Animals suffering traumatic fever
treat themselves by continued application
of cold. which M. Delaunay considers to be
more certain than any of the other methods
In view of these interesting facts, we are, he
thinks, forced to admit that hygiene and
therapeutics, as practiced by animals, may
in the interests of psychology, be studied
!, with advantage. He could 60 even further
and say that veterinary medicine, and per-
haps human medicine could gather from
them some useful indications, precisely be-
cause they are prompted by instincts which
| are efficacious in the preservation of the re,
J storation of health.