The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-03
Animals as Doctors.

Animals AS Doctors.
III. G. DoIaunay, in a recent COM
munication to the Biological society,
observed that medicine, as praotised by
animals, is thoroughly empi1ioal, but
that the same may be said !of that prac7
tised by inferior human races, or, in
other words, by the majority of the
human species. Animals instin otively
choose such food as is oest suited to
them. M. DeIaunay maintains that
tho human race also shows this instinct
and blames medical men for not paying
sufficient respect to the likes and dis
likes of the patients. which lie believes
to be guide that may be depended on.
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
precisely the same regimen. Infants
scarcely weaned are given a diet suit
able to adults, meat and wine, which
they dislike, and which disagree with
them. NJ. Delaunay investigated
this question in different asylums of
Paris, and ascertained that children do
not like meat before thcy are about 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 peo-
ple's ikeings are the best guide.
A large number of animals wash
themselves and bathe, as elephants,
stays, birds and ants. M. Delauney
lays down as general rule that there is
not any species of animal which volunJ
tarny runs the risk of inhaling emana-
tlons arising from their own excrement.
Ii we turn our attention to the ques-
ton 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 ma
ternal instincts are frequently rudiin..
entary in women of civilized nations.
In fact, man may take lesson in hy-
giene from the lower animals. ANIMALS
get rid of their parasites by using
dust, mud, clay, etc. Those suffering
from fever sestrict their diet, keep
quiet, seek darkness and airy places.
drink water and sometimes even plunge
into it. When dog has lost its appe-
tite it eats that species of grass known
rs dogs grass. chiendent; which acts
as an emetic and purgative. Cats also
cat grass. Sheep and COWS when ill
seek out certain herbs. When dogs
are constipatcd they eat fluffy substan-
ces. such rs oil and butter, with avldity
until they are prrgod. The same
thing is observed in horses. An animal
suffering from chronic rheumatism al-
ways keep as far as possible in the sun.
The warrior ants have regularly organ.
lied ambulanoes. Latreille out the
antenn@ OF an ant and other ants came
and covered the wounded part with q
transparent fluid secreted from their
mouths. II a chimpanzee be wounded
it stops the bleeding by placing its
hand on the wound or dressing it with
leaves and grass. When an animal has
wounded leg or arm hanging Oh, it
completes the amputation by, means of
it's teeth. A dog on being stung in
the muzzle by viper was observed to
plunge its head repeatedly for several
days into running water. This 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 animal recovered. A terrier dog
hurt it's right eye; it remained lying
under counter, avoiding light and
heat, although habitually it kept close
to the fire. It adopted as general
treatment, rest and abstinence from
food. The local treatment consisted in
licking the uppe, surface of the pow,
which it applied to the wounded eye,
again lickiug the paw when it became
dry. Cats also, when hurt, treat them
selves by this simple method OF contiu-
nous irrigation. M. Delouney cites
the case of cat which remained for
some time lying on the bank of river;
also that of another cat which had the
singular fortitude to remain f,r forty
eight hours under jet Of cold water.
Animals suffering from traumatio fever
treat themselves by the continued ap-
plication of cold water, which M. Dc.
launay considers to be more certain
than any Of the other methods. In
view OF these interesting facts, I'VE are.
he thinks, forced to admit that hygiene
and therapeutics. as praoticed by ami
mails, may, IN the interests Of psychol-
oyy, be studied with advantage. He
could go even further and say that
veterinary medicine, and, perhaps,
human medicine, could gather from
them some useful indication, precisely
because thoy are prompted by Instincts
which are effioacious, in the preserva.
tlon or the restoration Of the health.