The Baltimore County union., 1883-12-01

NJ. G.. Delaunay, in 4 recent commu-
nication to the Biological Society, OBJ
served that medicine, rs pracuced by
animals, is thoroughly empirical, but
that the same may be said of that
practiced by inferior human races, or
in other words, by the majority of the
human species. Animals instinctively
choose such food rs is best suited to
them. Mr.. Delaunay maintains that the
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 he 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 weancd are given diet suitable
for adults, meat and wine, which they
dislike, and which disagree with them.
Mr.. Delaunay investigated this question
in the different asylums Of Paris, and
ascertained that children do not like
meat before they 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 peoples likings are the
best guide. A large number Of animals
wash themselves and bathe, as elephants,
stags, birds and ants. Mr.. Delaunay
lays down as a general rule that there
is not any species Of animal which
voluntarily runs the risk Of inhaling
cmanations arising from their own cxcre
ment. Ii we turn our attention TO the
question Of reproduction we shall see
that all animals suckle their young,
keep them clean, wean them at the
proper time and educate them but
these maternal instincts are frequently
rudimentary in women OF civilized na-
tions. In fact, man may take lesson
inhygienc from the lower animals. An.
imals 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 il. When dog has lost its ap.
petite i, eats that species Of grass known
as dogs grass (chcnden;) which acts
as an cmc,ic and purgative. Cats also
eat grass. Sheep and COWS, when i'll,
seek out certain herbs. When dogs
are conS,ipated they eat fatty substances,
such rs oil and butter with avidity, nm
I'll they are purgcd. The same thing is
observed in horses. An animal suffer
ing from cronic rheumatism always
keeps As far as possible in the sun. The
warrior ants have regularly organized
ambuahccs. l.atrcil!c cut the antene
of an ant and other ants came and Gov
cred the wounded part with ,ranspar-
ent fluid sccrctcd from their mouths
II 4 chimpanzcc be wounded il stops
the bleeding by placing its hands on
the wounds or dressing it with leaves
and grass. When an animal has 4
wounded leg or arm hanging on, it
completes the amputa;ion by means of
its teeth. \ dog on being s;ung in the
plunge his head repeatedly for several
days into running water. This animal
eventually recovered. \ sporting dog
was run over by carriage. During
three weeks in winter il remained lying
in brook, where its feed was taken to
it; the animal recovered. A terrier
dog hurt its right eye, remained lying
under a counter, avoiding light and
heat, although habitually it kept close
to the fire. 1t adopted general treat
ment, rest and abstinence from food
The local treatment consisted in lick.
ing the upper surface Of the paw, which
it applied to the wounded eye, again
licking the paw when it became dry.
Cats also, when hurt, treat themselves
by this simple method OF continuous
irritation