The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-04-05
lFrom the British Medical Journal
Medicine as Practised by Animals.

M. G.. Delaunay, in recent COM
munication to the Biological Society,
observed that medicine, as practised
by animals, is thoroughly empirical,
but that the same may be said Of that
practised by inferior human races, or,
in other words, by the majority of the
human species. Animals instinctively
choose such food as is best suited to
them. M. Delaunay maintains that
the human race also shows this in
stinct, and blames medical men for
not paying sufficient respect to the
likes and dislikes 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; neverthe-
less, in asylums for aged poor. men
and women are put on precisely the
same regimen. Infants scarcely
weaned are given a diet suitable to
adults, meat and wine which they dis
like and which disagree with them.
M. Delaunay Investigated this ques-
tion 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, peo-
pies ikings are the best guide. A
large number Of animals wash them
selves and bathe, as elephants, stays,
birds and ants. M. Delaunay lays
down as a general rule, that there is
not any species Of animal which vol
unfairly runs the risk Of inhaling
emanations arising from their own
excrement. Some animals defecate
far from their habitations; others bury
their excrement; others carry to dis
tance the excrement Of their young.
In this respect they show more fore
sight than man, who retains for years
excrement in stationery 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 ma
ternal instincts are frequently rudi-
mentary in women Of civilized ma
tions. In fact, man may take a 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 it. When dog
has lost its appetite, it eats that spe-
cies of grass known as dogs grass
(chiendenD, which acts as an emetic
and purgative Cats also eat grass.
Sheep and cows, when i'll, seek out
certain herbs. When dogs are con-
stipated they eat fatty substances,
such as oil and butter, with avidity,
until they are purged. The same
thing is observed in horses. An ami
NAL suffering from chronic rheuma-
tism always keeps as far as possible in
the sun. The warrior ants have. .regu-
larly organized ambulances. Latreille
cut the antenna of an ant, and other
ants came and covered the wounded
part with transparent fluid secreted
from their mouths. If chimpanzee
be. wounded. it stops the bleeding by
! placing its hand on the wound, or
dressing it with leaves or grass.
When an animal has a wounded leg
or arm hanging ON, it completes the
amputation by means of its teeth. A
dog on being stung in the muzzle by
a viper, was observed to plunge its
head repeatedly for several days into
running water. This animal eventu-
ally recovered. A sporting dog was
run over by carriage. During three
weeks in winter it remained lying in
a brook, where its food was taken to
it.: the animal recovered. A terrier
dog hurt its right eye; it remained ly-
ing under counter, avoiding light
and heat, although habitually he kept
close to the fire. 1t adopted general