Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-04-04
MEDICINE AS pRACTisED BY ANIMALS

MEDICINE AS PRACTiSED BY ANIMALS.
NJ. G. Delaunay, in a recent communica-
tion to the Biological Society, observed that
medicine, as practised by animals, is tho
roughly 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.
NJ. Delaunay maintains that the human race
also shows this instinct, and blames medi-
cal men for not paying sufficient respect to
the likes and dislikes of the patients, which
he believes to be a guide that may be de-
pended on. Women are more often hungry
than men, and they do not like the same
kinds OF tood nevertheless, in asylums for
aged poor men and women are put on pre-
cisely the same regimen. Infants scarcely
weaned are given diet suitable to adults.
meat and wine which they dislike and
which disagree with them. M. Delaunay
Investigated this question in the different
asylumns of Paris, and ascertained that
children do not like meat before they are
about five years of age. People who like
salt, vinegar, &c, ought to be allowed to
satisfy their tastes. Lorain always
taught that with regard to food, peo-
pies likings are the best guide \ large
number of animals wash themselves and
bathe, as elephants, stays, birds and ants
NJ. Dclaunay lays down as a general rule
that there is not any species of animal
which voluntarily runs the risk of inhaling
emanations arising from their own excrc-
ment. Some animals del;ecate far from
their hTbitation: others bury their cxcre-
mcnt: others carry to distance the excre-
ment of their young. In this respect they
show more foresight than man, who retains
Tor years cXcrement i'll 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 rudimen-
tary in women of civilized nations. In fact,
man may take lesson in hygiene from the
lower animals. Animals get rid of their
parasites by using dust, mud, CLAY, &c.
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 a
species OF grass know as dogs grass (chien-
deatl, which acts as an emetic and purga-
tive. Cats also eat grass. Sheep and COWS,
when i'll, seek out certain herbs. When
dogs are constipated they eat fatty substan-
ces, 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 sum- The warrior ants
have regularly organized ambulances.
Latreille cut the antenn:e of an ant, and
other ants came and covered the wounded
part with transparent fluid secreted from
their mouths. Ifa chimpanzee be wounded
it stops the bleeding by placing its hand on
the wound or dressing it with leaves and
grass. When al animal has wounded leg
or arm hanging on, it completes the ampu-
tation by means of its teeth. A dog OH be-
ing stung in the muzzle by viper, was OBJ
served TO plunge its head repeatedly for
several days into running water. This ami
NAL eventually 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 lying under
!, counter, avoiding light and heat, although hab-
ltualy he kept close to the fire. 1t adopted a
general treatment, rest and abstinence from food
surface of the paw, to which he applied the
wounded eye, again licking the paw when it be.
came dry. Cats also, when hurt treat themselves
by this simple method of continuous irrigation.
NJ. Delaunay cites the case of cat which remain
ed for some time lying on the bank Of river
also that of another cat which had the singular
tortltude to remain for forty eight hours under a
jet of cold water. Animals suffering from trau-
matte fevcr treat themselves by the continued
application of cold, which NJ. 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 thera-
peutics, as practised By animals, may, in the in
terests of psychology, be studied with advantage
He could 60 even further, and say that veterinary
medicine. and perhaps human medicine, could
gather from them some useful indications, pre-.
cisely because they are prompted by instinct
which are cfhcacious in the presery alton or the
restoration of fhealth.-British Health Journal.