New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-25
UoU ANNALS PRACTISE MEDICINE.

From The British Medical Journal
N. Delaunay, IN a recent communication 10 the
biological Society," observed that medicine as prac-
Used by ANIMALS, is Thoroughly empirical, but that
the same may lie said OF that pIactlsed by inferior
human races or in other words, by the majority oil
the human Species Animals iuStlnctlyey choose
such food as is best suited to them. NJ. fDelaunay
nam aims that the human race also shows TINS IN
stnct aud blamcS medical men for not paying suil-
cent respect to the likes and IF the patients
which he believes TO be a guide That NAV be de-
pended on. Women are more often hungry than
men, and they do not like the same kinds oil 1000
nevertheless, III asylums for aged poor, men aud
women are put on precisely tho same regimen. In
fants scarcely weaned are given diet suitable 70
Quits, meat and WINE. winch they dislike
and which disagree with them. VI. Delaunay lnves-
tigaied this question IN the diferent aSylums ot
Paris and asceraned that children do not IKE
meat before they about five years OF age. feo-
pie who like sat, vinegar, etc, onshl 70 ia allowed
TO satisfy their tastes. LoTarn olways taught ina,
with regard 20 food. peoples hklngs are the nest
guide. a large number oil animals WASH themselves
and battle as elephants, stays birds and ants. NJ
Delaunay laws down as general rule that there j.
not any species Of animal which voluntarily runs
the RISK of nhaling carnations arising from Their
own excTement. some animals defecate Tar rom
their habitauOns; others bury their eXcrement;
others carry To distance the eAcrcmeht "I 'heiT
Young. In this respect they snow more foresight
than man. who retains for years eNcremenl ~ Sta.
tlonary cesspOOls, thus Originating epdemcS l.
we urn our attention to the question Of reproduc-
ton we shall see that all mammals srckle Their
Young keep them clean, wean en- at the
proper time. ana educate them; but these maternal
iuatincts are frequently Tudlmeniary ~ women OF
civilized nations. In fact, man may take a lesson
IN hyeieae from the lower animals. Animals get
rid of their parasites by us ng dusi mud, clay, etc
Those suffering from fever restrict their dlet Keep
0uIet seek darkness and airy places, drink water,
ana sometimes even plunge INT" ". Nhen uog
has lost It's appetite IL ets that species OF gass
known as dogs grass lchicRdent, which acts ~ an
emetIc ami purgatIye Cats also eat grass SSAcep
and cows, when Ill seek out certain hcrD.. Nhtn
dogs Coustpated they eat fatty substances such
es oil and butter. with ayiulty until they
served in horses. An animal suffering from
chronic rheumatism always keeps as lar as possible
in the sun. / he warrior ants have regularly or
gaplzed ambuanccs. Latrcille cut the itennc 81
an ant, ana other ants came and covered the
wounded part with a transparent nud secreted
from their mouths. II a chlmpanzee pe wounded
1t stops the bleeding by placing iis hand on inc
wound or dressing 1t with leaves ana era Nhch
an animal has a wOunied leg or arm hanging on
n comnletes the amputaton by means OF It's teeth.
A dog on being stung IN the muzzle by viper was
observed 10 plunge its head repeatedly Tor SeVeIaI
DAYS INTO running water. This animal eventually
recovered sporting 0og was run over by car
riare Durine three weeks IN winter II lenalhcI
living in brook, where Its food was taken 10 %; the
animal recovered. A terrier dog hurt lis night eye;
II remained lying under a counter, aNolhhg HsHt
and heat aittough habitualiy II Kept close 10 the
fire Ii adOp; ed a general treatTent. res ana an
stinence from food The local treatment col si8 ed
IN licking the upper surface OF the paw, winch II
apphed 10 the wounded eye. again licking the
nav when il became dry. cas- also, Wheu hurt
trea fbemse yes by this snple method OF continuous
irrigation ~. Deauuay cites the case oil q cat
which remained for some time lyiug on the bank Oh
a river; $50 that OF another Gag Whlch nad tue
sntuisr fortiiude to remain for torty-e ght houts
under a lei of cold wafer. Animals suffering from
traunatIc fever treat themselves by the continued
anpication OF cold, which NJ. Deiaunay considers
~ he more certain than any of the other methods.
In view OF these interesting facts We are, he thinks
forced to admi, that hygiene and therapeutics, -
practiscd by animals, may. III the interests Of psy-
enoIogy be stuGied with advantage. lie cOuId go
even iuIther ana say that veterinary medicine, ana
perhaps human medicine could gather from lhcm
fl
uromptcd iiy instinct which are eiicaclOus III The
nre.ery alton OF the restoration of health.