National Republican., 1883-03-07
now rHrx DOCTOR THEMSELVES.
The Science OF Medicine ana Surgery as
Prncticcd by Domestic Animals.
BrifleI lfcdiicdi ,T0ilrnni,


British Medical Journal.
NJ q. Delaunay, in a recent communication
to the biological society, observed that med
icine, as practiced 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 as is best suited TO them. NJ. 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
a guido 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. 1u-
fants scarcely weaned are given a diet suit
able to adults meat aud wine, which they dis
like, and which disagrees with them. NJ.
Dolaunay investigated this question in tho
different asylums Of Paris, and ascertainod
that children do not like meat before they are
about years of age. People who like salt,
vinegar, &C., ought to DO allowed to satisfy
their tastes. Lorain always taught that with
regard to food, peoples likings arc the best
guide. A large number of animals wash them
selves and bathc, rs elephants, stays, birds,
and ants, M. DelGunay lays down as
general rule there is not any species of
animal which voluntarily runs the risk of In
buliug omanations arising from their own ex-
Crcment. II We turn our attention to tho quer-
ton OF reproduction we shall see that all
mammals sucklo their young, keep them
clean, woan them at the proper time and
educate them but these maternal instincts
are frequently rudimentary in women OF
civilized nations. In lact, man may take II
lesson in hygiene from tho lower animals.
Animals get rid OF their parasites by using
dust, mud, clay, SC. Those suffering from
fever restrict their diet, keep quiet, seek
darkness and airy places, drink watcr and
sometimes plunge into II. When n dog has
lost its appetite it eats that species of grass
known as dogs grass (cdieHdeat), which acts
~ an cmetic and purgAtive. Cats also cat
grass. Sheep and cows, when i'll, seek
out certain herbs When doEsa constipatod
they eat fatty substances, such US oil and
butter, with avidity, until they are purgcd.
The sanle thing Is observed in horses.
An animal suffering from chronic rhou-
matism always keeps as far as possible in the
sun. The warrior ants have regularly or
ganized ambulancos. Latrelle cut tho an
tenuie of an ant and other ants came and
covered the wounded part with transparent
fluid secretcd in their mouths. II chin
placing its hand on the wound or C.essing it
with leaves and grass. When an animal has
wounded zhg or arm hanging on, it COM
pletes tho Mputation by means of its teeth.
dog OH being stung in the muzzle by viper
was observed to plunge its head repeatedly for
several days into running water. This ami
NAL eventually recovered. sporting dog
was run over by n carriage. During three
weeks In winter IL remained lying in brook,
where its food was taken to III the animal re-
covered. A terrier dog hurt its right eye; it
remained lying under u counter avoiding
light and heat, although habitually 1t kept
close to the fire. 1t adopted general treat
ment, rest and abstinence from food. The
local treatment consisted in licking 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 them
selves by this simple method of continuous
irritation. NJ. Delaunay cites the case of a cat
which remained for some time lying oil the
bank of river also that of another cat
which had the singular fortitude to remain
for fOrty-eight hours under a jet of cold water.
Animals suffering from traumatic fever treat
themselves by the continued application of
cold water, which NJ, Delaunay considers TO
be more certain than any Of the other methods.
In view Of these interesting facts, we are, he
think, forced TO admit that hygiene and ther-
apeutic5 as practiced by animals may, in the
interests OF psychology, be studied with adj
| vantage. He could 90 even further and say
| that veterinary medicine and perhaps human
medicine could gather from them some useful
! indications, precisely becauseA they are
| prompted by instincts which are etiicacious
in the preservation or the restoration Of
| health.