Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-04-11
ANIMALS As DOCTORS.
The Medical and Surgical Lore OF Dogs.
Cats. Ants and Horses.

The Medical and Surgical Lore OF Dogs
Cats. Ants and Horses.
NJ. G. Delaunay, in recent communi-
cation to the Biological Society, observed
that medicine, as practiscd by animals, is
thoroughly empirical, but that the same
may be said of that practised by infer
ior human races or, in other words, by
the majority Of the humsn species. An
imals instinctively choose such food as is
best suited to them. NJ. Delaunay main
tains that the human race also shows this
instinct and blamcs medical men for not
paying sufficient respect to likes and dis
likes of the patients, which he believes to
be guide that may he 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 weaned are given a diet suitable
to adults, which disagree with them. NJ.
Dclaunay investigated this question IN
the different asylums of Paris, and ascer-
tanned that children do not like meat be-
fore they arc about five years of age. A
large number of animals wash themselves
and battle, as elephants, stays, birds and
ants. NJ. Delaunay lays down as a gen
eral rule that there is not any species OF
animal which voluntarily runs the risk
of inhaling cminations arising from their
own excremcnt. If we turn our atten-
ton 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
rndimentary in women of civilized ma
tons. In fact, man may take lesson in
hygiene from the lower animals. Ami
mails 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 wat
er and sometimes even plunge into it.
When dog has lost its appetite it eats
that species of grass known as dogs
grass, (chienden) which acts as an emetic
and purgative. Cats also eat grass.
Sheep and cows, when i'll, seek out GER
tain herbs. When dogs are constipated
they eat fatty substances such as oil and
butter, with avidity, until they are purg-
ed. The same thing is observed in hor-
scs. An animal suffering from chronic
rheumatism always keeps as far as posi-
IL ~, Vl,o nn&c 1,0S-
regularly organized ambulanccs. Latreille
cut the antenn;e of an ant and other ants
came and covered the wounded part with
a transparent fluid secreted from their
mouths. If a chimpanzee be wounded it
stops the bleeding by placing its hand on
the wound or dressing it with leaves and
grass. When an animal has 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 vi
per was observed to plunge its head re-
peatedly for several days into running
water. This animal eventually recovered.
A sporting dog was run over by Il car
riage. During three weeks in winter it
remained lying in brook, where its food
was taken to it; the animal recovered. A
terrier dog hurt its right eye; it remained
| lying under a counter, avoiding light and
heat, although habitually it kept close to
the fire. 1t adopted general treatment,
rest and abstinence from food. The To-
cal treatment consisted of licking the up
per 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 tins sim
pie method of continuous irrigation. NJ.
Delaunay cites the case of a cat which re-
NAMED for some time lying on the bank
of river; also that of another cat which
had the singular fortitude to remain fol
forty eight hours under jet of cold
water Animals suffering from traumat
ic fever treat themselves by the contin
ued 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
thinks, forced to admit that hygiene and
therapeutics, as practised by animals
may, IN the interests of psychology bt
studied with advantage. He could &C
even further and say that veterinary med
icine, and, perhaps, human medicine
could gather from them some useful indi
cations, precisely because they are promp
ted by instincts which are efficacious il
! the preservation or the restoration Of
health.-British Me1icaI ./ournaI