The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-04-19

fants scarcely weaned are given a
diet suitable to establishment and wine
which they dislike, and which disa-
gree with them. NJ. Delaunay inves-
tigated this question in the differ
ent asylums of Paris, and ascertained
that children do not like meat before
they are about five years of age. Peo-
pie who like salt, vinegar, etc., ought
to be allowed to satisfy their tastes.
Lorain always taught that with re-
gard to food peoples ikings are the
best guide. a large number of ami
mails wash themselves and battle, as
elephants, stays, birds and ants. III
Delaney lays down as a general rule
that there is not any species of ami
NAL which voluntarily runs the risk
of inhaling emanations arising from
their own excrement. If we turn our
attention to the question of reproduc-
ton, we shall see that all mammals
suckle their young, keep them clean,
wean them at the proper time, and
educate them; but these maternal in
stincts are frequently rudimentary 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, 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 species Of
grass known us dog grass (chiendent),
which acts as an emetic and purga-
tive. Cats also cat grass. Sheep and
COWS, when i'll, seek out certain herbs.
When dogs are conStipated they eat
fatty substances, such aS oil and butter,
with avidity, until they are purged
The same thing is observed in horses.
Animals suffering from chronic rheu-
matism always keeps as far as poSsi-
bic in the sun. The warrior ants haze
regularly organized ambulanceS. La
treble cut the aptennB of an ant, and
other ants came and covered
the wounded part with a
transparent fluid secreted from
their mouths. If Il chimpanzee
he 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
viper was observed to plunge its head
repeatedly for several days into run
ming water. This animal eventually
recoved. A sporting dog was run
over by carriage. During three
weeks in winter it remained lying in a
brook, where it's food was taken to it;
the animal recovered. a terrier dog
hurt it's right eye; it remained lying
under counter, avoiding light
and heat, although habitually it
kept close to the fire. 1t adopted
. general treatment, rest and
abstinence from food. The local treat
ment 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 themselves by this
simple method of continuous irriga-
ton NJ. Delaunay cites the case of Il
cat which remained for some time
lying ON the bank Of a 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 applica-
ton of cold water. which NJ. Delau-
nay 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, us practiced by ami
mails, may. in the interest of psychol-
ogy, be studied with advantage. He
could go 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
instincts which are efficacious in the
preservation or the restoration of
health.