The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-02-16


NJ. G. Delaunay, in a recent commu
nication to the Biological Society, OBJ
served that medicine, as practiced by
animals. is thoroughly empirical, but
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 tho 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 guide that may be depended on.
Women are more often hungry than
men, and they do not like the same
kind of food; nevertheless, in asylums
for aged poor men and women are put
on precisely the same regimen. In
fants scarcely weaned are given . diet
suitable to adults - meat and wine.
which they dislike. and which disagrees
with them. M. Delaunay Investigated
this question in the different asylums of
Paris, and ascertained that children do
not like meat before they are about five
years of age. People who like salt,
vinegar, etc., ought to be allowed to
satisfy their tastes. Lorain always
taught that with regard to food, peo-
pies likings are the best guide. A
large number of animals wash them
selves and battle, as elephants, stays,
birds and ants. M. Delaunay lays
down, as general rule, that there
is not any species of animal which
voluntarily runs the risk of in
haling emanations arising from their
own excrement. 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 educatc
them; but these maternal Instincts are
frequently rudimentary in women of
civilized nations. In fact, man may
take lesson in hygiene from the low
er 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 some
times plunge into 1t. When dog has
lost its appetite, il eats that species Of
grass known MS dogs grass (chieadeat)
which acts as an emetic and purgative.
Cats also eat grass. Sheep and cows,
when i'll, seek out certain herbs. When
dogs are constipated they eat fatty sub
stances, such as oil and butter, with
avidity, until they are purged. The
same thing is observed in horses. An
animal suffering from chronic rheuma-
tism keeps as far as possible in the sun.
1.-The warrior ants have regularly-or-
ganized ambulances. Latreille cut the
antenn@ of an ant, and other ants
came and covered the wounded part
with transparent fluid secreted in
their mouths. If chimpanzee DO
wounded, it stops the bleeding by
placing its hand on the wound or dress
ing it with leaves and grass. When an
animal has wounded leg or arm
hanging on, it completes the amputa-
ton by means Of its teeth. A dog, on
being stung in the muzzle by viper.
was observed to plunge its head re-
peatedly for several days in running
water. This animal eventually recov-
cred. A sporting dog was run over by
carriage. During three weeks in
winter it remained lying in brook,
where its food was taken to it; the ami
nal recovered. A terrier dog hurt its
right eye; it remained lying under q
counter, avoiding light and heat, al
though habitually it kept close to the fire.
1t adopted general treatment, 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 themselves by this simple
method of continuous irritation. M.
Delaunay cites the case Of q cat which
remained for some time lying on 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 M. Delaunay considers
to be more certain than any of the other
methods. In view of these interesting
facts, we are, he thinks, forced to adj
NIT that hygiene and therapeutics as
practiced by animals may, in the in
terests of psychology, 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-
.isely because they are prompted by
Instincts which are efficacious in the
preservation or the restoration Of
health. British Medical Journal.