The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-06
ANIMAL "MArERIA MEpIcA. ~

The legend that the young AeSculapius
cured a man by the use of an herb which
he had seen a sick goat search for and
eat upon the slopes of Pelion, is evidence
of the antiquity of the belief that animals
are acquainted with the use of medical
plants. The belief did not lose in force in
later days; and in the 'bestiraries" and
medical works of the middle ages, the
medical knowledge possessed by animals
was almost as much exaggerated "a were
the healing virtues Of various parts OF
the animals themselves. But enough IS
now known Of the nature Of animal ma
terra medica TO excite interest and cur
iosity without the aid Of fable. There is
abundant evidence that very many spe-
c,es are known and constantly make use
Of simple remedies for definite disorders.
and at the same time observe rules OF
health TO which only the highest civiliza-
ton or the sanction of religious prescrip-
ton compels general condition OF animal
health, especially in the case OF herbiVor-
Gus creatures, correspond rot inexactiy
with that OF such tribes as the Somalis.
men feeding almost solely on grain, mix.
dates and water, living constantly In me
open air, moderate in all things, and ciean-
ly, because their religion enJoins constant
ablutions Like them, wild animals have
no induced disease; the greater NUMBER 90
not eat to excess; they take regular exer-
else in seeking their food, and drink only
at fixed hours. Many of them secure
changes of climate, one Of the greatest
factors in health, by indignation. This
is not confined to birds and beasts. Tor
the salmon enters the soft water partly 10
get rid of ea-parasites, and returns TO the
sea to recruit after spawning. with
change of climate, change OF diet, ana
perfectly healthy habits, their list or di-
orders is short. though they readliy ran
victims to contagious disease, just as re-
Gently numbers of the Hamran Arabs OF
the Sudan, as healthy nvers and good Mus
sulmans the the Somalis themselves.
friends and fellow hunters with Sir Sam
Tel Baker, persisted of contagious fever on
the banks of the Nile tributaries.
The medical precautions of animals are
thus mainly directed to the preservation
of the health which they normally enjoy,
which is partly obtained by the conscious
search for a change Of food and locality.
Cleanliness in their next object of soil
citude and in this the various forms or
animal toilet play an important part IL
is almost more necessary that the OUTSIDE
Of an animal, whether skin or scaieS'
should be free from disease than mat the
interior functions should be in perfect or
der Nature seems to cure the latter
but not the former. On the contrary, AMI
mails when wild constantly lingering
death from injury to the skin, whether
cause as usually happens in tropical coun-
tries, by wounds aggravated by insects
or by cutaneous disease. Hence the pains
which they take in making their toilet,
and in the use and selection OF COS
metics" Among birds. the saltwater spe-
cies often seek fresh water TO WASH IN,
different landlords choose different earthS
in which to dust, and also wash in water,
and nearly every tropical animal, inc!ud-
ing the tiger battles either in water or IN
mud. Perhaps the best known mud-bath-
ers are the wih-boar. the water-buffalo
and the elephant. The latter has an I'M
,nanse advantage over all other animals,
in the use Of its trunk for dressing wounds
It is at once syringe, a powoerihs-puH
and hand. Water. mud and dust are the
main applications" used, though IL
sometimes covers a sun-scorched back
with grass or leaves. wounded eie-
nbants" writes Sir Samuel Baker. have
a marvellous power OF recovery when In
their wild state, although they nave no
gifts of surgical knowledge, their simple
system being confined to plastering their
wounds with mud. or blowing dust upon
the surface. Dust and mud comprise the
entire pharmacopoeda OF the elephant,
and this is applied upon the most trivial.
as well as upon the most serious. occa-
SONS. have seen them when in
a tank plaster up bullet wound with mud
taken from the bottom"