Animals their own Doctors

Southland Times, Issue 10197, 1 July 1889, Page 4

Animals their own Doctors

: *. Animals get rid of their 'parasites by using dust, mud, ciay, &c. Thcjse suffering from fever reßtrict their diet, keep quiet, seek dark, airy plscea, drink water and lometimeß plunge into it. When a dog has lost its appetite it eats that species- of grass known as dog's grass, which-Acts as an emetic and a purgative. Cats also eat graßfi Sheep and cows when ill seek out certain herbs. And animals suffering 1 from chronic xkenmatism always keep as far as possible in the sun. The warrior ants have Kgu'arly organized ambulances. Latreille cuttke antennae of the ant; and the other ants came and covered the wounded part with a transparent fluid secreted in their mouths. If a chimpanzee is wounded it stops the bleeding by pltcing its iand on the wound or dressing it with leaves and grass. When an animal has a wounded leg oc arm hanging on it completes the amputation by means of its teeth. A dog, being ■tung on the muzzle by & viper, was observed to plunge itskead repeatedly for several days into running water. This animal eventually recovered. . ■ A terrier hurt its right eye. It remained under a counter, avoiding light and heat, although it habitually kept close to the fire. It adopted a general treatment, rest and abstinence from food. The local treatment consisted in licking tfeeupper surface of the paw, which it applied to the wounded eye, again licking the paw when it became dry. Ani mals suffering from tratnautie fever treat themselves by the continued application of cold water, which M. Delannay considers to be more certain than any of tie other methods. In view of these interesting facts we are, he thinks, forced to admit that hygiene and therapeutics, as propo»el by animals, may in the interest of psychology,* be studied with advantage. M&ny physicians have been keen observers of animals, their diseases and the methods adopted by them in their wonderful instinct to cnre themselves, and have availed themselves of the knowledge so obtained in their own practice.