HOW ANIMALS DOCTOR THEMSELVES

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1913, Page 61

HOW ANIMALS DOCTOR THEMSELVES

It is held that the simple remedies of nature generally suffice to cure beasts of their ailments, and that they are guided to them by instinct. Animals instinctively choose such food as is best suited to them. It is maintained that the human race also exhibits this instinct, and a French authority blames medical men for giving insufficient attention to the likes and dislikes oY \eir patients in this respect. This instinct, he believes, ,s a guide that may be relied upon. A large number of species wash themselves and bathe—elephants, stags, birds, ants, etc. Animals rid themselves of their parasites by using dust, mud, clay, etc. Those suffering from fever restrict their diet, keep quiet, seek darkness and airy places, drink much water, and sometimes plunge into it from time to time. When a dog has lost its appetite it eats that species of grass known as 'dog-grass.' Cats.also eat grass, cat-nip, etc., when sick. Sheep and cows in the same circumstances seek out certain herbs. An animal suffering from chronic rheumatism invariably keeps as much as possible in the sun. The warrior ants maintain regularly organised ambulances. Latreille cut the antennae of an ant. Other ants covered the wounded part with a transparent fluid from their mouths. If a chimpanzee is wounded it stops the flow of blood by placing its hand on the wound or dressing it with leaves and grass. A terrier had an injured eye. It remained lying under a counter, avoiding heat and light, although it had been its habit to keep close to the fire. It adopted a general treatment—rest and abstinence from food. The local treatment consisted in licking the upper surface of its paw, which it then applied to the wounded eye, again licking the paw when it became dry. Cats also when hurt treat themselves by this simple method. Delaunay cites the case of a cat that remained for some time lying on the bank of a river; also that of a cat which had the singular fortitude to remain for forty-eight hours under a jet of cold water.