Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1888 — Animals as Doctors. [ARTICLE]

Animals as Doctors.

When an animal has a wounded leg or arm hanging on, it completes the amputation withfits teeth. ~ If a chimpanzee is wounded it stops the bleeding by placing its hand on the wound and dressing it with leaves or grass. A sporting dog was run over by a carriage. During three weeks in winter it remained lying in a brook, where its food was taken to it. The animal recovered. A dog, on being stung on the muzzle hy a viper, was observed- to plunge its head repeatedly for several days in running water. The animal eventually recovered.

Animals get rid of their parasitqp by using dust, mud, clay, etc. Those suffering from fever restrict their diet, keep quiet, seek dark, airy places, drink water and sometimes plunge into it. Animals suffering from rheumatic fever treat themselves'by the continual application of cold water, which M. Dulauney considers to be more certain than any of the other methods. The warrior, ants have regularly organized ambulances. Latrelle cut the antenna 1 oi au aut, and other ants camc and covered the wounded part with a transparent fluid secreted in their little mouths.

When a dog has lost his appetite he eats that species of grass known as dog’s grass, which acts as an emetic and purgative. Cats also eat grass. Sheep and cows, when ill, also seek out certain herbs. Many physicians have been observers of animals, their diseases and the methods adopted by them in their instinct to cure themselves, and have appropriated the knowledge so brought under their observation in their practice. A terrier hurt its right eye; it remained under a counter, avoided heat and light, although habitually kept close td the fire; it adopted a general treatment, rest and abstinence from food. The local treatment consisted in licking the upper surface of the paw, which it appleid to the wounded eye, again licking the paw when it became dry.