Ruih^ on stzidymg" the diseases of Animals. li 



vernor of the universe which subjected Adam and all his 

 posterity to the same evils. 



The diseases ot the animals which still roam the forests, 

 and refuse to be subject to man, are iew in number, and ge- 

 nerally ot so mild a nature as to yield to the operations of na- 

 ture. But this is far from being the case with domestic ani- 

 mals. Like the human race, they acquire new and violent 

 diseases by civilization, or by the manner of life to which 

 their connection with us, and their subserviency to our in- 

 terests and pleasures expose them. Even parturition so per- 

 fectly the work of nature in beasts of prey, is often attend- 

 ed with the same difficulty and danger in domestic animals 

 that take place in women. Of this Dr. Bland has mentioned 

 some remarkable instances in his observ^ations upon human 

 and comparative parturition. Similar instances have been 

 tommunicated to me by Dr. Dewees, as having occurred 

 under his notice while he practised midwifery in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Philadelphia. 



2nd. We are bound to study the diseases of domestic ani- 

 mals, and the remedies that are proper to cure them, by a 

 principle of gratitude. They live only for our benefit. They 

 cost us nothing in wages or clothing. They require in ex- 

 change for their labor, and all the other advantages we derive 

 from them, nothing trom us but food and shelter, and these 

 of the cheapest and coarsest kind, so that there is constantlv 

 due to them, an immense balance of debt from us. This mo- 

 tive to take care of their health and lives will appear more 

 striking when we consider the specific benefits we receive 

 from each ol them. The horse is not only an important ap- 

 pendage, but a necessary part of the cement of civilized so- 

 ciety. He ploughs our fields, — he drags home our hai-vests 

 and fruits to our barns and cellars. He conveys them from 

 distant countries, over rough and difficult roads, to our mar- 

 ket towns and sea ports. He receives in exchange from them, 

 -the products of foreign nations, and conveys them to the in- 



