1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 13 



animal kingdom. The physical condition of the world once estab- 

 lished, all organized bodies are fitted with reference to those condi- 

 tions. No exception to the law is yet discovered. 



In speaking of the diseases of the ox, and their mode of treatment, I 

 shall confine myself to the statement of general principles. I take it for 

 granted, that there is such a resemblance in the anatomical structure of 

 the ox to that of man, that many of the principles which are established 

 in the nature and treatment of disease, apply equally to each. To 

 support this, there may be an appeal to facts. , A few will suffice. 1 . 

 Our domestic animals are affected by many of the contagious diseases 

 to which man is also subject. 2. The organs and forces which be- 

 long to organic life, present the same general phenomena. 3. Dis- 

 ease, involving structural derangement, presents the same morbid ap- 

 pearances. 4. Vital forces are the same in all mammiferous animals. 



5. Exposure to atmospheric changes produces the same train of dis- 

 eases as in the human family, as coughs, colds and consumptions. 



6. Medicinal agents act on the same organs in each, and are followed 

 by like effects. 7. Differences in the organs are differences in form, 

 and are not radical differences, and amount only to certam modifi- 

 cations which are limited on all sides, the deviation never extending 

 so far as to destroy the unity of the plan of construction. 8. The 

 primary elements which enter into this construction, considered as 

 mere machines, are the same. It is necessary to state here distinct- 

 ly that we are speaking only of certain general principles, and it is 

 not contended that there are not some differences, but the deviations 

 from one plan cannot be very wide, since both families are fitted for 

 the same physical conditions. When, therefore, so many princij)les 

 are found to apply or belong to both families, in health and disease, 

 may we not also farther infer that those practices in disease, which 

 are established in particular cases in one, may be extended to the 

 other ? May not the experience in one, aid us in the other, or 

 be used as a guide in the application of remedial agents .'' It is 

 not necessary, however, to theorize, when there are so many facts of 

 the specific action of medicines almost identical in man and beast. 

 In each, opium relieves pain ; aloes, senna, jalap, calomel, &c., act 

 on the intestinal canal ; nitre on the kidneys ; camphor, opium, and 

 nitre on the skin ; alcohol on the brain ; ginger, columbo, gentian, 



