THE HOG. 81 



THE HOG. 



THE hog, in its domestic state, is the most sordid and brutal ani- 

 mal in nature. The awkwardness of its form seems to influence 

 its appetites, and all its sensations are as gross as ils shape is un- 

 sightly. It seems possessed only of an insatiable desire of eating ; 

 and seems to make choice only of whatever other animals find the 

 most offensive. By nature, it is the most stupid, inactive, and drow- 

 sy ; if undisturbed, it would sleep half its time ; but it is frequently 

 awakened by the calls of appetite, which, when it has satisfied, it 

 goes to rest again. Its whole life is thus a round of sleep and glut 

 tony ; and if supplied with sufficient food, it soon grows unfit ven 

 for its own existence ; its flesh becomes a greater load than its legs 

 are able to support, and it continues to feed lying down or kneel- 

 ing, a helpless instance of indulged sensuality. Most of the dis- 

 eases of this animal arise from intemperance : measles, impost- 

 humes, and scrofulous swellings, are reckoned among the number. 



The flesh of swine was expressly forbidden to the Jews / by the 

 Levitical law (Lev. xi. 7,) on account of its filthy character, as some 

 think, as well as because the flesh, being strong and difficult to di- 

 gest, afforded a very gross kind of aliment, and was apt to produce 

 cutaneous, scorbutic, and scrofulous disorders, especially in hot cli- 

 mates. Maimonides says, 'The principal reason wherefore the law 

 prohibited the swine was, because of their extreme filthiness, and 

 their eating so many impurities ; for it is well known with what 

 care and precision the law forbids all filthiness and dirt, even in the 

 fields and in the camp, not to mention the cities. Now, had swine 

 been permitted, the public places, and streets, and houses, would 

 have been made nuisances.' 



In the time of Isaiah, however, (chap, Ixv. 4), the eating of swine's 

 flesh is enumerated among the abominations that had been adopted 

 by the degenerate Hebrews ; and their punishment is denounced 



