312 dadd's veterixary medicine and surgery. 



celebrated for the production of a permanent variety of horses 

 known as " Clevelands." They are an ancient and unmixed race. 

 Their bodies have peculiar markings, and if a foal should be born 

 without them, the owner would give orders for its immediate 

 destruction. I presume it is now understood what is meant by 

 permanent variety. 



Animals become Parents too early. 



Victor Gilbert never allowed ewes to have lambs until they 

 had passed their third year, and the bucks were never used until 

 they had arrived at full maturity. He, as well as many other 

 sagacious stock-raisers that I might name, are probably conver- 

 sant with the fact that, during the period of growth and develop- 

 ment up to maturity, the reproductive organs are dormant, while, 

 at the same time, the nutritive function was wholly engaged in 

 elaborating ch_yle and blood for the development ot bone, muscle, 

 and nerve ; and that by calling into requisition the reproductive 

 or generative organs before the animal had attained full growth, 

 must necessarily divert the elements of matter intended for nutri- 

 tion from their legitimate channel, and direct them to the repro- 

 ductive organs. This is precisely what takes place. A too early 

 use of the purely animal functions induces weakness and stunted 

 growth. 



The author remembers that, in his school-boy days, it was cus- 

 tomary, so soon as a boy had accumulated a few pence, to invest 

 the same in a rabbit (a favorite animal at that period) ; conse- 

 quently we had a community of juvenile rabbit-raisers ; and from 

 the results of past experience, as observed by the older boys, a rule 

 was adopted among us that the doe should not be j^ut to the buck 

 until she had attained full maturity. The reason assigned for this 

 rule was, " Early breeding prevented the doe from growing." The 

 facts were evident ; still we knew not the why nor wherefore, but 

 acted on the spur of experience. Physiologists have assigned the 

 above as the true cause, and have, in their writings, pointed out 

 the woeful results which often follow a too early use of the purely 

 animal functions and organs. I seriously urge farmers to give 

 this subject that attention which it evidently demands. By so 

 doing they will prevent many of the unnecessary abortions which 

 are almost constantly occurring. Among the higher orders of 



