DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



16 



Therefore, to save repetition, and comprise as much 

 useful matter as possible in this compend, we have 

 arranged, under the general head of " Domestic Ani- 

 mals," several articles that appertain to all, or to several 

 kinds ; and we have treated of those diseases and the 

 management peculiar to each species, under their appro- 

 priate heads. Owing to this arrangement of the work, 

 those who consult it, on the diseases of any species, 

 should consider these general articles first. 



TREATMENT OF SICE ANIMALS. 



There are many erroneous notions prevalent in the 

 community, in regard to the treatment of sick animals, 

 and numerous unnatural and injurious practices prevail^ 

 in consequence of these notions. If animals could 

 speak, they would tell sad tales of "WTongs and out- 

 rage." 



No wonder that this course is pursued with animals, 

 when we consider that many human beings frequently 

 have their stomachs converted into apothecaries' shops; 

 and after taking emetics and purges, emptying the 

 stomach and washing it out, the patient, poor and debil- 

 itated by the severe operations and necessary starvation 

 attendant upon them, is again built up, with all possible 

 despatch, by roast beef, baked lamb, boiled pork, and a 

 host of other substantial dishes, and numerous condi- 

 ments to excite the appetite ; when a little abstinence, 

 allowing the over-tasked digestive organs a little rest, 

 would have cured, without impairing the powers of the 

 system. • 



We recommend to owners of animals to exercise 

 common se7ise, act with moderation and discretion, and 

 not take hasty and harsh measures, and kill an animal 

 by rough treatment, and by numerous and powerful 

 doses, when, perhaps, if he was left for nature to do her 

 own work, first removing the cause of disease, he would 

 recover without medical aid. Be cautious against too 

 much doctoring. Remember the distich, 



" You say you doctored me when lately ill ; 

 To prove you didn't, I 'm living still." 



