THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 151 



Some persons have an idea that this system is pernicious, and 

 leads to degeneracy and premature decay. But that is a matter 

 of argument, and does, as I shall attempt to prove, depend on 

 the skill of the " breeder," and his ability to make wise selec- 

 tions. The human race — the sons and daughters of "Adam 

 and Eve," — afford a stupendous illustration of the practica? 

 bility of "in-and-in breeding." The millions terrestrial, all 

 originated (so the good book informs us) from our "common" 

 parents, and consequently we are all " blood " relations. And 

 this fact goes to show that in-and-in breeding is in accord- 

 ance with the laws of physiology, and does not conflict with the 

 intentions of " Him who doeth all things well." It is a part 

 of the great scheme of creation — a physiological law — the 

 problem of life, to solve which God has endowed us with 

 reason, " God-like reason," the exercise of which puts us 

 in possession of the fruit of the "tree of knowledge ;" the non- 

 exercise of the same furnishes us with forbidden fruit. 



Ill-assorted marriages — "consumption mating with con- 

 sumption," and scrofula with scrofula, seeks at the " altar" an 

 introduction to an early grave. The same is true of animals ; 

 bad selections thwart the intentions of the Creator, mar his 

 handiwork, and, if a friendly epizootic sweeps them from the 

 face of the earth, it is more of a blessing than a curse. 



From the great human family I select a "branch" (to illus- 

 trate this principle), and I choose to refer to the Jews ; so long 

 as they are so in faith and practice — marrying their own kin- 

 dred — they are a living illustration of the above principle. 

 Have they degenerated ? No. The distinctive characteristics 

 of the race are just as remarkable as they ever were ; the 

 vicious and defective find an early grave, but the "race" re- 

 mains pure. 



Now as regards horses and cows, the same is true ; they all 

 had a common origin. The different varieties that now exist 

 are the work of time, circumstances, and the art of man. The 

 famous horses mentioned by Mahomet in the " Koran," resulted 

 from in-and-in breeding ; they have existed and multiplied 

 for three thousand years without the slightest intermixture of 



