78 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



deaths or illness of English cattle have been traced to 

 eating the leaves of laurel, common crowfoot, and 

 various other plants of the ranunculus family, wild 

 parsnips, and acorns, which are very astringent ; and 

 also, it is believed, to their eating woody nightshade. 

 The old custom of keeping a goat with cattle was 

 based on the idea that the strong smell of the goat 

 acted as a natural disinfectant, and so prevented certain 

 obscure diseases to which they are subject ; but there is 

 reason to believe that the goat is beneficial because it 

 eats by choice and with impunity plants which are 

 very injurious to cows. 



