INSANITY IN THE LOWER ANIMALS. 35 



as important as its mere bodily ( points,' inasmuch as moral 

 or intellectual defect or disorder is quite as frequently and as 

 much a source of danger or loss to man as defect or disorder 

 of muscle or sinew. 



There are still several points connected with the natural 

 history of animal insanity deserving of consideration. But 

 they are mentioned here mainly as offering suggestions for 

 inquiry ; for at present we possess little or no definite infor- 

 mation thereanent. 



For instance, Weith represents animal insanity as rare 

 before puberty, a statement that is probably correct. Levrat 

 asserts that insanity in the horse is usually developed after 

 the age of six. 



Of the relative liability of the sexes to insanity we know 

 at present nothing definite. It might appear at first sight, 

 and without due consideration, that the female is likely to 

 be more liable than the male, seeing that pregnancy and 

 parturition are such disturbing agents or agencies. But, on 

 the other hand, as in man, it is the male that is the usual 

 bread-winner, protector, leader ; and he has cares and dan- 

 gers that may, and probably do, counterbalance the physio- 

 logical peculiarities of his mate. 



As regards the relative liability of domestic and wild 

 animals, it is natural to conclude that the former are more 

 subject than the latter, for two reasons 



1. That we are much more familiar with domestic animals, 

 and that all their peculiarities, mental and bodily, come under 

 our notice ; and 



2. That we know the results in man of the kind of artifi- 

 cial, luxurious, enervating life which is led by animal pets. 



But it must be borne in mind that wild animals are sub- 

 ject to a series of mental strains of a kind unknown to 

 domestic ones living under man's protection. The struggle 

 for existence, especially against man, with all his wiles and 

 skill, is attended- with mental anxieties, with physical want 

 and exposure, that may well be supposed to counterbalance 

 the overfeeding, the want of exercise, the non-gratification of 

 the sexual instinct in the fat, lazy, irritable, mangy, pampered 

 drawing-room favourite. 



D 2 



