GENERAL TREATMENT. 315 



with the single exception of natural cruelty of disposition 

 in man, which must be looked upon as morbid, it is this 

 ignorance, in all likelihood, that begets all the other causes 

 or sources of error. Man's ignorance as a cause of his 

 cruelty is well illustrated in Italy, where, we are told, the 

 inhumanity with which animals are treated 6 arises from a 

 belief that they have neither soul nor feeling.' 1 



A thorough knowledge of the true mental and zoological 

 status of other animals, a realisation even of what is man's 

 own interest or policy in the treatment of subject animals, 

 would probably develop sympathy, dissipate prejudice, and 

 lead to carefulness, consideration, and humanity. Hence the 

 desirability, by all means, of dispelling ignorance and sub- 

 stituting knowledge of the rudiments at least of comparative 

 psychology, and of inculcating lessons in humanity to animals 

 as man's own best policy. 



The following are illustrations of man's errors or absur- 

 dities in treatment, errors based on ignorance, or produced 

 by the other causes already specified: 



1. The destruction of dogs or oxen reputedly 'mad,' 

 which is tantamount to the premature or unnecessary 

 slaughter of great numbers of innocent valuable animals. 



2. The destruction of these or other animals whenever, 

 from any reason, they become in appearance or reality un- 

 serviceable. 



Such forms of injudicious butchery include, for in- 

 stance : 



3. The poisoning of dogs when worms produce as they 

 frequently do cerebral and paralytic, mental and motor, 

 symptoms, and when the simple use of purgatives would 

 probably restore to health and usefulness valuable animals 

 (Cobbold) ; or for 



4. Mere biting, probably under the absurd belief that all 

 biting is, or may be, the result of rabies ; or for 



5. Mere infirmities of age or temper. No doubt there is 

 specious ground for such Spartan practice the destruction 

 of the old or feeble, wounded or decrepit. It is beneficial in 

 its result, 'the survival of the fittest.' But the same argu- 



1 Graphic,' November 14, 1874, p. 474. 



