CHAPTER V. 



SELF-SUBMISSION BT ANIMALS TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL 

 TREATMENT. 



CERTAIN animals, including especially the dog, horse, mule, 

 elephant, and cat ; but also the chimpanzee, orang, various 

 apes, or monkeys ; the pike, or other fishes ; sheep, and 

 other animals, not unfrequently become voluntarily patients 

 and sometimes notably patient, or submissive, quiet, and un- 

 complaining, as well as intelligent patients of the physician 

 or surgeon. Not only so, but having themselves experienced 

 the benefit of man's medical or surgical skill, they bring 

 their young, or their fellows, as patients to him, and they co- 

 operate with the physician or surgeon in his treatment, 

 either by showing the patients what to do, or by compelling 

 their acquiescence in man's arrangements for their behoof. 

 As medical or surgical patients, moreover, some of the lower 

 animals stand in most favourable contrast to man in respect, 

 for instance, to their sagacity, self-control, fortitude, grati- 

 tude, or other virtues that are brought into prominence by 

 suffering and its relief. 



There are many instances of war or regimental elephants 

 in India going regularly, day after day, of their own accord, 

 to military hospitals to get wounds dressed, usually after 

 having been taken there once or twice by their mahouts. 

 They submit themselves to any necessary operations ; 

 understand the surgeon's object and co-operate with him ; 

 express pain, and relieve themselves by plaintive groans, 

 though obviously regarding the infliction of pain as a neces- 

 sary or unavoidable part of the operation; prepare themselves 

 for suffering by drawing in the breath as man does ; recog- 



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