Proceedings of the Far.meks' Club. 509 



Dr. J. Y. C. Smith. — Mr. Cliainnau : It was the opinion of Iludi- 

 bras that " a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion 

 still." I find in my own feelings confirmation of this principle, for, 

 despite this long letter and this learned talk, I still object to the 

 undignified practice of cooking feed for farm stock. I even doubt 

 if the dissertations which have won the prizes in Philadelphia will 

 have influence in changing my notions. Why, gentlemen, if we get 

 in the habit of going on in the way some would have us go, it will 

 not be long, probably before we will be making shortcake and waffles 

 for our swine. But, seriously, it is, as I have before said, against the 

 great law of nutrition. It is a waste of time, beside, and must have 

 a demoralizing eftect on swine and cattle. I firmly believe tliat the 

 diseased meat brought to this market — and everybody knows the 

 quantity is not small — is largely due to improper practices in fatten- 

 ing. The best western meat is not from animals that were forced to 

 an unwholesome maturit3\ The feed and feeding of cows has influ- 

 ence on the milk we give our children, and we had better see to it 

 that we do not encourage practices which make the milk impure. I 

 do not wish to have, on this cow subject, what Cowper deprecated, 

 namely, a duel in form of a debate ; but I speak for a great principle, 

 and I conclude by saying that animals fed on grass and grain as they 

 find these substances in the material state are best. They have a mill 

 and can do their own grinding. I see I am in a mean minority here, 

 but the side I speak for is the side of truth, and it will, I am sure, be 

 proved so on extended observation. 



Dr. Isaac P, Trimble. — I would like to inquire of Mr. Curtis more 

 particularly with regard to his practices in fattening swine, and 

 whether he places corn before his young pigs. 



Mr. F. D. Curtis. — I give young pigs each a handful of corn, say 

 twice a week, but their chief diet is milk. Whea they are older 

 grown, I put a little salt into their food, and I follow this practice 

 up. I also giv^e a small quantity of sulphur every three or four days, 

 also charcoal, and in winter old wood. Paw corn they do not thrive 

 on. My father tried the experiment, and it proved expensive. His 

 gruoters grew small by degrees and beautifully less ; soon they were 

 stifl' and worthless. I also remend)or that my father used often to 

 have a dozen or twenty porkers, which he fattened on potatoes, boiled ; 

 and let me say in this connection to my friend, the ex-mayor of 

 Boston, that hogs will starve on raw potatoes. Another thing, it is 

 a well-known fact that barbarians prefer raw food, and the more 



