J32 ON RESPIHATION. 



Cruelty to ani-. A great deal has been lately said respecting cruelty to 

 pais. animals. It has necessarily occurred, that, in the following 



experiments, it has been found impossible to avoid putting 

 them to pain. I can only say, that every wanton infliction 

 of it has been studiously avoided. Those animals which are 

 considered as most noxious and insignificant have been pre- 

 ferred for the purpose. And I have no doubt, if the part 

 of natural history treating of the economy of domestic ver- 

 min were more diffused and understood, they would be 

 yielded up without reluctance by the most humane and ten- 

 der hearted for experimental purposes, where the" intention 

 is evidently for instruction and improvement, and not to sa- 

 Mice tisfy mere idle curiosity. Mice, for instance, it is well 



known, under favourable circumstances, such as plenty of 

 increase very f 00( j an( ] the absence of their natural enemies, increase with 

 the most astonishing rapidity, the female often producing 

 nine young ones at a single parturition. The consequence 

 is, the numbers sooner or later begin to exceed the means of 

 When their subsistence. When this first happens, and the food is nearly 

 food begins to or q U ite exhausted, they endeavour to repel the first attacks 



he exhausted, * ... ' . . 



they swallow of hunger by picking up dirt and sand m sufficient quantity 

 dirt and sand. j- have the mechanical effect of distending the stomach and 

 This the sio- intestines. But the delicate coats of the stomach will not 

 (ects S001 ^ * on S ' iear tne re P et i tlon of this artificial food, the sharp 

 angles of the particles of sand at length irritate and inflame 

 that organ, weaken its powers, and compel it to reject it al- 

 and then they together. No other resource is then left to the animal, but 



prey on each , '. , , r ,. ..' ,. ., 



other. to try to sustain Us existence by feeding on those of its own 



species it can overcome, thus impelled by the corroding sen- 

 sations of hunger to recur to this unnatural but only method 

 left them to satisfy the most voracious appetites. And this 

 will proceed till nearly or quite the whole community be 

 extinct, if no opportunities of emigration, or supply of food, 

 present itself. 1 make these remarks from actual observa- 

 tion : and I am sure it need not be suggested, that often the 

 individual sufferings of these little annuals must be very 

 great in this way, without noticing the length of time they 

 are frequently tormented when in the power of their worst 

 enemy the cat; so that it is merciful to increase the means of 

 JJot to cruelly destroying them. 1 believe also it will be found that the 



manney 



