BREEDING. AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SAME. 307 
anthrifty, and defective animals. I am aware, however, that the 
evils of domestication are operative, to a certain extent, on all 
animals, Still, I contend that the “ well-bred ” animal can resist 
the insidious encroachments of disease, and survive longer under 
its depressing influence than “ill-favored” creatures. Illustra- 
tions are not wanting to prove the correctness of BLAKEWELL’S 
theory ; therefore, I advise the reader to follow the example of 
one who has been styled the “ Napoleon of breeders.” 
IN-AND-IN BREEDING. 
We now inquire, What is breeding in-and-in? I answer, It 
implies consanguinity—breeding from animals of the same blood, 
or propagating in a close degree of relationship. Some persona 
have an idea that this system is pernicious, and leads to degen- 
eracy and premature decay ; but that is a matter of argument, and, 
as I shall attempt to prove, depends on the skill of the “ breeder,” 
and his ability to make wise selections. The human race—the 
sons and daughters of Adam and Eve——afford a stupendous illus- 
tration of the practicability of in-and-in breeding. The millions 
terrestrial all originated (so the Good Book informs us) from our 
common parents, and, consequently, we are all “blood” relations; 
and this fact goes to show that in-and-in breeding is in accord- 
ance with the laws of physiology, and does not conflict with the 
intentions of “ Him who doeth all things well.” It is a part of 
the great scheme of creation, a physiological law, the problem of 
life, to solve which God has endowed us with reason, “God-lixe 
reason,” the exercise of which puts us in possession of the fruit 
of the “tree of knowledge.” The non-exercise of the same fur- 
nishes us with forbidden fruit. 
Ill-assorted marriages—consumption mating with consumption, 
and scrofula with scrofula—seeks at the altar an introduction to 
an early grave. The same is true of animals. Bad selections 
thwart the intentions of the Creator, mar his handiwork, and if a 
friendly epizotic sweeps them from the face of the earth, it 1s 
more of a blessing than a curse. From the great human family 
I select a branch to illustrate this principle, and I choose to refer 
to the Jews. So long as they are so in faith and practice—mar- 
rying their own kindred—they are a living illustration of the 
above vrincivle. Have they degenerated? No. The distinctive 
