1838. HOUSE—No. 72. 13 
animal kingdom. The physical condition of the world once estab- 
lished, all organized bodies are fitted with reference to those condi- 
tions. No exception to the law is yet discovered. 
In speaking of the diseases of the ox, and their mode of treatment, I 
shall confine myself to the statement of general principles. I take it for 
granted, that there is such a resemblance in the anatomical structure of 
the ox to that of man, that many of the principles which are established 
in the nature and treatment of disease, apply equally to each. To 
support this, there may be an appeal to facts. A few willsuffice. 1. 
Our domestic animals are affected by many of the contagious diseases 
to which man is also subject. 2. The organs and forces which be- 
long to organic life, present the same general phenomena. 3. Dis- 
ease, involving structural derangement, presents the same morbid ap- 
pearances. 4, Vital forces are the same in all mammiferous animals. 
5. Exposure to atmospheric changes produces the same train of dis- 
eases as in the human family, as coughs, colds and consumptions. 
6. Medicinal agents act on the same organs in each, and are followed 
by like effects. 7. Differences in the organs are differences in form, 
and are not radical differences, and amount only to certain modifi- 
cations which are limited on all sides, the deviation never extending 
so far as to destroy the unity of the plan of construction. 8. The 
primary elements which enter into this construction, considered as 
mere machines, are the same. It is necessary to state here distinct- 
-ly that we are speaking only of certain general principles, and it is 
not contended that there are not some differences, but the deviations 
from one plan cannot be very wide, since both families are fitted for 
the same physical conditions. When, therefore, so many principles 
are found to apply or belong to both families, in health and disease, 
may we not also farther infer that those practices in disease, which 
are established in particular cases in one, may be extended to the 
other? May not the experience in one, aid us in the other, or 
be used as a guide in the application of remedial agents? It is 
not necessary, however, to theorize, when there are so many facts of 
the specific action of medicines almost identical in man and beast. 
In each, opium relieves pain ; aloes, senna, jalap, calomel, &c., act 
on the intestinal canal; nitre on the kidneys ; camphor, opium, and 
nitre on the skin; alcohol on the brain; ginger, columbo, gentian, 
