20 
THE RAT. 
had it not been for her intercession in his belialf, he 
most assuredly should have fixed a very heavy fine upon 
him. 
CHAPTER III. 
GENERAL CHAKACTERISTICS OF RATS, — THEIR DISEASES, 
FEROCIOUS CANNIBALISxM, NATURAL AFFECTION, &C. 
I CANNOT ascertain any disease rats are subject to, ex- 
cept the one we have so much cause to complain of, 
namely, consumption of food ; and for all I have seen, 
they have, without an exception, been fine fat fellows, with 
nothing in the shape of disease about them ; yet, if kept 
in close confinement and dirty, then, like every other 
animal under similar circumstances, they are subject to a 
kind of surfeit or mange ; but in a state of freedom I believe 
they are subject to no natural malady. Nevertheless they 
are the finest and most effectual physicians in the world ; 
for should any of their fraternity be mopish and dull from 
pain or sickness, arising out of accident, old age, or what not, 
they cure all their maladies at once by eating them up. At 
the same time they are the most peaceable of all republics, 
for should any internal quarrfels and fights arise, they all 
gather round the combatants, and no matter who wins or 
loses, or what the cause of contention, they put an end to 
the feud by tearing them in pieces, and transporting the 
pair of them down their throats ; and thus is peace most 
speedily and effectually restored. 
This, then, may account for the healthy appearance of 
rats, since they instantly and so effectually dispose of 
their sick and ailing ; and it may be no stretch of the 
imagination to infer that few die a natural death ; but 
where such is the case, they will leave all other food 
to dispose of their dead. Hence has arisen the proverb 
I have heard, that in barns and ricks dead rats are 
almost as rare as dead donkeys ; though, at the same 
time, there are instances on record of their filial and 
parental affection, and attachments as strong as is to be 
