Natural History of Animals of the Farm. 
189 
special object of the stock-breeder’s skill, but — as will presently be 
seen — 0 f other animals, though the author does not venture outside 
the class Mammalia. The volume comprises four parts, the first 
of which ( Zootechnie generate) deals with the broad principles of 
classification, anatomy, and physiology. Considerable space in this 
section is allotted to a discussion of the details of feeding and of 
breeding, whilst the concluding chapter ( Exploitation du Betail) is 
directed to an inquiry into the development of animals, according 
as these are destined to become producers of meat or of milk, or are 
intended to be used for purposes of work. 
Animal products form the subject of the second part, and in it 
the chapters are devoted severally to milk and its derivatives; 
to meat ; to animal fats ; to hides, hair, and wool ; to hoofs and 
horns, and bones ; and to dung, or farmyard manure. 
Nearly one-half of the volume is occupied by the third part, 
wherein chapters are respectively assigned to the horse, the ass and 
mule, the ox, the sheep, the goat, the pig, the rabbit, the dog and 
the cat. The two last-named are prettily termed “ the guardians 
of herd, flock, and farm.” 
In the fourth part parasites and maladies are considered. Of 
the former, reference is first made to parasites common to all the 
animals under notice, and then to those which specially infest each 
of these animals. The diseases of domesticated animals are arranged 
in alphabetical order, and though it is only possible to discuss each 
briefly, yet this section of the book alone occupies upwards of one 
hundred pages. The volume concludes with a chapter on sanitary 
legislative enactments and their enforcement in France. 
It will be apparent, therefore, that not only is the work of a 
comprehensive character, but that it deals with subjects which are 
of direct interest to farmers in general and to breeders in particular. 
We cannot call to mind any treatise in the English language, either 
original or translated, which covers exactly the same ground as Dr. 
Pennetier’s useful volume. Though the title and the arrangement 
suggest a somewhat scientific method of treatment, the work is 
pre-eminently one for the practical man. It is well printed, and, 
unlike most Continental books, it is furnished with a full index. 
It will interest English readers to see what a countryman of 
M. Nocard has to say on the vexed question of abortion. It is pre- 
mised that domesticated animals vary much in their susceptibility to 
this malady ; the mare and cow should be placed first, followed in 
order by the ewe, the doe, and the sow. At the present time, when 
there exists a tendency to refer all cases of abortion to one primary 
cause, it deserves to be noted that, according to our author, the 
causes are various. Amongst them he includes disturbance 
arising from presence of the male animal, ill-treatment, falling 
down, excessive work, fright, debility, unhealthy surroundings, 
insufficient nourishment, the consumption with the food of poisonous 
plants (ergot of grasses, ergot of rye, rue, savin, yew, colchicum, 
certain moulds), plants covered with hoar-frost, frozen roots, water 
containing ice, violent purgatives (with which it is necessary to 
