592 FARM STOCK, BREEDING, AND FEEDING. 
The care and management that is now bestowed upon the 
lower animals, by the connoisseur in stock breeding ; and the 
high price that is given for symmetry, and fanciful colours, 
and forms, is enough to induce the farming community to 
give some attention to the general physiology of animals. A 
single individual can get his name into repute for certain 
points in the form of animals, and what is true of individuals, 
is also true of the whole nation of animals. A contemporary 
writer of the physiology of animals, has said that races are 
necessarily the result of organic constitution; — that the 
human race has the power of modelling its own organism, 
as well as that of the lower animals, and by a series of combi- 
nations, a high moral and intellectual character, or a character 
decidedly the reverse may be produced ; — in fact, that the 
existing state of society is its own production, and it can 
either exalt or depress it, by attending to or neglecting the 
laws governing its structure. “ Man has power over matter ; 
but to use that power he must conform to the laws governing 
matter. 
Mankind knows this truth and acts in accordance with it, 
when employed in developing and perfecting the lower 
animals, in his breeding horses, bullocks, sheep, &c. ; but as 
regards himself, which is of immeasurably more importance, 
he wilfully neglects the few r laws he has discovered, disdain- 
fully turns aside from the innumerable facts daily presented 
to him, and thus retards the progress of his race. It is by 
observing and recording facts only, that w r e can hope to 
improve ourselves, or those animals committed to our care. 
By a study of nature in her wonderous ways ; by a proper 
knowledge of the animal and vegetable physiology; by a 
study of the mineral kingdom, and the infinite diffusion of 
matter throughout the universe : by these combined points 
of knowledge, we may hope to arrive at just views and 
appreciation of life, and how it may be best sustained in the 
greatest vigour. 
In this inquiry into the physiology of animals, I have 
considered myself justified, by experience and data, (some of 
which have been placed before a discerning public,) to speak 
my mind, in hopes to caution others who may not have 
observed so closely, with (comparatively) a microscopic eye, 
as I have done, throughout a life period of three-score years ; 
hence, I have spared neither kings, queens, or princes, 
relations, or friends, but have said they w ere wrong, w'here- 
ever nature had said so previously. Laws are made by man, 
to restrict the union of persons who are related by marriage 
ties only, yet man unheeds the restriction which nature has 
