ox. 
17 
that are least beneficial to us ; and they return every 
evening to repay this obligation with a liberal flow 
of milk. The night is no sooner passed, but they 
earn by a second payment the sustenance of the 
succeeding day. There is scarce any part of their 
bodies without its use ; the hide, when properly 
prepared, serves for boots, shoes, and numberless 
other purposes. Vellum is made of calves’ skin. 
Of their horns we make combs, boxes, handles for 
knives, and drinking-vessels ; and when softened in 
water, they serve the purpose of glass for the sides 
of our lanterns. Even medicine was formerly in- 
debted to this part of them for an antidote against 
poison, under the title of the English bezoar, and 
they were found to be full as efficacious as the 
Oriental hind. The large bones are used by me- 
chanics in the place of ivory ; and from the smaller 
ones an oil is produced, much used by many in 
cleaning harness, and all the trappings belonging to 
a coach. The blood is an excellent manure for 
fruit-trees, and is the basis of that fine colour the 
Prussian blue. In short, the blood, fat, marrow, 
hide, hair, horns, hoof, milk, cream, butter, cheese, 
whey, liver, gall, spleen, and bones, have each their 
particular use in manufactures, commerce, and me- 
dicine. 
If the value of these presents is any way dimi- 
nished, it is because we daily receive them, and 
think no more of them ; they are depreciated by 
the easiness of obtaining them : but, in reality, this 
is a circumstance which enhances their merit. A 
VOL. i. 
c 
