493 
IMPORTANCE OF THE VETERINARY ART. 
and across deep and rapid currents of water, to the door of his 
patient, and again back to his own home. Still further has 
the convivialist, who has sat too long over his evening bowl, 
owed his life or his limbs to the good temper of this faithful 
animal, who, in spite of a contrary direction of his bridle, has 
carried him with unbroken bones to the arms of his servants, to 
be conveyed by them to his bed, in order to doze away the re¬ 
mains of his intoxication. „ . , . . 
To the horned cattle we are indebted for many of the blessings 
and comforts of life. The strength and patience of the ox in the 
plough and the team, have added to the wealth of the farmer in 
every age and country. The cow has still greater demands upon 
our gratitude. Her milk, in its simple state, furnishes subsist¬ 
ence^ a great part of mankind. Its products in cream, butter, 
and cheese, form the most agreeable parts of the aliment and 
even of the luxuries of our tables. A pustule upon her udder 
supplies a matter which, when introduced into the body, defends 
it for ever from the small-pox, and without substituting in its 
room a painful or loathsome disease. Millions in every part of 
the crlobe unite with us in expressions of gratititude to heaven 
for this important contribution to the happiness of the human 
race. But our obligations to this benefactor of mankind, and 
to her whole species, do not cease with their lives, fheir ties 1 
affords us the most agreeable aliment after death. Iheir tallow, 
and the oil which is interposed between their joints, supply the 
absence of the sun in candles and lamps, whereby labour and 
studv are profitably extended during a part of the night. Iheir 
hair affords a necessary ingredient in the plaister of our houses. 
Their skins protect our feet and legs in the form of shoes and 
boots from the injuries of the weather. They furnish likewise 
coverings for our books and pleasure carriages, and saddles tor 
our horses. Their horns supply us with combs ; and even their 
bones are converted, when fresh, into aliment, and when ry, in o 
a salt of extensive use in medicine, and in a variety of the 
Sheep occupy the next rank in the list of domestic animals 
in their claims upon our science. They afford us by their wool 
a covering from the inclemency of winter during every year of 
their lives, and by their deaths they supply us with a delicious 
aliment in the forms of lamb and mutton. 
The hog is said, like the miser, to do good only when he dies. 
But this is so far from being true, that he is dishonoured by the 
comparison. He fattens upon the offals of our kitchens, an 
performs the office of a scavenger in cleaning the streets of our 
cities from putrefying masses of animal and vegetable matteis. 
VOL. VII. 3 s 
