20 
QUADRUPEDS. 
This animal has (not unaptly) been compar¬ 
ed to a mifer, who is ufelefs and rapacious in 
his life 5 but on his death becomes of public 
ufe, by the very effe&s of his fordid manners. 
The hog during life does not render the left 
fervice to mankind, except in removing that 
filth which other animals reject: his more 
than common brutality, urges him to devour 
even his own off-fpring. All other domeftic 
quadrupeds {hew fome degree of refpe£t to 
mankind} and even a fort of tendernefs for 
us in our helplefs years ; but this animal will 
devour infants, whenever it has opportunity. 
The parts of this animal are finely adapted 
to its way of life : as its method of feeding 
is by turning up the earth with its nofe for 
roots of different kinds ; fo nature has given 
it a more prone form than other animals $ a 
ftrong brawny neck $ eyes fmall, and placed 
high in the head ; a long fnout, nofe callous 
and tough, and a quick fenfe of fuelling to 
trace out its food. Its inteftines have a 
ftrong refemblance to thofe of the human 
fpecies \ a circumftance that fhould mortify 
our pride. The external form of its body 
is very unweildy, yet by the ftrength of its 
tendons, the wild boar (which is only a 
variety of the common kind) is enabled to fly 
[ Clafs I- 
from the hunters with amazing agility : the 
back toe on the feet of this animal prevents 
its flipping while it defcends declivities, and 
muft be of Angular ufe when purfued : yet 
notwithftanding its powers of motion, it is by 
nature, ftupid, ina&ive, and drowfy ; much 
inclined to increafe in fat, which is difpoied in 
a different manner from other animals, and 
forms a regular coat over the whole body. 
It is reftlefs at a change of weather, and in 
certain high winds is fo agitated as to run vio¬ 
lently, fcreaming horribly at the fame time : it 
is fond of wallowing in the dirt, either to cool 
its furfeited body, or to deftroy the lice, ticks, 
and other infers with which it is infefted. Its 
difeafes generally arife from intemperance \ 
meafles, impoftumes, and fcrophulous com¬ 
plaints are reckoned among them. 
t 
Linn^us oblerves that its flelh is a whole- 
fome food for athletic conftitutions, or thofe 
that ufe much exercife 5 but bad for thofe 
that lead a fedentary life, it is tho’ of moft 
univerfal ufe * : and furnilhes numberlefs ma¬ 
terials for epicurifm. The lard is of great 
ufe in medicine, being an ingredient in feveral 
forts of plaifters, either pure, or in the form 
of pomatum $ and the briftles are formed in¬ 
to brufties of feveral kinds. 
* The flefh of the hog is an article of the firft importance to 
a naval and commercial nation, as it takes fait better than any 
Other kind, and confequently is able of being preferved longer. 
Div. II. 
