414

AN1MAL SIMPLES.

this being, nevertheless, distinct from the albuminuriaof kidney disease. Salt increases the oxidation of thealbumen taken as food, and the excretion of urea, Thewatery part (serum) of the blood eontains from four tosix parts per thousaud of common salt; but vegetablepotash must be also taken, it being uotorious that anexclusive diet of Salt food tends to produce scurvy.By the old criminal law of Holland it was decreed thatculprits convicted of murder should be fed in a dampprison on bread made without salt. They alwaysperished within a short time, and by a loathsome formof death. " The efiect was terrible," as Somerville teilsus, "seeing that these wretched victims were devouredby worms engendered within their own stomachs."

Wild animals will travel long distanees and bravegreat dangers to get at the salt-licks; and the salineearths supplied thereat are then irresistibly attractiveto these wild creatures of the prairie or desert. Amongdomestie animals there is a natural eraving for salt whenit is insutficiently supplied in their food. Horses andcows are niost healthy when provided with a lump ofRock salt in the manger. Even bees will sip a Solutionof salt with avidity.

And yet, notwithstanding these convincing facts,some persona are found, even in the present day,to advanee opposite views. Dr. Hassall has made boldto throw doubts of late on the necessity for salt to betaken by mankind ; and nearly sixty years ago a Dr.Howard went so far as to publish a pamphlet bearingthe title : " Salt, the Forbidden Fruit or Food, and thechief Cause of Disease of the Body (especially Con-sumption) and Mind of Man and Animals ; as taughtby the ancient Egyptian Priests and Wise Men, and byScripture."