The animals doctors of themselves?

SummaryIs the way man looks at animals a contribution to the archaeology of medical knowledge? Aristotle, as early as the fourth century BC, did some relevant observations on dogs “eating a specific herb”. There are many very modern and well-documented examples of animals looking for what is “good for them” (Huffman & coll.). But this expression may appear anthropomorphic. The authors of “the initiatory tales of Fulani herders” have had an inkling of the secret language of animals; this was confirmed by more recent observations. There is indeed many possible forms mediations (physical, chemical,..) between the animal and its environment. These messages can be matched with receptors and well-adapted organs. We should also consider the existence of a wide range of signal exchanges in the vegetable and animal kingdoms.Once upon a time, a long time ago, at a time when animals and men still understood one another (Amadou Hampate Bâ, 1999