228 OUR HOME PETS 



In "cat-pox," in which the hair falls off, 

 should be administered a cooling diet and 

 plenty of grass, while the spots are rubbed 

 with flour of brimstone mixed with lard which 

 has no salt. This will cure eruptions, and as 

 the patient licks it he will swallow some, which 

 is also good. I think it is the Irish who give 

 medicine to a cat by daubing it on his coat 

 where he can lick it off. 



If a cat is hopelessly ill or injured, or if for 

 any reason it is desired to be rid of him, the 

 only humane thing to do is to take his life, 

 provided that it is done in a painless way. A 

 few cents' worth of chloroform, with which a 

 sponge or cloth is saturated and held close to 

 his nose, will very soon put the unfortunate 

 into his last sleep. If one demurs at perform- 

 ing this last kindness to poor pussy, the same 

 sponge placed with the animal in any tight 

 vessel, like a common wash-boiler or covered 

 tub, and closely shut up, will have the same 

 effect in a little longer time. 



It is a cruel thing to take a whole litter of 

 kittens away from the mother at once. It 

 should be done gradually, or else one left 

 for her to bring up. Putting the cat's feel- 



