87 



Perhaps there is no conchisive evidence in any of these cases 

 that infection of septicaemia came directly from the teeth or 

 claws of the cat, as the wounds caused by the cat might have 

 become infected from some other source after they were in- 

 flicted, and similar results might arise from the scratch of a nail 

 or a piece of tin, but the claws or teeth may have been the 

 medium of infection, and such cases are not very rare. 



A perusal of the above should cause parents to consider 

 whether cats or kittens are likely to be safe playmates for their 

 children, or whether harmless creatures like rabbits are not 

 preferable. 



As a precaution against possible infection tramp cats should be 

 eliminated, sick ones quarantined and all cats should be kept 

 awa\' from the common sources of infection, especially from all 

 people ill with transmissible diseases. 



Boards of health of towns and cities cannot ignore the cat as 

 a possible agent in carrying disease infection. Medical men are 

 now banishing cats from hospitals and other institutions. The 

 following letter from the commandant of the naval training sta- 

 tion at Newport, R. I., explains itself: — 



Repljnng to your letter of July 23, inquiring relative to the destruction of 

 cats at this station, you are informed that all stray cats found on this station 

 were a short time ago disposed of. Every effort is made here to prevent 

 possible contagion to 2,000 young men, and this is one of the preventive 

 measures. 



Verj' truly yoiu-s, 



Roger Wells, 

 Captain, U. S. Navy, Commanding. 



MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE CAT. 



If ownerless cats were eliminated and owned cats confined 

 like other domestic animals, or limited in their movements to 

 buildings or enclosures of their owners, the cat evil would be 

 minimized. Even if the cat could be brought to obey a master 

 and so be kept under control, like the dog, the trouble would 

 not be so acute. The cat then could be utilized more in killing 

 rats and mice and prevented from destroying birds; but the 

 moment the average cat in the country gets away from the house 

 it becomes practically a wild animal and beyond control, except 

 by means of a shotgun or rifle. A well-trained dog will come at 

 call, but most cats are not trained to obey any call, except that 

 of an empty stomach. 



As the cat is not a necessity, many people do not keep one. 

 I have not kept a cat in my house for years. Whenever rats or 



