Book VII. CAT AND FERRET. 1033 



in every instance it lias succeeded equally as with animals : but candor obliges us to 

 notice, that in a considerable proportion of these, other means were used, as the actual or 

 potential cautery : but in all the animals other means were purposely omitted. That 

 this remedy, therefore, has a preventive quality, is inquestionable, and now perfectly es- 

 tablished ; for there was not the smallest doubt of the animals mentioned either having 

 been bitten, or of the dog being mad who bit them, as great pains were in every instance 

 taken to ascertain these points. 



6664. To prevent canine madness^ Pliny recommends, worming of dogs ; and from 

 his time to the present it has had, most deservedly says Daniel, its advocates. He tells 

 us, that he has had various opportunities qf proving the usefulness of this practice, and re- 

 commends its general introduction. Blaine, on the contrary, asserts, that the practice of 

 worming is wholly useless, and founded in error ; and that the existence of any thing like 

 a worm under the tongue is incontestibly proved to be false ; and that what has been taken 

 for it, is merely a deep ligature of the skin, placed there to restrain the tongue in its 

 motions. He also observes, that the pendulous state of the tongue in what is termed 

 dumb madness, witli the existence of a partial paralysis of the under jaw, by which they 

 could not bite, having happened to dogs previously wormed, has made the inability to be 

 attributed to this source, but which is wholly a accidental circumstance ; and happens 

 equally to the wormed and unwormed dog. 



GGlOD. Mange. This is a very frequent disease in dogs, and is an affection of the skin, either caught by 

 contagion, or generated by the animal. The scabby mange breaks out in blotches along the back and 

 neck,' and is common to Newfoundland dogs, terriers, pointers, and spaniels, and is the most contagious. 

 The cure should be begun by removing the first excituig cause, if removable, such as filth or poverty ; 

 or, as more general the contrary (for both will equally produce it), too full living. Then an application 

 should be made to the parts, consisting of sulphur and sal ammoniac : tar-lime-water will also assist. 

 When there is much heat and itching, bleed and purge. Mercurials sometimes assist, but they should 

 be used with caution ; dogs do not bear them well. 



6666. Worms. Dogs suffer very much from worms, which, as in most animals, so in them, are of several 

 kinds ; but the effects produced are nearly similar. In dogs having the worms the coat generally stares ; 

 the appetite is ravenous, though the animal frequently does not thrive; the breath smells, and the stools 

 are singular, sometimes loose and flimsy, at others hard and dry; but the most evil they produce is oc- 

 casional fits, or sometimes a continued state of convulsion, in which the animal lingers some time, and 

 then dies ; the fits they produce are sometimes of the violent kind, at others they exhibit a more stupid cha- 

 racter, the dog being senseless, and going round continually. The cure consists, while in this state, in 

 active purgatives joined with opium, and the warm bath ; any rough substance given internally, acts as a 

 vermifuge to prevent the recurrence. 



6667. The uiorining of whelps is performed with a lancet, to slit the thin skin which immediately covers 

 the worm ; a small awl is then to be introduced under the centre of the worm to raise it up ; the farther 

 end of the worm will, with very little force, make its' appearance, and with a cloth taking hold of that end, 

 the other will be drawn out easily ; care should be taken that the whole of the worm comes away without 

 breaking, and it rarely breaks unless cut into by the lancet, or wounded by the awl. 



6668. The cat {Felis catus, L.) is distinguished from the lion, tiger, leopard, and 

 others of the genus Felis, by its annulate tail. Its habits are thus given by Linnaeus. 

 Inhabits woods of Europe and Asia; domesticated everywhere; when tranquil, purrs, 

 moving the tail; when irritated is very active, climbs, spits, emits a foetid odor; eyes 

 shine at night, the pupil by the day a perpendicular line ; by night large, round ; walks 

 with its claws drawn in ; drinks sparingly ; urine of the male corrosive ; breath foetid ; 

 buries its excrements ; makes a horrid mewling in its amours ; mews after and plays 

 with its kittens; wags its tail when looking after prey; the lion of mice, birds, and the 

 smaller quadrupeds ; peaceful among its tribe ; eats flesh and fish, refuses hot or salted 

 things, and vegetables ; washes behind its ears before a storm ; back electric in the dark ; 

 when thrown up, falls on its feet ; is not infested with fleas ; gravid 63 days, brings three 

 to nine young, blind nine days; delight in marum, cat-mint, and valerian. 



6669. IVie cat is of great use in the farmery in catching mice, rats, and even birds. 

 It is most desirable to keep males, as where females are kept, the noisy gallantry of the 

 adjoining tom cats is exceedingly annoying. 



6670. The Genet cat ( Vivcrra gcnetta), is a species of weasel, with an annulate tail, and spotted blackish 

 tawny body. It is a native of Asia, Spain, and France ; is mild and easily tamed, and answers all the pur- 

 poses of a cat at Constantinople and other places. 



6671. The ferret {Mustella ferro, L., fig. 709.', 709 



is an animal of the weasel and polecat kind, distin- 

 guished by its red fiery eyes. It is a native of Africa, 

 but is tamed in Europe for the purpose of catcliing 

 rabbits. It procreates twice a year, is gravid six 

 weeks, brings from six to eight young : smells very 

 foetid. The ferret is very susceptible of cold, and 

 must be kept in a box provided with wool, or other warm materials, and may be fed with 

 bread and milk. Its sleep is long and profound, and it awakes with a voracious appetite, 

 which is most highly gratified by the blood of small and young animals. Its enmity to 

 rats and rabbits is unspeakable, and when either are, though for the first time, presented 

 to it, it seizes and bites them with the most phrensied madness. When employed to 

 expel the rabbit from its burrows, it must be muzzled, as otherwise it will suck the blood 

 of its victim, and instantly fall into a profound sleep, from which it will awake only to 



