122 THE CAT 



sented the poorer classes. Invariably I found 

 that the patients had in the house a cat which 

 they played with 5 and I verified the origin by 

 examining their cats and finding them affected 

 with the disease. A cat with ringworm should 

 be isolated for a few days from the children 

 and from other cats, until the spots have been 

 well rubbed with mercurial ointment for sev- 

 eral days in succession. Then the animal 

 should be watched daily for the next week or 

 two for the appearance of fresh spots, which 

 should be treated with mercurial ointment the 

 instant they appear. 



Trichina (Trichina spiralis). 



Trichina is not a rare parasite in the cat, 

 but its diagnosis is excessively difficult. The 

 Trichina spiralis, in its vesicular form, is found 

 in the rat and in the hog, the flesh of both of 

 which animals, of course, is common food for 

 the cat. When eaten, the parasite wakens into 

 life, develops into the little worm which is seen 

 in the figure (Figure 28), and mixes with the 

 contents of the stomach and intestines. For- 



