DISEASES OF CATS 129 



balsam applied to the uncovered bone, which 

 will soon grow a new claw. If, however, the 

 bone has been injured, and has become nec- 

 rosed, it should be removed. In injuries of 

 this sort, when the bone is affected, the sooner 

 it is attended to the better. If only the extrem- 

 ity of the bone is diseased, it can be scraped off, 

 and will heal rapidly ; whereas if the necrosis 

 has extended to the joint, and has implicated 

 the elastic ligament, healing is difficult, and 

 amputation may have to be performed as high 

 as the second joint. 



POISONS. 



Cats are subject to mineral poisons given 

 them intentionally, or left carelessly lying in 

 corners mixed with food intended for rats, 

 which the cat gets at accidentally. The usual 

 mineral poisons are arsenic or rat-poison. The 

 cat may also be poisoned from verdigris and 

 salts of copper, which form on the surface of 

 improperly cleaned kitchen-utensils left with 

 food standing in them, which the cats eat. 

 Mineral poisons produce irritation of the stom- 



