134 THE CAT 



sion of the cat's forelegs, and the animals are 

 great adepts at getting the forelegs out unless 

 especial care is taken. 



ANESTHETICS. 



Anesthetics, especially in the shape of 

 chloroform and of ether, are frequently ad- 

 vised for operations on cats. Unless abso- 

 lute immobility of the animal is required for 

 the success of the operation, I do not like the 

 use of anesthetics. To begin with, even care- 

 fully given, they are dangerous. I have found 

 that animals to which I have given an anes- 

 thetic are more afraid of me afterward than 

 those which I have simply had held properly 

 and produced pain upon. The pain they un- 

 derstand as done for their good; the use of 

 the anesthetics they do not understand. For 

 many operations, however, it is perfectly per- 

 missible to use a preliminary injection of co- 

 caine, which annuls the pain in a local part. 



DESTROYING CATS. 



We are unfortunately frequently obliged to 

 destroy cats for economic reasons, or for 



