134 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



MISS G. JAY'S CATTEKY. 

 (Photo: W. Field, Putney.) 



whom acute laryngitis developed, and so she 

 had to be put to sleep. 



" ' Wooshoo ' was given up by the vet., as he 

 piled so many complications into his system 

 one after the other, developing bronchitis, 

 gastritis, and jaundice on the top of the 

 original complaint. Poor fellow, for twenty- 

 four hours he lay unconscious, but I kept his 

 heart going by doses of pure alcohol every two 

 hours, while I fought the disease with hot 

 fomentations, medicated steamings, and other 

 proper remedies. 



" For just one month I had to hand-feed him, 

 and then one afternoon it occurred to him he 

 might try his minced oyster by himself, greatly 

 to my joy and triumph ; and when he feebly 

 washed his face afterwards I felt like setting 

 the church bells ringing ! 



" I am convinced, in serious cat illness, it is 

 the night nursing that does the trick and deter- 

 mines whether your patient is to live or die. 

 It is somewhat of an effort, I admit, to have to 

 arise two or three times in a night (nearly 

 always in the bitter weather, when these 

 epidemics occur), and, in my case, to be obliged 



to dre?s and go out of doors to the stable- 

 yard, with a dimly burning lantern. 



" In every cat lover's career there must be 

 some such saddening memories. Saddest when, 

 after the efforts of the night, and you have left 

 hopeful the morning will bring improvement, 

 you return in the early dawn to note on enter- 

 ing a sign that causes youi heart to beat 

 heavily your patient's bed is empty ! 



" You know what that means, and look round. 

 Yes, there in a corner, flat, stiff, and draggled, 

 where he has crawled in the last uneasy seeking 

 for air, is your poor pet, still for ever ! " 



Mrs. Hardy, in connection with illnesses, has 

 some advice to offer as regards medicines which 

 she has tested herself, and which I think will 

 be of service to my readers : 



" While not intending to say anything 

 authoritatively upon the subject of remedies 

 for various cat ills, all of which will be most 

 ably and exhaustively gone into by the writer 

 of later chapters in this book, I might perhaps 

 mention one or two things of which I have 

 had personal experience, restoratives rather 

 than drugs, which I now keep always at hand. 



