308 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
lick it off and use it in dressing herself. To prepare her for shows, touch 
her all over with a sponge dipped in fresh cream, and she will clean and 
polish herself with a striking effect. 
A begrimed coat is a source of poor health, and one that is rough and 
staring is generally the first symptom of disease. Hence, both in hygiene 
and treatment, attention to the fur is of much importance. 
GENERAL REMARKS.—The health and temper of cats are seriously 
impaired by rough treatment of all kinds. No one can reasonably expect 
to have a pet that is fit for the drawing-room if it is harassed by dogs and 
street-boys, or continually teased by pulling its ears, tail and fur; nor, in- 
deed, if it is treated as if it were merely suffered to be in the house, instead 
of being sought. That an animal is so patient as to allow children to 
smother it in their aprons and wraps, to carry it over the shoulder by the 
legs or head, and even to drag it by the tail, is a rebuke to parents who are 
so unfeeling as to permit such abuse. Her good nature merits some consid- 
erations of humanity. Her delicate nervous organism, too, demands pro- 
tection against pain, fright, and all forms of rough treatment. 
DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 
Cats are subject to nearly as many diseases as the human race. But 
while the diseases of nearly all other animals have been studied with great 
care, those of the cat have been neglected, except by a few admirers of that 
animal. Yet there are thousands of people who would highly value any 
practical information, in order that they might save the life or preserve the 
health of a loved pet or valuable mouser. 
Cats soon show when they are sick. Almost the first symptom is a 
neglect of their usual toilet. A cat that omits to wash and clean itself is 
surely ill. 
Another prominent symptom is a rough condition of its fur. The 
hair no longer is smooth and glossy, but appears to stand out straight from 
the skin. 
A hot nose is a pretty sure sign that a cat is feverish or has inflam- 
mation somewhere. I shall enumerate the disorders of cats in the order of 
their frequency, and give briefly the best treatment adopted by others, 
together with my own experience. 
There is no reason why we should not treat the cat and all other 
animals with the same humanity with which we should treat our fellow 
human beings. Some physicians and surgeons take offense, or pretend to, 
if asked to prescribe for a cat or other domestic animal. No physician 
need feel any loss of dignity in doing a humane act. When a veterinary 
Digitized by Microsoft® 
