New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-02
II WAS MOI TIE cat.
, The EdtLor Of The Trtbune.

To the EdttOr OF the Tribune.
SIR: had supposed till recently that the
old superstition OF the sucking the breath had passed
away under the scientific Intelligence of the age. But
now it is revived In articles IN two OF the principal
papers of the city. Will the writer's tell how the cat
sucks the breath What docs she do with 1t when
suckedl Does it feed heri What is her Obeci From time
immemoria tue cat has BEEN than the dog,
household anima-the darling companion OF the chill
dren II had been found to be unsafe pet, would It
not been discarded long ago Ii it has some such
secret and dangerous power would 1t have been dis
covered and provcdl Such fancy has come down
from the time when the old witch supposed
to take the form of cat The matter Ia easily ex-
planned. The cat is generally an afectionate
creature which loves human society More stlll,
even, 1t loves warmth and comfort 1t finds the
of the bed the easiest seat Of cushioned chairs with
these instincts 1t would be possible for the cat TO Ind
its way to the cradle and curl itself TO sleep with the
baby very likely with its head near the babys face II
heavy cat in settling itself comfort, should select
position on the chlts chest its weight might suppress
the chids breath Then the cry would arise, rhe cat
has sucked the childs BREATH"
In reference to the statement in Saturdays TRIBUNE
July 19l that "a young lady II" who woke " In u
strangling condition, and had just sufficient con-
seriousness TO throw from her breast cat whose mouth
was thrust far into hers, who has since been very Ill
from prosration and liberated throat" and who
supposes taat the peculiar sensations" with which
she had previously awakened for several mornings,
Originated from the cause" would make some
suggestions the first place let anyone try to feed
cat with its best loved food drink in small vessel
cat can never be induced TO put its head into small
cup or dish; probably its whiskcrs give warn
ing not to enter too small an opening.
Imagine, then. cat tnrusting its mouth far into
human mouth Besides do we not all know that ono OF
the commonest symptoms OF cold aud inflammation OF
the throat is seuse OF funess and sutfocaiion and
sudden choking, with which we wake in alarm A per-
son In that condition frequently awakes dreaming ha
he ia swallowing something which cnOke5 Rim. wouiI
venture TO suggest that the young lady had had cOd
coming on tor several days. giving her dis
comfort which she scarcely noticed. BY the morning
IN question the inHam nation had so Increased mat
She woke with OF sunocatiOn and general weak
ness poor cat perhaps homeless, that mad crept In
m her open window and stretched Itself 20 Sleep on her
cbest--aud perhaps really impeded her respraton-ln
tine bpwderment from the sudden awakening Shd tHe
fright was Immediately accused OF having thrust us
mouth into hers OF sucking her breath ana OF causing
liberation iu her throat Before the friends o. the young
lady rush print with caution u the public against
cats let them ask any psychologist If cat could
sncR anybodys breath, and ask the family doctor
whether II any such sucking were possible II could
cause liberation OF the throat Otherwise before we
know IT, there may arise madiog against the cats,
n there did cry against the dogs not long since. As
an evidence OF the reasonablcuess OF this cry against
the dogs let add That more lives aro lost In one city
n one day by fireworks and firearms on the Fourth OF
Juy every year. than by all the mad dogs IN the whOle
limited States in 4 generation. B.
NeU-HQreH., Conn., July 20, 1879.