Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-06-10
Melancholy Animals.

There Is peculiar hospital on Cal
lowhill street, Philadelphia, a visit to
which amply rewards curiosity or a
iesire to obtain knowledge of an un-
common kind IL Is no more OF less
than a cat and dog hospital, but, strage-
y enough, the inmates do not lead "a
cat and dog life." Mutual sufferings
and intirmities seem to have a Sedatiye
effect, and these proverbial enemies lie
down together even as the lion and the
lamb, and take their medicine with a
good grace. The place is conducted by
DR.. J. Janyier, who devotes his whole
attention to the treatment of canine
aud feline diseases. The doctor is an
Did practitioner, and is acquainted with
all the ills to which cat and dog flesh Is
heir to.
A regular physician, he retired from
practice about twenty years ago in Pa
ris, and devoted himself to the study of
animal maladies. He came 20 Phila-
ielphia about six years ago and estab-
lished his ''dOg hospital" " which he has
made q success
A reporter visited the place recently,
and was shown round by the doctor and
treated to some novel sights. The rear
Of the house is well ventilated and light
ed and partitioned off by fence-hke
gates, making about thirteen small apart
ments, which is thrown into one by the
removal of the gates. In each of these
rooms OF wards, as the superintendent
chooses to call them, are from one to
five cats or dogs.
Misery makes strange bedfellows, and
il is by no means unusual to place a cat
and do or two cats and one dog to-
gether. Indeed, the doctor says this
arrangement is frequently the best, and
more conducive to the health of the
patient.
"For example" =" he said to the inspec-
tor, "here are dog and cat. They have
been living together for eight months,
and are as fond of each other as two
aseetic creatures can be. The dog, you
see, is fine coach, and the cat an ex
cellent Maltese"
what is the matter with them?''
was asked.
"Oh, nothing in particular. They
are both hypochondriacs- cs-melanchOlla,
you might call it. The dispositions of
both are identical, and neither will have
anything to do with any OF the other
patients.
"They pass the day and night in silent
contemplation of each other, varying
the monotony once in awhile by indul-
ging in a methOdical and dignified ca
ress. Both have been under my treat
ment over year. and it took several
a. 4, a
for their peculiar malady, as the symp-
toms in each case are Identical.
1.-THE dog exhibited the most intense
sadness, and would not notice any of
the other patients, and would seldom
accept food. though offered the most
tempting dainties. The cat was the
same way, only she seemed to have "A
thorough disgust for the society OF
other cats, and the only time she would
ever give show of spirit was when
some other cat would come near her.
Then she would curve her back in dis
dain. and with cOntemptuous hiss,
walk away Ii became evident that sha
was proud and felt herself above her
companions. L concluded at last to try
the dog, who was also supercilious
animal, and it was not long before the
arrangement proved satisfactory. Dis
appointment in love, | imagine,
is the cause of their SOrrOws- These
naughty aristOcrats get along well to-
gether, and | have hopes of bringing
them out Of their slough of despond. ,"
where did you get them?" was the
curious inquiry.
1.-The dog belongs to wealthy and
old New York family, and the cat Is, or
rather was. an inmate of the household
of an aristocratic Baltimore maiden
lady,
''Do you believe in class distinctions
among animalsr"
"MCst assuredly. | have evidences
of il all the time. Even under ordinary
circumstances, you know, neither dogs
nor cats fraternlze. They are not gre
garious animals, and solitude is prefer
red, as a rule, except where man is Con
cerned. Over there, you see, is cur
dog. His lie there is miserable III the
extreme, but it cannot be helped. All
my other patients are blue-blOOded, and
ignore the vulgar antecedents of the
eur. He does not seem to appreciate it
do uso ttiC hOl hLAC
enough, and his want OF cultivation
prevents any annoying reflections which
might be engendered by an injured
amour DrOpre The only time he ever
displays any consciousness of the in- |
suits hourly heaped upon him is when |
that magnificent tOrtoise-shell cat you |
see over there visits her spite upon him.
"She is a high-tOned cat, but mean |
as she can be and is always creating
trouble by her meddlesOme and SWELL |
headed manners"
Just then the cat referred to came |
near, with mincing gait, She was
indeed a beautiful animal. all save the
tail, which dragged on the floor, and
was of unnatural size, and gave her the |
appearance of two cats joined together. !
At the first glance one would take her
for feline Siamese twin.
"She is suffering from elephantasis, "
explained the doctor ''She not only
has the big head, but the big tail, too.
Yes. | am afraid she will die by becOm-
ing all tail. 1t is strange that the dog
she despises SO much should have an
afiliction the opposite from here. He is
slowly wasting away and Is iRcurable.
| would have him killed but for the fact
his case is a peculiar one, and | desire
to study it. He is afflicted with acute
muscular atrophy. a disease not extra
ordinary in human beings. There is
gradual ossIfcatlon of the muscles and
a consequent loss of flesh. His food Is
not assimilated TO the system, and he Is
rapidly becoming dog skeleton. After
a while he will be good addition &c
the freaks in the museums.
The doctor continued very interest
ing narrative, explaining the diseases OF
the various animals under his care.
There were about twenty in all, two
thirds of them dogs, embracing New
foundlands, terriers, Skye, black-and-
tan, and bull, and two Pomeranlan or
coach dogs. Four dogs and two cats
had consumption, but the majority were
suffering from disease brought on by
accidents. One of the cats had no hair
rr-oo hafI tho most