Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-23
MELANCHOLY ANIMALS.
A Physician who Treats Domestic
Animals for MeIanehoIfa.

wards curiosity or desire to obtain
knowledge of aa uncommon kind. 1t
is no more or less than a cat and dog
hospital, but, strangely enough, the
inmates do not lead "a cat and dog
life" Mutual sufferings and iafrmi
ties seem to have sedative effect, aud
these proverbial enemies lie down to-
gether ever as the lion and the lamb,
and take their medicine with good
grace. The place is conducted by DR..
Robert j. Janvier, who devotes his
whole time and attention to the treat
ment of canine and feline diseases.
The doctor is an old practitioner, and
is acquainted with all the ills to
which the cat and dog 2esh is heir
TO.
A regular physician, he retired from
practice about twenty years ago in
Paris, and devoted himself to the
study of animal maladies. He came
10 Philadelphia about six years ago
and established his dog hospital,
which he has made a success.
A reporter visited the place yester-
dav, and was shown around by the
doctor and treated to some novel
sights. The rear Of the house is we'll
ventilated and lighted and partitioned
off by fence-like gates, making about
thirteen small apartments, which can
be thrown into one by the removal OF
the gates. Ia each of these rooms,
or wards, as the superintendent calls
them, are from ore to five dogs or
I cats
Misery makes strange bedfellows,
and it is by no means unusual to place
a cat and dog or two cats and one dog
together. Indeed, the doctor says
this arrangement is frequently best,
and more conducive to the health of
the patient.
For example" he said to The News
inspector, there is a dog and cat.
They have been living together for
eight months, and are as fond Of each
other as two such ascetie creatures
can be. The dog, as you see, is a
fine coach, and the cat an excellent
Maltese"
What Is the matter with them"
was asked.
"Oh, nothing in particular. They
are both hypochondriacs -melancho-
liza, you might callit. The dispositions
of both are Identical, neither will have
anything to do with any Of the other
patients.
"They pass the day and night in ST.
lent contemplation of each other,
varying the monotony once in a while
by INDUCING in a methodical and
dignified caress. Both have been I'M
der my treatment for over a year, and
it took several months TO diagnose and
find a treatment for their peculiar NAL
ady, as the symptoms in each case are
indentical.
"The dog exhibited the most in
tense 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
ty 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 disGam, and, with a contemptuous
hiss, walk away. 1t became evident
that she was proud and felt herself
above her companions. 1 concluded
at last to try the deg, who was also a
supercilious animal, and it was not
long before the arrangement proved
satisfactory. Disappointment in love
imagine, is the cause of their sor-
rows. These naughty aristocrats get
along well together, and l have hopes
of bringing them out of the slough of
| despond >"
"Wnere did you get them ~ was the
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
lady"
"Do you believe in class distinction
among animals3"
Most assuredly. l have evidences
of it all the time Even under ordln-
airy circumstances, you know, neither
dogs nor cats fraternIze. They are
not gregarious animals, and solitude
is preferred, as a rule, except where
man is concerned. Over there you
see is a cur dog. His life is miserable
in the extreme, but it cannot be help
ed, All my patients are blue -blooded
and ignore the vulgar antecedents of
the cur. lie does not seem TO appre>
ciate it much, as his sensibilities are
not fine enough, and his want of cul-
tivation prevents any annoying reflec.
tons which might be engenderea by
an injured amour prOpre. The only
time he ever displays any conscious
ness of the insults hourly placed upon
him is when that magnificent tortoise
shell cat you see over there lists 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 a mincing gait. She was
indeed a beautiful animal, all save
the tail, which dragged or the floor,
and was of unnatural size, being as
large almost as her body, and it gave
her the appearance Of two cats joined
together. AT the first glance one would