The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-05-21
MELANCHOLY ANIMALS.
a Physician Who Treats Domestic AMI
mails for Melanchola.


There is a peculiar hospital on Cal
lowhill street, a visit 10 which amply
rewards curiosity or a desire TO obtain
! knowledge OF an uncommon kind. 1t
is no more or less than a cat and dog
hospital, but, strangely enough, the in
mates do not lead "a cat and dog life. "
Mutual sufferings and intirmities seem
to have a sedative effect, and these pro-
verbal enemies lie down together even
as the lion and the lamb. and take their
medicine with q good grace. The place
is conducted by DR.. Robert J. Janvier,
who devotes his whole time and atten-
ton to the treatment of canine and fe-
line diseases. The doctor is an old
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
Paris, and devoted himself to the study
Of animal maladies. He came to Phil
adelphia about six years ago and estab-
ished his dog hospital, which be has
made a success.
y reporter visited the place yester-
day, and was shown around by the doc
tor and treated to some novel sights.
The rear of the house is well 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. In
| each OF these rooms, or wards, as the
superintendent chooses to call them,
are from one to five cats or dogs.
Misery makes strange bedfellows, and
it is by no means unusual to place a cat
and dog 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 pa
tient.
For example" he said to the Nelcs
inspector, ''here are a dog and cat.
They have been living together for
eight months, and are as fond of each
other as two such aScetic creatures can
be. The dog, 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 Observation-Disclosures
YOU might call it. The dispositions of
both are identical, and neither will
other patients.
They pass the day and night in ST.
lent contemplation of each other, vary
| ing the monotony once In awhile by in
dulging in a methodical and dignitied
caress. Both have been under my treat
ment for over a year, and it took sever
al months to diagnose and find treat
ment for their peculiar malady. as the
| symptoms in each case are identical.
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 9TH
er 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 a contemptuous hiss,
! walk away. 1t became evident that
she was proud and felt herself above
her companions. l concluded at last
to try the dog, who was also a super
cilious animal, and it was not long be-
fore the arrangement proved satsfac-
tory. disappointment i'll love, l imag-
inc, 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?n was the
curious inquiry.
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 animalS?'
Most assuredly. | have evidences
| of it 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 life there is miserable in the
extreme, but it can not be helped. All
my other patients are blue-blooded, and
| ignore the vulgar antecedents of the
cur. He does not seem to appreciate
it much, as his sensibilities are not fine
| enough, and his want of cultivation
prevents any annoying reflections which
might be engendered by an injured
amour prOprc. The only time he ever
displays any consciousness of the in
! suits hourly placed upon him is when
that magnificent tortoise-shell cat you
see over there visits her spite upon
him.
She is a hirh-toned cat, but mean
as she can be ami is always creating
trouble by her meidicsome and swell
/ headed manners"
Just then the cat referred TO came
near, with i 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 eats joined together.
AT the iirst glance one would take her
for feline Siamese twin.
''She is suffering from e,ephantiasis.
explained the doctor. 'She not only
has the big head, but the BIZ tail, too.
Yes, | am afraid she viii die by becom-
inc all tail. 1t is strange that the dog
she despises so much should have an
atfiiction the opposite from hers. He
| is slowly wasting away and is incura-
BILE. | would have him killed but for
the fact his case is a peculiar one, and
| l desire to study it. He is afflicted with
acute muscular atrophy, a disease not
extraordinary in human beings. There
is a gradual ossiticatiou of the muscles
and consequent loss of flesh. His
food is not assimilated to the system.
and he is rapidly becoming dog skel-
eton. After while he viii be good
addition to the freaks in the muse
umsH
The doctor continued a 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 Pomeranian or
coach dogs. Four dogs and two cats
had conSumntion but the majority were