Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-10
DO CATS CARRY CONTAGIuNs

The Part thar Domestic Animals, Es.
pecialiy the Fsltne Tribe, Take In
spreading Human Dispase-.-Local
Physicians ExpeI fence.
At the last meeting of the Iowa and
Illinois Central District Medical society,
while the subject of the prevalence and
fatality of diphtheria and scarlet fever
were being discussed. the subject of the
part domestic animals play in the spread
OF these diseases was remarked BY several
OF the doctors present. One speaker
cited case of scarlet fever that he was
called to treat in one of the tri~cities.
some years ago-a little boy, some or
years of age. The case terminated fatal
ly, after few days. During the little
fellows illness his bed was made the
stopping place of a cat that had long been
favorite with the boy. After the fun
eral the parents decided to 20 east, for
few weeks, and the cat was sent to a
friends house, some eighteen miles in the
country. This friend had q little boy,
about the same age as the one that had
| just died. In week after the arrival of
the cat in its new home, the only child
was taken down with scarlet fever, and,
in few days, died. The parents had
not been away from home with the boy.
nor had there been csse of the disease
in the neighborhood previous to this one
Very evidently. the only way the disease
could have been carried into that house
was by the cat
Another physician related circum-
stance that came under his knowledge
some years ago. Soon after he came
to his present location a friend in a
neighboriHg city sent for him to see
sick child. sister of the child having
died very suddenly and some doubt ex-
isting in the minds of the parents as to
the cause of death. The doctor pros
nounced the case one of scarlet fever
and approved of the treatment then be.
ing made, and went home. His own
family consisted of a boy of five and sew
eral girls some years older. In q few
days the boy was taken down with the
disease aud during his illness cat thai
had been brought to the new home from
distance was the boys constant com
paaion. The boy died, and very soor
after his death the cat with symptom:
very much like those the child had -sor.
throat, loss of appetite, etc. The chill
dren found an old cushion, and putting
it in box, fitted up comfortable be-
for the cat, After few days illness th,
cat died and the doctor examined it an,
satisfied himself that the cat ha,
really died of scarlet fever Tn
box AMI cushion lay in the bacl
yard for some time, and finally, when
man was hired'to chop some wood, tn
box was broken up and the eushio
thrown on the top of an old wood house
where il remained exposed to the sun AM
rain for three or four months In tn
meantime the other children of the famil
had the disease and all recovered At ;h
time of the family pets death, a strang
cat came that way and the childre
adopted the new conner. By and by the
began to look about for house for Il
cat and her prospective family. A ne
box was found and the old cushit
brought down. In few days the old C
and the whole family Of kittens were Ia
en- with sore throat and in less than
week all died of what the doctor found {
examination to be scarlet fever. Tn
the source of infection was in the O
cushion hardly admits of doubt. al
that its vitality should remain so long
only another proof of what doctors clair
namely: That only By systematic infe
ton can these diseases be controlled.
There seemed to be a very genera
prevailing sentiment that domestic al
mails spread contagious disease, and tt
under such circumstances both cats 8
dogs should be excluded from houses
which people are sick, no matter whetl
the illness he of contagious nature
not.
Apropos of this very subject. there
10 Rock Island today kitten which M
ifests unmistakable signs of chicken p,
which it has doubtless contracted FRI
the children who own and who p
with 1t all having the disease.