The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-01-18
A CAT ACTS AS SURGEON,
THE WONDERFUL FELINE THAT
DRESSED A WOUND.
Astonishing Advance in the Mental
Evolution Of the Lower Animals
Will They Ever Talk?


Will They Ever Talk?
The wonderful advance in mental evo.
luton of the lower anima 8 Is n quest on
of great interest, and scientists are be-
ginning to question the probability of
their approaching the man in brain
power. Some animals to-day possess a
higher mentality, it is claimed, than
prlmeval man, and the question presents
itself, will they not in time develop and
become the equal of the human species
when a method of conversing with them
shall have been foundl
William Hosea Ballou ; in the NrE
| american Rerisio discusses the subject Of
mental growth in the animal species, and
/ gives rea, ons for believing that they are
| approaching man. Dogs who are able
/ to deliver ones mail and to give the
alarm when the house is on fire says Mr..
/ Ballou, certainly possess more brain power
than the aborigines who have no sense of
the utility of things and live like worms
| in a ditch.
Animals often display more intelligence
than the lower grades of man. DIR.
Thomas Bryan Cunning, the noted sci
enlist, once had cat called "Black"
who had many learned qualifications 1t
would be hard to believe the following
incidents if DR.. Cunning were not now
living in Twenty first street, New York,
and could produce witnesses of the per-
formances of his wonderful cat.
"Black" always sat at the table with
the family in his own chair, with his own
crockery, and with his forepaws delicate
ly placed beside his plate. He used his
paws and mouth much more deftly and
politely than the masses of humanity.
After an absence of several years the
family assembled at dinner one day and
were surprised TO see "Black" come for
ward and gravely demand, as only cat
can, his place and chair, which even they
had forgotten. "Blackn delivered the
mail at the box on the corner lamp-post,
and never forget face or friend, though
years intervened between the meetings.
The most remarkable of his acts occurred
when a swelling appeared on his body,
causing him great pain. "Black was
always present at surgical operations and
in this instance demonstrated that he
had not been an unob' ervant student.
His master examined his painful sore,
and requested his boy to call in a young
surgeon and 'have the sore lanced, as he
could not bear to do it."
"Back" heard the words, jumped on
the bed and lauced the sore with his
teeth, so that the blood spurted over the
: coverlet. When the young surgeon came
he pronounced the operation successful,
and sewed up the skin. When he went
away "Black" tore open the threads, and
after that attended to the wound with
out interference. When the place
healed there was no scar, and the sur
geons agreed that they could not
have performed the operation and cure
without leaving one.
We must concede in the light of mod
ern times that the term "instinct" is no
more applicable to the Lower animal
than to man, since it implies action
without the aid of reason, says the
writer. Any ira ming a lower animal ac-
quires or any knowle ige or exper enCe is
Just as much learning in his case as it is
. in the man who has to be similarly
trained or experienced. The turkey and
some other animals which have b come
e domesticated, according to Judge John
ID. Cation, revert to their wild state when
! set free Arct explorers and sailors
when deprived of food and the conven-
J fences of .vilization often revert to
] OIlG nal CuuulDdllnll uuNl Aht lDhCol
forms of existence; and, beyond doubt,
if they continued to be deprived Of such
conveni,nccs the defendants would be
= as wild, dirty, savage aud ignorant as an
t African pigmy. These facts show i'm
7 ply that instinct is as dom nant in the
} human race as among the lowe t animals,
5 and manifests itself under like circum-
I stances.
, How can the lower animal be taughtl ?
| The best animals mu first be separated
from their kind, those showing tie high
. est mental ty mated with each other
: Their offspring must be as carefully
taught, as is he babe, such mere elements
| of knowledge as they are best enabl d to
, acquire. The de e,cendants through sue
, cessive general ons and through years, il
| necessary, NUT receive the same di gen
attention and teaching that have T.
} vanced the mentality of man. That the
lower animal OF himself has been unable
TO acquire knowledge by experience tC
! such an extent as man is no reason why
! we hould spair Of his ult mate cman
! cipation. Given the same TIA ming ant
advantages that man has ennObl d him
! self with during the last several hun
i, dred years and many lower animal
! would b. endowed with much knowledg,
! and its ut lity and be able to converst