The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-13
SOME QUEER APPETITES.

The novel operation mentioned in our
yesterdays issue of the removal of
over six inches OF hatpin from the neck
of a kitten is not altogether without
precedent. A. Daily Mail representa-
tive. I'm the course OF some brief inter-
views with several leading veterinary
surgeons yesterday. heard of many
strange accidents that befall domestic
pets, and of how science has on many
occasions given painless and complete
relief.
Kittens end puppies. and cats and
dogs. il was stated. are frequent suf-
ferers from a lack of discrimination in
swallowing things never intended for
consumption. Hatpins. meat -skewers.
knitting needles. and ordinary needles
and pins are among the articles they
have been known 10 swallow. only
recently a fox terrier was submitted
for professional examination on what
was supposed to be an abcess in the
side. The surgeon, however, decided
that foreign body was present, and
nothing could. of course, be done with
ii is both interesting and gratifying To
know that even the least painful of
operations js never attempted until the
animal 10 be operated on is placed tenn
porarily beyond the reach of pain. The
results of this operation disclosed the
presence Of wooden meat skewer in
the terriers stomach. with the point
projecting between its ribs. The OBJ
stacle was successfully removed and
today the tiny pet IL as frisky As ever
IL was.
Another small spaniel paid the PEN
atty OF it's avericiousness with its life,
mainly oweing to the fact that it's ow-
ner was "A comparatively poor man.
One morning the dog entered the bed
room. and bounding upon the dressing
table Tapped up a diamond stud worth
five or six guineas. Ordinary emetics
had no effect, and unfortunately under
chloroform on the, operating table the
surgeon. was unsuccessful i'm dislodging
the stud At the wish OF tile oM ner
a further supply of the drug was given
and post-mortem revealed the ms
sing gem. 1t is attributed 20 some cats
that they show an Incorporate inCliG-
alton for wine coT'ks. and frequently
swallow them. Others swallow needles.
which gradually work ont through the
skin. and there is case on record
of an omniverous goat that swallowed
81 mack of needles. and for some months
afterward. owing to it's porcupine eX-
terror was terror to the small boys
who attempted To take seat on It's back.
Pet white mice. guinea pigs, tame
rabbits and hedgehogs are also includ-
ed I'm the veterinary surgeons patients.
Most of their ailments are, however,
medical troubles. and their complaints
are very little different To those OF their
vouthf,i1 owners. i'm whose eyes. how
ever. the invalid's state is moinentous
matter. Dogs with false legs and false
teeth have been mentioned previously
i'm the Daily Mail. and N IS only recent
lv that tho wife OF a well-known anil
lionaire had handsome leg construed
of vulcanite and silver with steel
springs fitted on To her toy spaniel
whose forepaw had been amputated.
This false attachment cost nearly 20
guineas. but. OF course. this was Tor
cnuine aristocrat.
The false leg for the more plebeian
poodle is usually socket of leather
filled wsth horsehair. costing a few
shillings. Glass eyes for cats and dogs
are quite common. and are said 10 tt
them especially FOR the duties OF dis
persing rats.-London Mail.