The Saint Paul globe., 1899-05-28
DISEASE THROUGH OUR PETS

Medical science has made wonderful advances in
late years in knowledge Of the origin as well as of
the nature and cure of. disease. With reference to
The infectious diseases more particularly, has this
knowledge made wonderful advances The com
munication Of disease to the human body by the
lower animals is Of the departments of medical
inquiry which has been productive of much infor-
nation that if applied, would be effective in count
less cases in the way of prevention
There are very few persons who have not had
experience of serious infection having resulted
contact with different animals. The animal king
dom is prone very generally many Of the worst In
fectlous diseases such, for instance tuberculosis
dphtherla and like complaints.
Recent investigation has shown that infection has
resulted much more frequently than has ever been
thought of from close and continued contact between
the brute creation and human beings This is true,
III more marked and dangerous degree among chill
dren The playing Of children with pet animals IL
q frequent cause of serious ailment.
Sound medical authority vouches for the state
ment. for instance, that most of the monkeys kept
in captivity die Of tuberculosis childs visit to the
monkey house in a geological garden is therefore
singular as it may appear not nfrequent1y attended
by serious danger, especially where contact of anv
KIND is tolerateden the part of the child. So too of
dogs it has been shown that fully half Of them are
subject to this disease in more or less serious form
Cats too, subject this disease and are peculiar
~ eHectVe as carriers of such diseases as diphtheria
to the human frame. There are many well authen-
hcaed cases Of the diphheria infection having been
communicated by cats, especially when SICK to ehIi-
dren and even to grown persons who have under
taken the task Of nursing them
Nor are our four-footed friends our only danger
GUS companions Birds peculiarly susceptible to
disease Of infectious nature. More than 10 Der
cent of canaes and other captive birds die of uber
cuosis while parrots the victims in great number
of disease peculiarly their own A number of fatal
cases in human beings of what was at first supposed
Paris traced to the bacillus which at present sup
posed to be that Of the parrot disease.
This class of information is certainly not very
comforting to those who fond of animal pets;
but it is sufficiently well founded and important to
receive thoughtful consideration especially from
those who have charge of children. Being much
more sensitive to disease than adults growing chill
dren almost exclusively the victims Of this me-
dunn Of infection. Whether it is Of sufficient i'm
portance to justify crusade against our pets it
certainly suggests the taking of much greater care
especially where they suffering from illness.
The very first sign of sickness among animal pets
ought always to be followed by proper precautions
and children should in such be carefully ex-
cuded from companionshp with them. Children use
such entire freedom in playing with the animals they
like that the danger is always present. However
older persons may feel at liberty to submit them
selves to risks of this character the unrestrained
handling Of animal pets by children ought not to he
tolerated in the household, at least not unless the
freedom OF the animal from disease is fairly assured