Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-20
WEATHER AND ANIMALS.
They Fare Worse in Cold Than in
Hot Smells.

Hot Spells.
1t is quite generally believed that not
only is extreme hot weather more disas-
trous to man than cold but the same is true
also of animals yet a comparison of the
records kept at the District building shows
that, with the exception of cats, animals
fare worse in cold weather than they do
during the prevalence of temperature
such the people of the District have
had to contend with during the past twelve
days.
The records at the District building show
that during the first twelve days of last
January thirty-seven dead horses were re-
ported to the health department. During
the same period the attention of the health
officer was invited to the decease of sixty
seven dogs, this number not including those
destroyed a the pound. The number of
cats which gave up their lives, crediting
each feline with but one of the nine lives
commonly attributed TO tabby, during the
first twelve days of the year 1900 just
half hundred, and during the same period
two COWS. one goat and one rabbit solved
the great mystery.
On the first of July, the supervision of
collecting and removing dead animals de-
vClved upon the street cleaning depart
ment, to the superintendent of which de-
partment of the municipality, by the way,
all complaints of this nature must here
after be made, the health department no
longer having charge of such matters. The
records OF the street cleaning department
for the past twelve days show that but
thirty dead horses Were reported to this
branch of the local government, just seven
less than was reported during the frs;
twelve days of last January While the
deceaSe of SiXty-Seven dogs was called to
the attention of the municipality during the
first twelve days of January, but fifty-five
were reported having departed hence
during the past twelve days of this month.
a decrease of twelve. But in the matter
of cats the records evidence a most
markable fact, as no less than 24O of these
animals have been reported to the street
cleaning department as having left this
for a more less congenial climate,
the case may be. during the past twelve
days. Two hogs are reported to have de-
parted during the same period, the same
number of calves, one 'possum and two
rabbits.
OF course, neither the records for the first
twelve days of the year or those for the
past same number of days make mention
of such dead animals as were removed by
the contractor who is said to derive a profit
by converting their bodies into certain ma
terials. But 1t is understood that his bust
ness is concerned almost entirely with ami
mails of the horse kind, and 1t is not be-
lieved that his records would materially
differ from those of the municipality.
From this statement, it is expected that
| 1t will be argued that despite the fact that
1t is popularity supposed that the dog is
more likely to be attacked by rabies in hot
weather and by other dangerous maladies
he enjoys better health in summer than he
does in winter. With cats it would appear
that pussy is much more likely to succumb
to hot than to cold weather. In this con-
nection it is pointed out that the greater
is probably due to the fact that 1t is much
more difficult for poor people to care for
their horses in winter than it is in sum-
mer.