The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-14
THE DISPENSARY CAT.
An Attempt to Feed 1t ON Matted
Milk n Failure.

Matted Milk as Food for Cats Is the
ton by the doctors at the City Dispensary.
The doctors have recently had some expert
ence in this line, aside from their regular
duties and think they have experimental
enough to be able to speak authoritatively
on the subject
1t came about In this way: Several days
| ago a messenger rushed" into the office
and called for DR.. Virgins. He took away
a receipt and left a box. DR.. Virgins. not
being a curious person, did not open the
box, but left II on the top of a desk. The
next morning when it was opened a card
with the inscription, MY name Is Mecca
was found. Underneath the card was found
a beautiful Maltese kitten. 1t was evident
ly the gift of a girl. for around its neck
were little red ribbons and several tiny
bells.
The donor, who had neglected to reveal
her identity, also neglected to furnish a
| supply of food, as is usual in such cases,
and naturally the kitten was not unusually
bright and active after being released from
its prison 1t was, however, a well-be-
haved little kitten and made no complaint
of lack of food or change of quarters. 1t
lay upon the book in which prescriptions
are recorded for several hours without
murmuring.
When the kitten was taken from the box
the matron and all of the doctors said,
"Ah, we've been wanting a cat for a long
time and now we've got one" They were
with the new arrival. They wanted a live
ly little animal, full of play, to amuse them
In their waiting hours.
Finally someone suggested going to lunch
81 fA ~h4- --~ -. -.
tens apparent lack of vitality was proba-
bly, due to lack of food. Plenty of dishes
were found about the place, but nothing TO
put in them. No one knew where milk
could be had and the appeasing of the kit
tens hunger was delayed a little longer.
I've got it," said one of the doctors,
whose identity all are pledged to keep Sc
cret, give IL some Of that condensed milk
out there" Happy thought said anoth-
er. and forthwith one of the numerous
sample bottles left for the use of physi-
clans was opened and the dish filed. All
stood about then, intently watching the
eagerness with which the kitten attacked
the contents of the dish. After it had been
emptied twice the new pet of the dis
pensary walked lazily away and after be-
ing petted for a few moments fell asleep
upon the desk of the dispensing physician.
1t awoke about an hour later, at which
time DR.. McGaughey was writing prescrip-
tons and making records In the book. The
kitten watched for a few seconds the pen
bAdNChi6 JAIN div AOitl UcIOAt ItI eyes
and then began striking at il with her
paw. The scratching of the pen had a
fascination for her and her playfuIness
continued until that page of the records
looked as if it had been in the hands OF a
number of children who had secured pos
session of pen and Ink.
Mecca was, during the day, given more
o: the matted milk, which she disposed OF
with seeming relish One thing which pug
zled the doctors was the frequency with
which she cried for milk. after the prepared
product had been first given. As often as
she cried for food the bottle Of matted milk
| was taken down and the dish filled. This
continued for several days and Mecca each
day became more emaciated and at last
showed signs of collapse. Change OF diet"
was the decision after a consultation of all
the staff. DIR. McGaughey was. as he re-
sides in Irvington. where nearly every fam
lily has a cow, commissioned TO bring TO
the office each morning a sufficient quanti-
ty of fresh milk to last during tina day.
The next morning Mecca had fresh milk
and it was decided that matted milk as a
diet for a kitten was not a bowling success.
HDr. McGaughey thought il was a howl
ing success in that the longer IL was given
as food the louder and more frequent was
the ..howling" for suitable nourishment.
Two days on fresh milk made a great
cLange in Mecca's disposition. and she Is
now the pet of all connected with the dis
pensary and does not want either for fresh
milk or scraps which the doctors who eat