Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-06
CAT SUCKED BABY'S BREATH.
An old Notion Confirmed i'm Some
Minds By a Denver Case.

Minds By a Denver Case
The death of the eight-mouths-old baby
of Gustave Brown, Of 1910 Gaylord street,
has proved to appreheusive Denver mothers
the old-tme belief that a cat may take the
life of a child by simply iuha,ing It's breath.
The strange case, brought under the actual
knowledge of Dr. F. f. Waxham. proves
couclusively for the medical profession the
hearsay Of old family physicians and the
tales of old-time medical authorities long
out of print
The infant son of Gustave Brown was
killed by his favorite playmate, a great
Maltese cat, wkile taking his morning nap
in his carriage in the backyard Of the resi-
dence Yesterday. The examination Of Dr.
Waxham, the mothers observations and
the Investigations Of Coroner Hogan, all
bring the same uucoutradicted decision.
The cat killed the sleeping baby by putting
its mouth within the childs mouth and
sucking its breath, the child breathing back
the cats breath till suffocation resulted
1T is my positive belief, said Dr. Wax
ham, that death came 20 the baby in just
this way, and for my own experience the
old saying is proved have heard of death
having been caused 10 this way before, but
/ have never had reason 10 believe it until
now. This is the FIRST instance that ever
came under my observation and that have
ever heard Of directly.
Mrs. Brown is certain that Dr. Waxham
is right in his conclusion.
'In the morning" she says. II put the
baby in its carriage as usual for its nap,
and, as have always done, pat him in the
back yard with the parasol lowered to keep
r l.. L A.
admission of too much cold air had had
a man engaged to clean the house aud was
so preoccupied aud busy during the morning
that did not run out 20 look at the baby
as often as I generally do 70 see that he is
well covered and sleeping quietly
AT noon when we we're at luncheon /
left the table to look toward the baby's car
riage, and at that III momeut saw the parasol
moving. 1 thought the baby had wakened.
He is 50 sweet and happy when he 6rst
wakes that thought for fun I would Just
run out and steal some Of his smiles and
play peek.a-boo' at him to see the dear
little thing's delight. Iweut 70 the kitchen
door aud as l opened il and started down
the steps saw the Maltese puss. the family
pet jump out on the other side Of the car.
riage from under the parasoi over the baby's
Aa-Gs kAAUukAA AJAlaAAs VI AA E9UEGAdAAyt
since the cat often jumps into the foot Of
the carriage and lies there asleep while the
baby takes his nap
When reached the buggy pushed the
parasol away and leaned down to look at
the baby. there he lay, dead, his little
mouth slightly aiar Not a mark Of dis
6gurement was on the white face"
This part Of Mrs. Browns story is cor
r-hn~ae.T 49,
who also saw the cat Jump down from the
babys carriage, and who ran over to the
Brown yard when the mothers scream an
uounced that something terrible had hap
Dened TO the child Dr. f. /. Waxham was
hurriedly summoned and two other neigh
bors Sis c. J. Dutch and Mrs NJ n
Jones helped their friend in her effort to
restore life 20 the child by rubbing and all
the other methods they knew.
Dr.. Waxhams Efforts proved equally
fruitless The child had probably been
dead he said, for some time The strange
conduct of the cat during the efforts to
bring the baby back 70 life was remarked
by all four women
When we took tile baby to the house, -
says Mrs. Joues the cat appeared uneasy
and followed close behind Mrs. Brown.
When the baby was laid down and we were
all working over &c. the cat sat with its eyes
hxed on the child as II perfectly fascinated
aud seemed under an almost hypnotic in
aueuee Il got Up and walked around Us
/ aud appeared TO be crazy to get nearer the
baby, uuyil we finally became 50 annoyed al
/ its strange behavior that we had to put il
out"
Mrs. Jones declares that she has twice
before known Of instances in which cal
caused death iu a way similar 10 the death
Of Mrs Browns child.
Ny little cousin, a child four years old
she says. was killed in the same way few
years ago while asleep"
The old assigned cause Of this strange
passion ia the cat Is due 20 the belief tina
the taste Of the milk in a child's mOuti
6rst induces the cat 70 put its own mouti
within that Of the child As it gets tn,
taste of the milk. il sucks the child's breath
aud 6nally becomes ogerpoWered with az
unexplainable fascination. The old eKplana
ton IS held to be true Ia the lack Of bet
ter one, by the chilt's parents.