New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-27
OF Tnferesf ~
80 10 Women.
WHEN A CAT GOES Mad.
No Worse than a Dog sritb Rabies
The Feline Character.

The cat has always been misunderstood AMI
MAJ. A few people. such as Miss Agnes Rep
pier. have really taken the trouble 20 know
cats. 10 learn their ways. and even 20 write
books explaining them and justifying their ex-
istsnce. But ordinarily the world suspects cats
Of an kinds OF sins. simply because they are
rot open in their manners like the dog. forget
ting that when a creature has been the prey OF
dogs ana small boys for countless generations
It would naturally grow TO have a secretive. not
% say sneaking air.
The latest accusation brought against cats
Is that when they have rabies their bite is more
dangerous than that OF a rabid dog. Several
cases OF attacks by mad cats upon human
beings have been reported lately in this city.
and in almost every instance il was stated that
the friends Of the victims were seriously
alarmed. because the bite OF a mad cat is more
to be dreaded than mad dogs bite"
Nov, that is error. simply another baseless
superstition. like the one about snakes charm
ing birds. DR.. Wheeler. OF the Pasteur Insti-
tute Of New York City. says that rabid animal
is rabid animal. equally to be feared whether
II wears fur. hair or wool.
Furthermore. cats are less subject 20 rabies
than cogs are he told Tribune reporter yes
ferday. The cat is peculiar animal: II minds
It's own business pretty WELL and it's the indi-
Fauals that nina their own business that don't
get into trouble. Dogs. owing 20 their active
ana investigating tendencies. are much more
likely 70 90 where rabies exists. and TO acquire
the infection
Ninety per cent OF the cases OF rabies in
human beings is due 20 dog bites Thef other
10 per cent is divided up among the other ami
mails. Dogs and wolves are the most subject
70 rabies Then come cats. skunks, hogs,
horses, COWS, sheep and all other warm blooded
animals. Susceptibility TO rabies is one OF the
Nlngs that make all mammals kin.
There is only one point" DR.. Wheeler went
ph' mat might possibly cause mad cats bite
. result more disastrousiy than a dogs and
IAl IS that the eats teeth. being tiny and
sharp, puncture the skin more readily. How do
nom the bites Of other animals, but II always
comes from some other animal IN some way. A
cog may get ii from the saliva OF sOms other
Nes' ana lick the virus into a sore place. Some
scientists declare that dogs may develop rabies
fyoAaneously. but that remains &c be proved.
some say IL may be engendered in the soil.
Nn2t IS certain IS that the soil may carry the
tlfus. Water may carry typhoid fever germs
ny me germs come from some human being IN
ne beginning"
Dr.. Wheeler declined 20 say how the n-st
ssse OF rabies originated When he was asked
= ne cat IN the Long Island town which went
- me other day and bit four people, and the
.aolner OF which went mad in precisely the same
w. last January. was not q living, or rather a
tsslnE' indication that rabies might be inherited
- teld no, that was one disadvantage rabies aid
- nave; Il was not hereditary. 81 suppose
St-at lnotner cat. In her anxiety 10 perform her
sore spot with her tongue, with the most inno-
.enL ana laudable intentions, or perhaps she
seclleDtally scratched the kitten after licking
~ own claws. ana the infection slept ia the