The Washington herald., 1908-04-26
THE DISTURBING CAT.
Remarkable Superstitions Preva-
lent Centuries Ago.


lent Centuries Ago.
A tramp cat was found sucking the
breath OF a farmers child at Gladstone.
Mich. The New York World. alluding
editoriany to the survival of this super
stition, says that it Is probably "a form
of the temperamental antipathy TO cats
which exists with hysterical manifesto
tions in many persons" and it refers to
the investigation Of Cat fear by DR.. Weir
Mitchell, who gave 10 the disease a loud
sounding Greek name. says the Boston
Herald.
The superstition OF the cats delight in
sucking the breath OF human being is
an old one. CThe wonder is that so many
cats lived after their enjoyment). Topseh,
in his History OF Four-footed Beasts
Q69D, which is largely a compilation.
states the faet and assigns the reason.
His account is so curious that we quote
it in full:
1T is most certain that the breath and
SAVIOR Of cats consume the radical humOT
and destroy the lungs. and. therefore,
they which keep their cats with them in
their beds have the air corrupted, and fall
into several heetics and consumptions
There was a certain company Of monks
much given to nourish and play with
cats. whereby they were so infected that
within a short space none Of them We're
able either TO say, read, pray, or sing in
all the monastery, and, therefore, Also
they are dangerous n the time OF pes
thence. for they are not only apt TO
bring home venomous infection. but TO
poison a man with very looking upon
him; wherefore there Is in some men a
natural dislike and abhorring Of cats.
their natures being so composed that
not only when they see them but being
near them and unseen, and hid OF pur-
pose they fall into passions. frettings
sweatings. pulling of their hats, and
trembling fearfully as ] have known
many In Germany; the reason whereof
IS because the constellation which threat
eneth their bodies. which is peculiar TO
every man. wOrketh by the presence and
oTense of these creatures: and, therefore,
they have cried out TO take away the
cats
Henry III Of France could not stay in
! the room with a cat but there are 9th 7
I dGttAidact anu tGEt4t are AldIkHs EEuiLst &C.
that have been antipathetic TO men and
women, Even the sight OF roses has
caused many to swoon. Bleeding at the
nose followed the presence of apples in a
/ room. and the secretary TO Francis ]
used to stop his nostrils with bread If an
apple was on the table. Others could
/ not endure a pig served In any form. An
eel, though In a pie. distressed a learned
man at Antwerp. Dogs and hedgehogs
( have caused fainting spells Erasmus
/ was feverish If he saw a sea fish; Marshal
q d'Aibret was sick at the stomach when
+ he looked on a bOars head; Tycho Brahe's
+ knees were turned 20 water at the sight
I Of hare the Duke of Eperon tainted al
/ The sight OF a leveret: Bayle had con-
/ vulsiOns If he heard water dropping from
a faucet; Turenne was weak when he saw
a spider. The list Of these strange anti.
pathies IS a very long one.
There was a time when all these fears
were attributed 10 prenatal influence
This explanation IS not now in favor
/ Why should robust, healthy, sane mar
turn pale, sweat great drops, have
Queasy stomach. and be mentally dis
tressed when there is in room a ca,
! which he does not see when ne has M
reason to believe that a cat is present
Nor does It matter whether the case b.
the ordinary cat OF the alley and the roof
raecoon, angora, maltese, or manx.