The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-04
HOUSE CATS MORE HARMFUL
THAN RATTLE SNAKES

THAN RATTLE SNAKES
As we grow wiser about the things
that cause loss Of money and loss
OF health and life, we slowly adopt
measures for getting rid Of danger
Gus pests and the common sources
OF disease. We are often hard 10
be convinced about some Of these
causes. When hookworm was dis
covered in the South, thousands OF
southern people, among whom were
many editors felt outraged al the
insult that the announcement gave.
When a party Of sanitary engineers
began killing rats in San Francisco,
few years ago, 10 stop bubonic
plague. people-the self-appointed
wise ones - thought them crazy.
When II was announced not long
ago that the bite Of certain mos
quito is solely responsible for the
spread Of malaria, many good people
declined TO believe IL.
But slowly and surely the truth
has dawned. Southern editors no
longer swear i'm various flats and
sbarps al the insult" about hook
worm. People who read have
ceased 10 belittle nurses and health
officers for killing rats and screen.
ing out mosquitoes. The men OF
science have triumphed.
And they will triumph in this
matter of house eats. II is not too
much 10 say that house cats are
more dangerous than rattlesnakes,
and purpose to prove il.
4. The house cat is a sneaking
murderer Dozens of birds and young
chickens disappear every summer
where cats abound. Birds that
build near houses are invaluable as
insects destroyers. Each cat is
said TO kill on the average fifty birds
in season. These birds would de-
stroy thousands OF harmful insects
I in the garden ond orchard. Birds
can't rear their young where cats
abound.
2. Cats have whooping cough. SO
do babies, and hundreds die OF this
disease in the United States every
year. People sometimes wonder
where children get whooping cough,
and they never suspect the pet cat
that nurrs in the child's face. lick
ing its hands and face.
8. Cats are often infected with
intestinal worms. So do children
become infected with the same kind
Of worms. A child thus afflicted
is -Duny, nervous. sleeps badly, often
has spasms. A doctor finally gives
remedy, and the parents wonder
how the worm got into the baby.
The answer 10 their query often
walks at large about the house and
yard. sleeps on the bed or before
the fire, is carried about in the little
ones arms. is constantly polluting
the earth where the little child
plays. Thus the eggs OF the worms
get into the soil. The child fire.
quently eats dirt. or eats food with
dirty hands, unconsciously swallow
ing the eggs or the tiny worms,
which soon begin multiplying and
doing their murderous work.
I. The cat has diphtheria. There
is scarcely more dangerous dis
ease OF childhood. Many die Of il
because thousands OF people don't
realize its serious nature or hesitate
10 call doctor until il is too late.
Recently have we discovered that
the cat that children play with may
catch diphtheria at some neighbOr's
and bring il home 10 the babies.
8. Cats have consumption. II is
estimated that 100000 people have
some form Of tuberculosis every year
in the United States. 1T kills nearly
10000 annually. Il causes one out
Of every six deaths in Kentucky.
Some look upon il as a scourge sent
by the Almighty for the sins OF the
people. This is not true. II is for
the sin OF sleeping in tight rooms,
Ahe sin for not providing sanatoria
for the care and cure Of tubercular
people, the sin Of permitting those
who have il 10 mingle constantly
with those who don't.
Did you ever see the family cat
grow thin and become Indifferent to
caresses. afflicted with wheeling and
coughing? None suspected that
pussy had consumption, yet when
one Of the family dies Of the dis
ease, we resign ourselves TO fate
and try 10 dry our tears with the
thought that the Lord wanted the
dear one and took the lovely spirit
home. The Lord wants people to
live and be strong. An internal
house cat contracted the malady at
some midnight cat pow-wow and
until Q o'clock Saturday night