Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-10

People who insist on kissing their
pet dogs and cats on the nose are
making big mistake.
This is a habit which many per-
fectly sensible people indulge in, but
If they would read a bulletin put out
recently by the United States Public
Health Service they would stop 1t.
One may be the best friend in the
world to his cat or his dog, and still
remember that the creature Is cat,
or dog, after all.
1t is not q human being. Its ways
are not those of mankind, although it
may live side by side in a curious and
beautiful friendship.
Man mostly prides himself on this
bond, when all the time it is the animal
which deserves the credit Often when
we look at Jack Spratt, the cat, sitting
smugly in a sunshiny window, we
marvel at what he has achieved.
How does it come that this little
tiger, unchanged in appearance since
the pyramids were builded, has come to
our house to live? And, having come,
how does 1t happen that he Is so
thoroughly at home?
1t is his doing, not ours. Out of the
few simple senses which he possesses
he has learned how to make the best
of circumstances, and to find for him
self the softest pillows and the best
food.
This same wonder besets all those
who love animals that go on four feet.
Yet he who loves them best will re-
member at all times, even though
tempted to forget, that they are crea-
lures unlike us, after all.
" n X
"Cats and dogs are subject to various
parasites which may attack human
beings also, but the practical side of
the problem varies according to cir
cumStances," declares the bulletin Of
the Public Health Service.
In general, small house dogs are
much less likely to transmit diseases
than are big dogs which roam at large;
and, in general, also, cats are less
dangerous than dogs.
THE two most important parasitic
diseases transmitted to man by dogs
in North America are hydrophobia and
hyatid disease, and Of these, hydropho-
bia is the most serious. Mad dogs, and
less frequently, mad cats, can by their
bite transmit hydrophobia to human be-
ings. Hydrophobia does not develop in
dog unless that particular dog has
been bitten by some other animal which
has the disease. Generally. therefore,
pet dogs are not likely to transmit the
disease. If, however, pet dog is bitten
by street dog it must be regarded as
in danger of developing the disease for
at least six months"
1t is interesting to note that the
Public Health Service says that cats are
less dangerous than dogs, in respect to
their transmission of rabies and tape
worm, and that mad cats less frequently
transmit the former to human beings.
Even the term mad cat" Is unusual,
whereas mad dog" is q commonplace.
All this merely confirms what every
cat fan" knows, that his particular
friend among the animals is much less
dangerous to have around than the dog,
as faithful friend Of man as the lat
ter is
1t is interesting to note that the
Government scientists also point out
what most people know, that the small
house dog. properly cared Cor, IS much
less dangerous in these respects than
the large dog allowed to run at large.
Too great an intimacy with dogs may
put one in line for these unpleasant
diseases. The Health Service bulletin
points out that the so-called creeping
eruption" of warmer localities in the
United States Is due to the fact that if
a person comes in contact with soil, as
in the garden, which has been con-
taminated by dogs or cats with young
larvae of the Brazilian hookworm. the
young worms penetrate the human
skin and produce creeping eruption.
The home gardener may we'll take a
general hint from this unpleasant bit
Of information. No one can be sure
Of what is in the soil, even in the best