Evening star., 1945-08-14
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUell.
ARLINGTON, VA.

Lear Sir.
For many months I have been en-
Joying your column in The Star and
wonder if you could help me decide
what to do about my cat.
Il have been to several veterinarians
and they all agree that he has eczema.
They have prescribed different treat
ments none of which seems to do any
good. Furthermore, they all agree that
his case is hopeless and that they really
knew very little about eczema.
Have you run across this among
your readers? My cat eats well, has lost
some weight, or so it seems, but is
losing all of his hair and is really miser.
able at times. would hate to lose
him because he has been a great pet
for eight years.
If you can give me any help I will
appreciate any suggestions you may
have.
Sincerely, D. R. S."
This aff1iction is one of the saddest
that can happen to any pet animal.
Ihe creature may go on for years,
losing its fur, scratching, beset with
running sores which irritate it and
make it look terrible, and yet have a
good appetite and plenty of pep"
Ointment after ointment is tried,
after the animal has been shaved. Oc-
casionally he may respond for a time,
and grow back nice coat of fur.
All seems rosy, and its owners are
congratulating themselves and the
veterinarian, when suddenly the animal
begins to scratch again, and the fur
to fall out.
Then the process starts again. Some
thing else Is tried, and finally dis
carded. The cat goes on week after
week, getting bit better, then growing
much worse.
At this point, some persons would
have 1t put to Sleep" but not the con-
firmed friend of the cats. Such per-
son-and it is quite likely to be man
buckles down to the battle.
Veterinarian after veterinarian is
tried, and, as our correspondent sug-
gests, probably will freely admit that
the case is hopeless.
All skin troubles, whether OF man
or beast, are most difficult and at
times impossible, to cure.
Allergies may be the cause, but with
an animal few persons go to the trou-
BILE OF making tests to see what the
offending substance may be.
Glandular deficiencies may be at the
root of one case, but not of another.
Various organs, such as the kidneys,
at times may cause incurable skin
troubles.
We are able to give this correspond
ent first-hand information, because our
own Hops died at the end of eight
years Of misery.
During that time scores of dollars
were spent to aid him, all without
avail. At one the vitamin B complex,
given as powder, grew complete new
coat OF fur, but after month he began
to break out again, and soon was worse
than ever.
Experiments with the so-called sex
hormones have been carried on, espe-
cially with operated-on cats, but with
what results it Is difficult to say.
Such cases are often confused with
mango, either the durable sarcoptic
sort, or the incurable follicular mango.
and remedies for these are worth try
ing.
Eczema" is just a generic name,
under which many sorts of skin troubles
are Jumped.
Loss Of fur at times may be due to
various inner diseases, particularly
cancer.
Eight years is about the average
length Of life for cat afiicted with
this sort Of skin trouble.
II complicated by kidney disease,
from which many pet cats suffer, the
end comes In coma, and before this
happens 1t Is perhaps better to end
the creatures miseries mercifully.
Outdoor or indoor life seems to make
little difference In this disease. Changes
In diet give little relief. AL the pet
owner can do is try one thing after
another, and hope that he may Stun
bic on something helpful. Tina. he
may succeed where trained men have
2lled n doubtful. 80