Daisy: the autobiography of a catSwan, Miranda Eliot
General
Daisy: the autobiography of a cat
Swan, Miranda Eliot
Cats -- Fiction
In my humble opinion, if all the stories told of them are true, it would
be no loss to the world or their friends if science could be benefited
by the cutting up of a few doctors' and ministers' children. Perhaps by
exposing their hearts (while they suffer the agony that poor animals do
while under these operations) they might get at the root of wickedness
and hardness of heart that seems to be inborn in them; and thus improve
the morality of the coming generation. It would be no loss to society to
sacrifice a few of them.
I can tell all the professors, and possessors too, that there is no
earthly use in using a cat's or dog's heart or liver to decide what
causes diseases in human beings. They are no more alike than fire and
water. The hearts of human beings are not enlarged by kindness, and are
hard from their own wicked natures, while their livers would be well
enough if they indulged in proper food and drinks.
A cat's heart is tender and kind and gives love for love; and her
liver--well, that is all right; she probably keeps that in good repair
by a moderate diet of liver. And if a cat should have disease of the
kidneys, why, "a hair of the same dog"--you know the old saying--will
cure it, and a good diet of kidney will counteract the disease.
Of course doctors would scorn such a suggestion from a cat; but it might
work in the case of their patient as well as in animals--only a doctor
who dares order the plebeian diet of liver or kidney would never prosper
unless he gave a foreign name to them or smothered them with a title.
But just think of it. Do you often hear of the poor laborer with either
of these diseases? He has liver instead of turkey, and kidney instead of
chickens, and if he is not killed by some modern improvement, he is
likely to live forever.
I offer this without the least expectation of a fee. I am no M.D. or
D.D. I am "a Daisy"; but my eyes are open, and although I have green
around me I am white. So if any one says in a sarcastic manner, "she's a
daisy," I shall not be green enough to take it to myself in their sense,
but just remember that "it takes a rogue to catch a rogue," and feel
happy in my superiority.
While I am moralizing I might as well give my readers the benefit of it.
Why are not cats used as barometers? It would certainly save much money,
and Blue Hill Observatory would be a good outlook for the weather-wise
cat, and she would make an able assistant without a salary. Just observe
her movements as the earlier generations did, and there is no doubt the
weather notes will be correct.
As early as 1643 an old book was published which says of the cat: "She
useth to wash her face with her feet, which she licketh, and moisteneth
with her tongue. And it is observed by some, that if she put her feet
beyond the crown of her head, in this kind of washing, it is a sign of
rain." If a cat scratches the furniture or frisks around more than
usual, she is said to be "raising the wind."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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