_Convulsive Fits_.--The cat emits a cry as of pain and terror, and falls
down on her side, foaming at the mouth, and with convulsive motions of
all the limbs, accompanied with cries and moans. Usually ends in a
delirious fit. During the fit do nothing at all, except prevent pussy
from injuring herself or any one else; and do this gently and firmly. A
pinch of snuff or smelling-bottle applied to the nose can do no harm.
Afterwards bleed, and keep her in a quiet, cool room, and treat as for
the delirious fit above described. When pussy has recovered--and
especially if she has had a succession of fits--something ought to be
done to prevent their recurrence. If too fat, you must reduce her by
lowering her diet, and giving a little sheep's liver and milt two or
three times a week. If too thin, tonics and raw meat must be given, and
cod-liver oil every morning. If, in spite of this, the fits recur, you
must have recourse to such an alterative as the following, which has
done good in many such cases:--R Bromid. potass., gr. xv.; Iod. potass.,
Zinci sulph., aa., gr. v. Mix with moist breadcrumb, and make twenty
boluses, of which the dose is one night and morning.
_Jaundice_.--Called also the yellows. The disease can hardly be
mistaken. It is characterised by general feverishness, loss of
appetite, a disposition to "lie about," and by vomiting of a bright
yellow or green fluid, covered with froth.
The skin, eyes, and lips are also tinged with yellow. It is often fatal
if not attended to in time.
I give, to begin with, a very small teaspoonful of Glauber salts,
diluted with plenty of water. It acts as a purgative or emetic, I don't
care which. If the vomiting continues, try a few grains of white
bismuth placed on the tongue, or take three drops of creosote, and five
of aromatic powder, and form into ten pills, with breadcrumb. _Dose_,
one three times a day. For four or five nights running give one grain
of calomel on the tongue. But watch the symptoms, and omit for a night
or two, if it causes too much purging. If not, you can give a small
dose of castor-oil in the morning.
As she gets well, strengthen her, and encourage her appetite with
quinine first--no wine--and, after a week or two, with raw meat and
cod-liver oil.
_Milk Fever_.--Only cat-fanciers will believe that poor pussy suffers,
at times, the most cruel tortures, from the thoughtless practice of
depriving her of her kittens all at once. Either this or cold usually
produces milk fever. I need not describe it; it being synchronous with
the suckling season will be sufficient to enable even a tyro to diagnose
it. If the cat is very much excited, and partially or wholly delirious,
bleeding must be resorted to, and afterwards give a castor-oil
purgative, with three or four drops of the compound tincture of camphor,
and keep her in a quiet room. At the same time, the swollen and painful
teats must be frequently fomented with warm water.
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