Number 7 of the "Boston Post's" "Famous Cats of New England" is a short, but very sweet story. Meet Napoleon, the Angel of Angell Hospital:
Napoleon, the gray cat that visits the patients at the Angell Memorial Hospital, has lived for five years at the institution.
Whether it be a horse, dog, cat, monkey, parrot or squirrel that is ill matters little to the charitable Napoleon. With equal impartiality he visits them all. The smell of ether is as incense to his nostrils, and whenever operations are being performed Napoleon takes care to be on hand.
Through every ward he goes; has particular cats and kittens with whom he stays longer times than others. Black ones seem to be his favorites. Hours at a time he sits besides Inky, a little black kitten laid up with a strained shoulder, received apparently in a fight.
Next to patients, "cats" have first claim with Napoleon. Being a hospital cat, he is brought up on strictest diet. The worth-whileness of system in feeding cats is evidenced in Napoleon's sturdy frame and sleek maltese coat. No bloated, sleepy, overfed cat is Napoleon, to sleep away the most of the hours of his multiple lives. Instead, while pleasingly plump, he is very sturdy and active.
~December 14, 1920
At some point, the medical system decided against such therapeutic inmates of hospitals such as cats. Certainly when I was a boy no cat or dog was allowed in a hospital. Now, many institutions are reversing that stance to a degree. They realise the value of such animals. It's funny how people could be less advanced but smarter a hundred years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I visited someone in the hospital, there was a collie being taken around to visit some of the rooms!
DeleteThat's good to read. Whatever induces smiles and laughter should be standard medicine in hospitals.
DeleteHe had everyone there smiling!
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