Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/484

450] smell and sight; by the structure of their eyes, which sparkle in the dark, they are better enabled to discover objects of prey, such as mice and rats, at night, than in the day time: hence they ought not to be luxuriously fed, if kept for the destruction of those vermin. It is, however, to be regretted, that this useful domestic creature is one of the most deceitful companions. Constantly bent on theft and rapine, the cat is a compound of cunning and dissimulation, seizes every opportunity of doing mischief, and flies from punishment, when detected. It is, therefore, not a little surprizing, that many elderly ladies are so partial to these quadrupeds, that they will even suffer them to sleep in the same bed; a practice fraught with considerable danger; as the exhalation of cats is extremely detrimental to the lungs; besides which, they are liable to hydrophobia, as well as the more faithful dog. For these reasons, we would advise parents, not to permit their children to play for hours, with these animals, even though the swallowing of cat's hair should not be attended with such bad effects as many are inclined to believe.

Lastly, Whether the marvellous stories concerning the revengeful disposition of cats, be well founded, or otherwise, it cannot be doubted that many judicious persons have so invincible an antipathy against these creatures, that they have been known to faint in rooms where cats were concealed; and that no arguments were sufficient to efface the impression. We are, therefore, decidedly of opinion, that great precaution ought to be used in the treatment of the purring tribe; and, instead of provoking them to malice and anger, it will be more prudent to keep them at a due distance.  CAT-SALT, a beautiful granulated species of common salt, thus denominated by the manufacturer. It is made from the bittern, or leach brine, by the following process: When the common salt is drawn out of the boiling pans, it is put into long, wooden troughs, the bottoms of which are perforated, that the brine may drain off. Beneath these troughs, vessels are placed for the reception of the brine, and across them small sticks, to which the cat-salt adheres in large and beautiful crystals.

This salt is very pungent, and, though pellucid when in a mass, becomes white on being reduced to powder: it is sometimes used for culinary purposes, but more frequently employed by the manufacturers of hard soap.  . See.  . See.  CATARRH, or, a disease arising generally from a sudden diminution of insensible perspiration, by exposing the body to a damp, or cold air, after having been, for some time, under the influence of a warmer temperature. It is at first attended with an increased secretion of mucus, from the glands and membranes of the nose, eyes, throat, windpipe, &c.: hence a denuxion of a thin, acrid humor, which irritates those glands and membranes, occasions some difficulty of breathing through the nose, with a sense of fulness, and sooner, or later, produces all the usual symptoms of a common cold.—Contrary to the prevailing opinion, we are convinced that bleeding is seldom, if ever,  sary