DISEASES OF SNAKES 187 



ensues. Tlie keepers feed tlie specimens individu- 

 ally, killing the food and olfering quietly to eaeli 

 specimen its share of the meal. If the food were 

 thrown at random into a cage of snakes the smaller 

 specimens, if persistent in their hold of choice mor- 

 sels, would be swallowed with them, and find a rest- 

 ing-])lace in the interior of their more powerful cage- 

 mates. 



The maladies of snakes are few, but of these few 

 the consequences are often qnick and fatal. Most 

 prevalent among captive snakes is " canker." This 

 disease, generally attacking the mouth-parts, is the 

 cause of nine-tenths of the deaths among the big 

 snakes of the shows. It is most likely to occur 

 where conditions are not suited to the reptile, and 

 frequently results from chilling. The big constric- 

 tors are particularly subject to canker ; with them the 

 disease is generally incurable. The term " canker " 

 is purely a popular one, and is invariably used by the 

 animal dealers and show people. The first sign of 

 the disease is inflammation of the mouth -parts ; sores 

 rapidly form, throwing oif small white flakes ; these 

 lesions become gangrenous and penetrate ii?to the- 

 jaw-bones, showing microbic characteristics, and in 

 fact resembling in a way diphtheria. The best meth- 

 od of treatment is the application of disinfecting or 

 antiseptic sohitions of mild character. The writer 

 has cured many cases of '^ canker '' by washing out 

 the reptile's mouth twice daily with a saturated solu- 

 tion of l)oric acid. 



It is not probable that snakes are troubled with 



