556 APPENDIX 



First, the supplier should offer stock of the genetic composition needed. The 

 supplier should have capable geneticists on his staff or have ready access to their services. 

 Such services should include periodic quality testing of the stocks to insure against acci- 

 dental misbreeding, overlooking of mutations, and the like. The reputation of the 

 vendor may be readily checked by communicating with other customers in the area. 

 The health of the mice offered for sale should also be investigated. This should include 

 information concerning ectoparasites, endoparasites, salmonellosis, ectromelia, and 

 other diseases. The breeder should have available the services of a specialist in diseases 

 of laboratory animals and a diagnostic laboratory. 



Although delivery service by air reduces the importance of distance, it is well to 

 remember that shipping can put undesirable stress on mice. The methods of transpor- 

 tation available between vendor and user should be carefully examined and schedules 

 arranged to insure against delays or mishandling in transit. Mice should be packed in 

 escapeproof, well-ventilated cartons with protective bedding. Water-proofed card- 

 board or wood cartons are usually used (figure 92). Overcrowding should be 

 avoided, particularly in warm weather, as mice will tend to congregate around ventila- 

 tors in an attempt to get cool and thus suffocate by completely shutting off the source of 

 ventilation. 



One of the best packing materials is shredded paper which should be sanitized 

 (by dry-heat or steam pasteurization) before use. This material protects the animals 

 against rough handling and provides insulation against heat or cold. Water is usually 

 supplied in the form of raw potatoes or other root vegetables. These should be 

 washed thoroughly and cut in large pieces (2-3 inches) or left whole (not over 2-3 

 inches in length) with ends removed. Food pellets are scattered through the litter 

 material. Enough potatoes and feed should be added to last for the length of the 

 trip and to guard against delays in transit. Water bottles are sometimes used instead 

 of potatoes or other vegetables to provide water but these are unsatisfactory in most 

 cases due to leakage during transit. 



Procurement should be directly supervised by the person who is to use these animals. 

 It is extremely foolish to spend thousands of dollars and much time on equipment and 

 salaries and then try to save pennies and minutes on the most important parts of a bio- 

 logical experiment, the laboratory animal. As much care should be used in selecting, 

 purchasing, and transporting these biological test tubes as is given to the other important 

 features of the research project. 



MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF EQUIPMENT 



(Not intended as an endorsement by the authors) 



Name Address 



Equipment washers 



Better Built Machinery Corp. 78 E. 130 St., New York 37, N.Y. 



Heinicke Instruments Co. 2035 Harding St., Hollywood, Fla. 



Industrial Washing Machine Go. Matawan, N.J. 



