DISEASES OF FERRETS. 207 



sort of scurvy called foot rot. A thick, spongy 

 scab forms on the feet and the end of the tail. 

 If the case is not attended to, the toe nails grow 

 long and become dry and dead. The cure is very 

 simple. Dip the affected parts in coal oil every 

 few days until the disease is checked and killed. 

 The scab then comes off. If the toe nails are 

 grown out all the dead nails should be trimmed 

 off. The nails will then grow out again and the 

 feet will be as sound as ever. A mixture of sul- 

 phur and lard, to which a little turpentine has 

 been added, makes a good dope for this disease 

 and will cure it more quickly than the coal oil. 

 Three or four applications, however, of either of 

 the above remedies will effect a cure.'' 



The worse disease contracted by the old fer- 

 rets, according to a New York state raiser, is 

 foot rot, which can be cured with turpentine, coal 

 oil or peroxide of hydrogen applied twice a day. 

 I also find that out of the first litter, several gen- 

 erally die, as tlie old one is not experienced in 

 taking care of them. 



I have had ferrets with what is called foot 

 rot, writes an Iowa party. Tliis is caused by not 

 keeping their pens clean and letting filth and 

 dampness accumulate. It is a very hard disease 

 to cure and is contagious. It is much easier to 

 prevent the disease than to cure it. When one is 



