PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 27 



SNUFFLES. 



No rabbit book would be complete without a refer- 

 ence to this filthy disease. There is no need for a 

 fancier who knows anything, to ask if you have got 

 snuffles amongst your stock. He detects it as soon as 

 he comes on the premises. There is sneezing here, 

 coughing there, and a sight of the mucous-stuffed 

 nostrils and dirty fore feet of the affected specimens 

 only confirms what the sneezing and coughing had 

 indicated. There are as many views on the cause of 

 snuffles as there are opinions upon its incurable nature 

 or otherwise. We have only one opinion, and that is 

 akin to our view upon septic fever in birds. Once it 

 has obtained a footing it is incurable. Cleanliness, 

 care, proper ventilation, and freedom from draughts 

 and dampness are the best preventives. Some allege 

 that it is not contagious. We are of the contrary view. 

 We think it both infectious and contagious, and have 

 proved that it is hereditary. But we have done with 

 testing and proving, with doctoring and hoping; once 

 we are convinced we have a case of snuffles, we protect 

 ourselves and our other specimens by killing the 

 affected rabbit. A ruffled coat, an emaciated frame, a 

 filthy nose, and altogether an object of pity is met with 

 in a rabbit with snuffles. If you get one, kill it, for 

 pity's sake. Let those experiment who will. We have 

 tried remedies, and recommended their trial. We have 

 heard of "cures," but never met with one in our 

 personal experience. We write for ourselves, of our 

 own knowledge, with no axe to grind, or medicine to 

 boom. We say " Kill." Further, we are of opinion 

 that the man who knowingly exhibits a rabbit with 

 snuffles is no fancier, no gentleman. Let him keep his 

 filth at home, y 



KEEPING RABBITS FOR PROFIT. 



Anyone who keeps .a single rabbit in a sugar box 

 for the children's delight, or out of the love of his own 

 heart for dumb creatures, does not dream of profit. 

 With him it is a hobby, and to tend to it is a labour of 

 love. But there are many sides to rabbit keeping, and 

 one of them is can they afford delight as a hobby, and 



