PET RABBITS, CAV1ES, AND MICE. 69 



that your fastenings and straps are secure, and that 

 your name and address are plainly discernible on the 

 inside of the package lid. Give the booking clerk at 

 the parcels office ample time before the train leaves to 

 enter up your package. Do not forget also that the 

 booking of live stock entails a little more labour for 

 the clerk than an ordinary parcel ! Another point worth 

 noticing is the saving that may be eftected in the 

 carriage bill by using proper baskets or boxes. We 

 have saved as much as 25 per cent, by care in the 

 selection of baskets for certain journeys. Half a pound 

 extra in weight on long journeys will often make great 

 difference in the cost for carriage, and that is worth 

 saving. You should always groom your exhibits before 

 sending them off to a show. Indeed this should be a 

 persistent practice daily long before the show. Well 

 groomed exhibits pay for the trouble expended upon 

 them. Carefully study the schedule, and mind you 

 enter in the right classes. Always send fees with entry, 

 to save the Secretary the trouble of applving for them. 

 Mind that the feet of your exhibits are clean, and their 

 toilets properly arranged. Look well to the cavies when 

 they return home from a show. A little nourishing 

 food, and a warm bed in winter will be wise treatment, 

 as the atmosphere of many shows is hot, and the travel- 

 ling boxes confined and free from draught. The sudden 

 transference to a roomy hutch, without bedding in 

 plenty, might have detrimental effects. 



DISEASES. 



If a case of diarrhoea arises, treat very much as you 

 would in the case of rabbits, alluded to in chapter there- 

 on, in fact the same remark applies all round to the 

 cavy. For colds, four to six drops of sweet spirits of 

 nitre in milk twice a day is good. For complaints of 

 the eye, such as running cold, Mr. Spiers (Birmingham) 

 will send you a very good lotion. Skin disease may be 

 battled with by the use of blood-cooling medicine, such 

 as flowers of sulphur or magnesia in the food. Study 

 well the hints given in the chapters on rabbit diseases, 

 and you will not go far wide, but cavies, if kept clean, 

 on sound food, and not in an overcrowded state, will 

 not be troubled much with disease. 



