26 REVELATIONS OF A RAT-CATCHEB. 



teaspooiiful of cream. This is the one and 

 only cure for distemper. 



Another disease in ferrets' especially young- 

 ones, is what I call " red mange." This starts- 

 always under the belly, and you will find that 

 the skin becomes very red and speckled. This 

 is easily remedied by the simple process of 

 washing in lukewarm water and rubbing with 

 sw r eet oil and black sulphur. The same 

 mixture will answer for " foot rot " if rubbed 

 well into the paws. The general cause of this, 

 latter disease is neglect of the ferrets and the 

 hutches not being cleaned out regularly. 



I think the best bedding for ferrets is good 

 oat straw, fresh every fortnight. Throw the 

 straw in carelessly, and the ferrets will make 

 their own beds. When breeding ferrets never- 

 go near them more than you can help, as 

 they are of a wild nature and liable to destroy 

 their young. When you know a Jill or bitch 

 ferret has young, give her a little extra good 

 food, but don't interfere with the young ones 

 on any account, and if you want to give her a 

 little extra bedding put the straw in the same 

 place as the food, and she will take it into the 

 sleeping place herself. It is advisable not to 

 touch the young ones for five weeks, or better 

 still, leave them until they come out to feed 

 themselves ; and when running about, if there 



