The Care of Domesticated Animals 
apart for the supply of grit of suitable size 
according to the birds that are kept. The 
best grit is a mixture of flint and crushed 
limestone, and it 1s far better to provide this 
in a receptacle to which the birds can have 
access when Nature tells them they require it 
than to scatter it all about the floor. Aviary 
floors should of course be nicely sanded, but 
sand is not the sort of grit that birds want. 
; we 
Rapeits are liable to one particular disease 
known as “snuffles,’ which 
The . a 55) 8 
Rabbitry. corresponds to “distemper” in 
dogs, “influenza” in cats, and 
“youp” in poultry. Some authorities con- 
sider that these are 
one and the same 
disease taking 
different forms in 
these various aninals, 
but whether that be 
so or not it is certain 
that “snuffles” is a 
veritable scourge 
amongst pet rabbits. 
itis a cataurhial 
affection, the rabbit 
constantly sneezing 
and having a running 
at the nostrils. 
Accompanying this 
there are often 
_ feverish symptoms, 
the animal being 
very thirsty and 
refusing its food, 
with the result that 
in a short time it becomes reduced in 
condition and is likely to die. There is no 
doubt whatever that it is highly contagious, 
and, therefore, whenever a rabbit shows signs 
of a cold it should be isolated from the others, 
and not be allowed to return to them until 
the symptoms have disappeared. The best 
course of treatment for a rabbit with 
“snuffles ’ is to sponge its nostrils frequently 
with warm water to which a few drops of 
coal tar antiseptic have been added, and for 
internal medicine give it a little jalap, which 
a rabbit will readily take if it be mixed up 
with barley meal into a paste, a few grains of 
FOX TERRIER. 
“Bob,” the thought-reading dog, in mufti. 
(See pp. 174-175.) 
177 
sugar beg added to sweeten it. Be sure the 
animal is kept im a warm but well-ventilated 
room, and if the attack be very severe let a 
bronchitis kettle be used, adding a teaspoonful 
of pure carbolic acid to the water thereim 
before starting it to steam. This often has 
a wonderful effect upon any animal suffering 
from bronchial and catarrhal affections. 
i 
Nearzy all dogs are liable to skin disease 
in some form or other, and 
when a dog suffers from an 
eruption the generality of 
people say that he has “the mange.” As a 
matter of fact nimeteen cases out of twenty 
of skin irritation im 
dogs are not mange 
at all, but eczema. 
Eezema is brought 
about by impurities 
in the blood as con- 
trasted with mange, 
which is caused by a 
parasite burrowing 
under the skin and 
setting up a pustular 
eruption which can- 
not be mistaken. 
Mange only occurs in 
dogs kept under very 
filthy conditions; 
dogs well attended to 
never haye it—unless 
they happen to 
become infested with 
parasites by contact 
with a mangey cur. 
The treatment for eczema or ordinary 
skin irritation consists of using a mild 
lotion made by diluting the “ Glycerine 
of Carbolic Acid” of the British Pharma- 
copeia to about one-tenth of its ordinary 
strength with water. This makes a nice 
clean lotion with which the iritated parts 
can be sponged; then it can be dried off 
with ‘a soft towel and the places dressed 
with a little carbolized vaseline, which will 
keep the skin soft and allay irritation. 
Treatment like this morning and night with 
some alterative medicine will generally effect 
a cure, 
The 
Kennel. 
