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CHAPTER XVI. 
CANKER IN SNAKES KEPT IN CAPTIVITY. 
SNAKES kept in captivity usually remain free from 
any disease if proper attention is paid to the selection 
of the diet and scrupulous care taken in the cleansing 
of their quarters. But in spite of the greatest care, it 
sometimes happens that a curious condition of the 
mouth, eyes, and head and neck appears and gener- 
ally proves fatal. This disease is called “ canker.” 
An excellent account of it was sent to me by Mr 
B. J. Horton of Birmingham, who had a remarkable 
series of cases of the disease in his own serpents. Mr 
Horton in his description says :— 
“QOanker is thought to be a form of tuberculosis, 
and, as far as I know, there is no cure for it, although 
a friend of mine, who has had considerable experience 
in keeping snakes, says that a snake so affected may 
recover if kept warm. This, I think, is doubtful. I 
eannot give any reason for an outbreak of this disease 
except the drinking-water which is supplied to the 
snakes, IT always used to give my snakes hard un- 
filtered water, and dure two years T lost nine snakes 
