AN OUTBREAK CF RABBIT SEPTICAEMIA. 
287 
from what appeared to be a nasal catarrh, or “ snuffles,” as the 
affectation was termed. Occasionally rabbits have died pre¬ 
sumably from this trouble. The infrequency of such deaths 
among the rabbits was very largely the reason for a less 
active investigation of the isolated cases, for such occasional 
deaths were naturally attributed to confinement, old age, or 
accidental causes. The young, or stock rabbits, rarely suf¬ 
fered from this affection. 
During the winter of 1892-93 a considerable number of the 
stock rabbits, one-half to three-fourths grown, were kept in a 
small detached stable. Several of these rabbits died of pneu¬ 
monia and pleurisy, and nearly all of the others were ob¬ 
served to be suffering with a muco-purulent discharge from 
the nasal cavities. Little notice was taken at that time of the 
deaths or of the nasal difficultjq which were attributed to 
pneumonia and nasal catarrh due to the exposure of the rab¬ 
bits to the sudden changes in temperature and the excessively 
cold weather to which they were not accustomed. Later the 
breeding rabbits which were kept in another building began 
to die. During March three or four died suddenly, and upon 
examination were found to be similarly affected as those dying 
from the stock-pen. It was also observed that many of the 
other rabbits were suffering from a similar rhinitis. 
The rabbits kept for breeding purposes were housed in 
pens about three feet wide and four feet deep. These were 
arranged in three tiers each four pens high. (See diagram of 
pens.) The pens were in a small building, which, during the 
winter, was kept at a temperature of about 60 to yo° F. during 
the day and 45°-6o° F. during the night, by means of a coal 
stove. The light was good, but during the winter the ventila¬ 
tion was not as good as could be wished. The rabbits were 
not crowded. They had plenty of water, and their food con¬ 
sisted of clover hay, oats and wheat bran mixed, and more 
or less green vegetables. Cut hay was used for bedding. 
The pens were kept clean and every known precaution was 
taken to promote the health of the animals. The young 
of these rabbits were removed to the stock-pens as soon as 
they were of sufficient age. The rabbits were thrifty and in 
