The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1900-09-21
A GUINEA PIG FARM
IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA.
1t Is Conducted by Woman who Hss
Monopoly In Her Line-Has Had rs
High as 1,OOO of the Rodent Like
Creatures at u Time.

Few people are aware of the fart
that right in the heart of the northern
section of the city Philadelphia
woman keeps what is said to be the
largest guinea pig farm in the United
States
This farm is at Twenty second street
and Ridge avenue and is owned by
Mrs. Scott, of 1917 North Twenty-sixtn
street The collection includes at pre5-
ent over 600 of the rodent-like crea-
lures, and at times has numbered as
high as 900. They are sold to univer
stiles, colleges, hospitals and physi-
clans for incubation and medical en-
periments.
Having a monopoly, Mrs. Scott does
a thriving business, as all the promi-
nent medical institutions, as well as
the board OF health, come to kGr for
the little animals which she propa-
gates for scientific experimentation
and determination. They are peculiar
in their habits and need constant care
and attention in order to raise them
to any style of perfection. During a
recent visit to the farm Mrs. Scott said
while exhibiting her family: Il have
been interested in the beautiful little
creatures from childhood and have al
ways wanted to possess collection of
my own.
The first pair l had was given to
me by my uncle, Prof. Nash, who had
for many years made experiments
with the guinea pig to ascertain the
value of the medicinal properties of
its blood, which is closely allied to that
which courses through the human
body. He discovered that the blood
Of this little creature is absolutely pure
and would prove of great value to the
medical world Knowing my liking
for the guinea pig. he presented me
with the first pair with which to start
The farm.
Il was obliged to go to Nebraska
City shortly after the pigs were given
me, and was the first person to take
them across the Alleghenies. re-
mafned for seven years in Nebraska
City, and during that time | gave care
full study to the best methods of rails
ing thOguinea pigs. The farm | start
ed there, on account of the extreme
cold, was not very successful and when
1 left that city | was able to bring only
two of the little creatures with me, the
others having died from asthma. an af-
Fiction which has to be carefully
guarded against, as most of the little
animals are more or less subject to it,
With one pair | again started a
guinea pig farm. this time in Philadel-
phia. They propagate rapidly and in
4 short time had collection of about
one hundred. The Philadelphia eli
mate is pretty well suited to them, al
though they suffer greatly when sub
jected to either extreme heat or cold,
and during the past hot spell | spent
all my time in regulating the temper
ature of their cages.
When the number of my family
reached one hundred | thought that |
was on the straight road to success,
but | soon discovered that of all the
uncertain things guinea pigs were the
ones which a person could be least
sure of, They are extremely nervous
creatures, and an unexpected noise or
A sudden jar is sufficient to kill them
The most extreme care must be exer-
cised during thunder storm, as a
heavy electrical olSburst often Injuries
great numbers, and | have frequently
lost as many as ten, either during or
Just after a storm. Aside from their
extreme nervousness they are fairly
healthy little animal OF course great
care has to be given to their food.
They are, although they belong to the
rodent family strictly vegetarian, end
all their food is raw. As | raise them
strictly for the use of their blood,
which must be absolutely pure, [ feed