Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-09

WASHINGTON. n. G., April s-No,
long ago, tho experimental work con
Quoted ny the scientists of ,hc I'ubiu;
Health Scrvic" in san Francisco was
interrupted by their inability to secure
a further supply OF whit" mic" aud
rats for laboratory use. The wife OF u
suburban physician, hearing Of tn" in
cId"nt, conceived the idea uf raisiu:
white mic" aud rats Tor the medical
profession. and incidentally making
pin money tor herself She bought n
few Of the rodents, set up a breeding
establishment. ANA during ihc first year
made NOR" than enough money 10 buy
all her clothes
Rats and mice and guinea pigs are
ia constant demand by universities.
hospitals and laboratories FOR expert
mcHtatIou. yet comparatively few per
sons ave ENGAGED ia raising, these ami
mails aud the supply is always running
short. The white guinea pig, for eN-
,upc is :, necessity 10 every scien-
,ihc laboratory IN the work " propa-
eating and testing nuti-toNins The
san Francisco case Is only one Of many
important experiments retarded be-
>causc the animal needed WAS not avail
able. when the Public Health Scrylc.
WAS carrying on its cholcra work in
New Orleans, tic surgeon IN charge
Was compelled Ia sc"ur the whole Couu-
=
PLY Of white guinea PIGS to continue
u" experiments. This proved very "N-
pcns!ye ~ the lowest pviC" paid for
any wAs - cents plus the express
charges. ANA for some the price was a
dollar apiece
Win this large and permanent sc!en-
tine market fol animals. ~ is CGripus
that more people have not followed
The example Of the SAN Francisco wU-
man ana started siUcliuc Of rats and
mice or guinea pigs " - business by
itself. it would probably not prove
profitable hut TIA" original INVESTMENT
is "a small ai,i tic aruoun, Of time re
CURED 50 negligible that. ass a side
line il could hardly fan 10 bc success
ful.
Guinea rigs On Truck Farms.
Guinea DIES. for Instance, WELD
greater returns when raised rs an adj
jrnct 20 small truck farm, because
they require lot az green food, which
IS supplied 10y the waste Of the farm.
hut is rather expensive il purchased
itself. The loose leaves Of cabbage.
the tops Of carrots ana tho inferior
roots not worth punching are food or
which the guinea WAKES fat. One Lou,
/! Island woman started raising guinea
pigs for the Rockefeller Institute In
order To enhance the income derived
from her small truck farm The ami
mails proved the better Investment.
and how she uses the truck farm 10
enhance the value Of the guiucu pigs.
The guinea pig is usually raised in
hutchcS or cages simila" 10 those used
for rabbits II possible. theme should
be some Arrangement b. which the
floors may he removed aud cleaned
daily. for il is necessary that tn" ami
mails bc kept sanitary and healthy II
they arc TO be distributed for medical
use. \ hutch three feet long. two feet
!, NJ
commodatc ono boar and three Fows
and sin provide rooft for them 20
move about freely. The guinea pig
produces from two to I'VE iiticrs Of
offspring Il year, each littcr averaging
at least SIX.
How tn Raise Rats.
Both rats aud mice are raised in
4. small wire cages The floors Of which
slirula he scrubbed daily. They need
plenty OF fresh water. but food should
be distributed in small dishes h"ldinG
only enough to satisfy their immediate
ncods 4 supply Of uncrarkci nuts
may be left in the ca2". which pro
yidcs material for them To rnaw upon.
! thus keeping their cvcr-Gr"wiug teeth
! worn down and in good condition.
The female rat whir;, has on Tho
! average Of thirty offspring year,
| should he given u cage TO herself when
with young. and disturbed as little as
| possible. The male is frankly II can
| nibal. eating his family as soon as
they are born If allowed TO remain in
! the same cage with them This appc-
! tito is not due to the rack of proper
| food, as some have sought to excuse
| him, hut because he prefers his own
| species. Experienced breeders never
| feed rats meat which always intcnsi-
| fcs the cannhallstic ins;.rc,, hut IN
| sects may he consumed i'm large num-
| hers without any untoward effect
Rodents used for laboratory purposes
| should DO nearly uniform in weight
Mice, which command higher prices
| than either rats or guinea pigs, range
from half AN ounce TO an ounce in
weight, while rats range from three
TO four ounces. The mouse. which has
! played such a large part in folklore
| and the hyStcria Of ladies. ia now daily
engaged In tho Involuntary. but mono
the less heroic, act OF dying in order