Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1918-12-13

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Guinea pigs are NJ for any table
ANA are receiving attention now
IN connection with the utilization Of
every means Of increasing food supplies.
There IL another wartime use how
ever. that perhaps appeals more to
the imagination.
The guinea pig IN being made to
help In the testing Of serums and anti.
toxins, confers a direct benefit upon
the American soldier.
In medical research immature AMI
mails weighing $50 grains (nearly o.
ounces) are required. This weight IL
attained In about six weeks In past
years the average price Of guinea
pig has been about 20 cents, hut re-
ports have been received recently Of
Laboratories paying from 81 to $3.50
for stock. Persons favorably situated
near cities or institutions requiring
large numbers Of guinea pigs may es-
iabllsh n profitable business IN supply
ing them. They should remember how
ever. that animals previously used for
serum or anti.toxin tests, or the on
spring Of guinea pigs that have sur
vived such tests, may he unfit for lab.
oratory experiments
Guinea pigs are seldom eaten IN the
United States, Int their near relation.
ship 10 rabbits and the fact that they
are wholly vegetarian IN habits may
reassure anyone entertaining doubts
MS to their fitness for the table. The
small size Of the domestic species h
the chief cause for It's neglect as n
food animal YET other highly esteemed
game animals furnish less meat than
Il guinea pig.
The Peruvian methOd Of dressing
the guinea pig for cooking Is the one
generally adopted. The animal Is
killed by dislocating It's neck. after
which it goes through about the same
process as n sucking pig In prepara-
ton for cooking Its thrOat Is cut, Il
Is hung up for a few minutes to bleel
and Is then Scalded IN water that al
first is not too hot The hair Is then
removed, the skin scraped with
knife, the entrails taken out and the
carcass wlShed in tepld water. 1t IN
then ready for the cook. The Peruvi.
ans usually roast the animals, but
the number " possible ways Of cook
ing them is unlimited.
Few animals are as easily raised rs
guinea pigs They are much less sub
ject to diseases than are rabbits.
For all purposes, except exhibition,
the only kinds Of guinea pigs that
should he grown are the smooth
haired varieties. These are Of sew
eral colOrs. II guinea pigs are raised
for table use, light colored kinds are
to he preferred; II for scientific pur-
poses, color is Of little Importance, al-
though distinctive markings are deSlr-
able. The chief point IN selecting
stock Is IL obtain healthy animals
that will mature quickly and attain
good size.
Guinea pigs require about the
same kind Of accommodation us rab-
bits Two general methods Of mana
cling them have been Advocated
IrtS and houses. Also they require
about the same diet MS rabbits. They
eat frequently Turing the day, aud
should have n constant supply If sta.
pie, dry food. A pan Of water, piece
IT rock salt and pan Of dry grain
should be constantly available.
Guinen pigs breed at very early
age, hut their capacity for reproduce
ton has been greatly exaggerated and
n mistaken notion has become fixed In
the minds ~ many people.
Ordinarily > filters may he expect
ed in wear, averaging about 3 young
each The first litter produced by n
female usually consists Of hut one or
two. Subsequent ones are commonly
larger, hut they rarely number more
than five or six. 4 female In her
breeding prime may he expected Ia
raise about twelve or fifteen young
each year.