From:
"Tony Clarke"
Date: 2009-07-15 15:54:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Keeping ferrets 100 years ago
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Clarke" <Tonytclarke@...> wrote:
>
With so much interest being shown re this book here is what I can glean of ferret health knowledge from it.
In the direct quotes I have tried to stick to the originl wording to give a sense of how the author thought, only paraphrasing in places to make it readable.
Extracts on health aspects of keeping ferrets 100+ years ago from
"Ferrets and Ferreting" by W Carnegie, and others, dated 1904 (copyright has expired)
NOTE: As may be expected 100 years ago there were no antibiotics or
vaccinations in existance, so treatment was rudimentary and surgery not mentioned at all not even any kind of veterinary practitioner
FEEDING.
Just a small comment from a large secion
The author is a bread and milk feeder with occasional meat as a supplement.
He does however give extensive quotes from several people who disagree with him and
use an all meat diet
The next sentence is a direct quote from a section on breeding
"Finally it may be noted that ferrets live five or six years, but it is well known among breeders that that they will not live long if not allowed to breed. This applies to both sexes. A doe ferret will sometimes die the first time she is refused access to the buck."
NOTE: We now know why entire jill ferrets die if not bred but it may be true that entire hobs die from a lifetime (shortened) by hightened sexual frustration and raised hormones. (Tony)
DISTEMPER.
Although this is known to be the same disease as canine distemper (CDV), there seems to be some confusion as to the diagnosis. It describes two forms of distemper, a mild form (the sweats or the sweating sickness).and a severe form.
The mild form is described as " A general heaviness and dullness of
air first comes over the animal, it declines its food and lies shivering and miserable in its bed sweating profusely all the time. The eyes become dull and swollen and from these and the nostrils an offensive discharge emanates. As the disease progresses the head swells, the discharges increase and the animal becomes greatly distressed and soon prostrate."
The treatment of this mild form is a warm soapy bath with added Condy's Fluid (Potassium permanganate solution), the ferret is then dried and wrapped in warm flannel and placed in fresh quarters. Two hours later given 5-10 drops of cod liver oil and a feed of warm milk. If the animal has not recovered the next day then the treatment is repeated. Recovery is expected in 1-2 days.
Quote "Some people think that the so called sweat is a different malady from distemper, but this is incorrect, they are only differnt phases of the same disease".
NOTE: personally I think this is influenza as this is not mentioned as a ferret disease at all. It doesn't seem to be known that ferrets can get influenza. Tony.
The severe form of the disease is only decribed as a second stage of the mild form with similiar treatment plus bathing of the eyes and nostrils and use of vaseline on the same areas and with the addition of beef tea to the milk.
This is where the confusion starts..." Sweat (distemper) is usually
considered fatal to ferrets but if the above treatment be followed then the losses from it will not exceed 5% of those attacked"
NOTE: It seems to me that this man has probably never really seen distemper as there is no mention of crusting around the mouth ,chin and paws. Certainly not with 95% survival. What he is describing is probably mild and more severe cases of influenza. Tony.
FOOT ROT.
This is described as ..." The flesh around the claws become sore and soon feverish, the divisions between also get the same way and proud flesh (tender swelling) forms. The tail is affected in the same way."
This is caused by putting the ferrets away without ensuring that mud and moisture is cleaned and washed from the feet and they are dried after a working day. Other causes are said to be dirty hutches and using wire mesh floors.
Treatment is decribed as..."Washing with soap and water will suffice, a litttle plain water may then be applied followed by anointing with a mixture of equal parts of turpentine and powdered sulphur (major antiseptic before penicillin) or bathing them in a solution of Condy's fluid (Potassium permanganate- an antiseptic)) then dry the feet and a mixture if 1 part mercury ointment (antiseptic) and 7 parts benzoated lard (pig fat with resin from frankinsense) is applied." and with the additional comment "Prevention is better than cure".
SCAB or MANGE.
Known to be identical to sarcoptic mange in dogs. quarantining of new stock is advised.
Common treatments seem to be sulphur with a variety of oils to make a thin ointment.
STAGGERS.
Not really described but sometimes seen in late stage of distemper (this is probably the neurological state of real distemper. Treatment given as "48 drops of bromide of arsenic in 4oz. of water (added to bread and milk)" (No survival rate quoted.).
Disinfection of hutch and feeding utensils with burning sulphur or a
proprietry product recommended, bedding etc burnt.
I am not sure if this is the consequent of real distemper or insulinoma (not known of at the time) from bread and milk diet, probably both.
WORMS.
Commonly seen, treated with powdered areca nut (known as a de-wormer since medieval times) in milk twice a day three hours apart followed after 1/2 hour by 5-6 drops castor oil
CUTS.
Bathe with Condy's fluid followed by boracic aid ointment.
TICKS.
Not to be forcibly removed, treat with paraffin (kerosene) and sweet oil?? to kill ticks and then remove.
FLEAS and LICE.
Either treat as ticks or spray with spirits of camphor (similiar to modern moth products) and then comb out.. Bedding etc to be replaced.
Well that seems to be the sum total of knowledge at the time, insulinoma not known, adrenal disease not existing as all animals kept entire. There has never been rabies in the UK so not known, hyperestrogenism in intact unmated females not understood, ulcers unknown, intestinal parasites other than worms not known, no veterinary services, no antibiotics, no vaccinations, no xrays, no blood tests, no humane euthanasia (sick ferrets probably just knocked on the head, no alternative).
Thank goodness our knowledge has advanced, you can't criticise because thats all there was. (and for humans too to a large extent)
Tony
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