Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/255

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CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF RABBITS
237

seem that it is the only way to successfully combat the disease. It is a germ disease, that much we know, and it would seem that proper inoculation would not only tend to cure the disorder by giving cultures which would aid the rabbit in throwing off the germs, but that rabbits not afflicted would also be rendered immune from future attacks.

Such, at least, are the claims of those breeders who have used the serum treatment. It is now being manufactured by a number of companies which put up the serum and furnish the necessary apparatus and directions so that the breeder can inoculate his own rabbits. While the cost is still a trifle high, it is believed that it will soon be cheap enough to warrant wide-spread inoculation of all rabbits in the immediate future. Surely a good specimen, one that is especially valuable as a breeder or show animal, should be inoculated even though it will cost two or three dollars to do so.

Where local treatment is desired, the afflicted