I'm writing this myself this time so I can say to all that the FML gives me
a headache.  So now, it's not just Bill. 8^)   Just a few comments of the
various FML stuff.
 
Samone: In ferrets, the canines are replaced between 7-9 weeks, averaged
about 8 weeks.  If you bought your ferret at 14 weeks, and it is now at 16
weeks, it almost certainly have the permanent teeth, and one of them is
broken.  It will not grow back, nor will it get replaced.  Not to worry
though, unless it gets infected, the ferret will do just fine.  In time, the
remaining part of the tooth may discolor, which is normal.  Just
occasionally look for bumps under the gumline near the tooth (abcesses).  If
the root were exposed, it has probably started to pull back, and the hole
should fill in with dentine.  Just watch it, but don't worry about it.  You
might want to show it to your vet the next time you go in for shots or
something, but don't make a special trip.  Oh yeah, the sales clerk told you
a story and should have known better.  May not have, but should have.
 
Speaking of teeth, one of my non-computer, non-FML ferret-breeder friends
living in a state that shall remain nameless, but is full of CaCa, just had
a birthing of 5 kits.  One of the male kits was born with a fully erupted
set of baby teeth.  I've searched all my literature, and cannot find another
incidence of this occurring in ferrets.  Any of you FML breeders ever notice
this happening?  Such occurances are rare, but they do happen.  I sent her
to another friend to make dental impressions of the kits mouth so I can have
a casting, and perhaps write a short paper on the thing.  The baby's name is
Shark.
 
The rabies Can-O-Worms.  I understand how important and emotional this issue
is, and not knowing much about the players, I may be out of line.  But I
have to say that I kind of feel sorry for Dr. Ruprecht.  Getting stuff done
in science is slow; it takes peer review, and you just can't cut many
corners.  Those that have invariably regret the process.  Remember cold
fusion?  Thaidomine?  Science is full of stories about really smart people
who did just one really dumb thing, then no one ever trusted them again.
Imagine what would happen us and the rabies studies if Dr. Ruprecht said
something, then was forced to recant later.  In something so important as
rabies, he would lose so much credibility that *all* his work would become
tainted and distrusted.  Even if later he found something we all wanted to
use, his credibility has already been ruined.
 
As an example, Carleton Coon spent his entire life building a body of fine
work and a better reputation.  Then he lost *all* credibility when he
published work saying blacks had lower IQ than whites.  His data was
correct, but his mistake was not considering the effects of environment in
the studies, which we now know invalidated his data.  But his rush into
print and his failure to consider alternatives distroyed his reputation so
badly that much of his good early work is now ignored.  I have a paper on
pemmican ready for publication that has been reviewed by four
archaeologists, two zoologists, and a top nutrition expert.  This type of
peer-review is typical, and I don't write things have have such an important
impact on human lives as Dr. Ruprecht.  Now I might be wrong, but it seems
to me that what some people might call footdragging, others might call
scientific jurisprudence.  This is how science works.  Its slow, its
unforgiving, but that is how it works.  Things take time, and he needs to be
given the kind of time necessary to do the job *WE* want done.
 
I'm not suggesting he not be held accountable for promises, I'm not saying
the way ferrets are being treated is fair.  All I'm saying is science has a
specific procedure to follow where one step is completed before the next
step is taken.  Things are done that way on purpose, to reduce procedural
errors and assure the approval of peers.  It might be slow, but I wish to
heaven law and politics worked that way.  Can you imagine a lawyer having to
*prove* their positions?  I can't even imagine a politician being held to
scientific standards.  Their heads would swell up and explode.
 
Bob C and the 20 RugRats
[Posted in FML issue 2112]