Mr. Lipinski stated in a recent post:
"Since nobody has evidence to the contrary it is a mathematical certainty
that the total number of pet store (read Marshall Farms) ferrets in the USA
to have cancer is more than 126,000 (90 percent of >140,000 ferrets)."
 
My response:
You have distorted (see Pamela Grant's post same day) and taken a Shelter's
experience and applied it to all of ferret-dom.  Not a true, unbiased,
representative sample.  Additionally, I agree with Ms. Grant's statistical
computations rather than your own.  I am sure we could find a shelter and
make some BOLD, NEW, statements about a dog breed or breeder, but wouldn't
be accurate.
 
Mr. Lipinski stated:
"Note that of the non-Marshall Farms ferrets, there is an incidence of 10
percent cancer.  Well now, how can this be?  Is there a teeney-weeney bit of
a difference between the MF ferrets and the other kind - whatever they are?"
 
My response:
This is true, but the difference could be poor owners, bad conditions,
commercial cat food, too much/little exposure to the outside, the sample is
unknown and thus to attribute the difference to MF vs. breeder is a stretch.
If you really want to know, you need to fund some unbiased research at a
major Veterinary Hospital - I am sure UF would be happy for a contribution.
 
Mr. Lipiniski states:
Locally, a very sincere and dedicated young woman at the University of
Washington has started a compilation of reported adrenal disease in ferrets.
Her name is Lynn McIntosh, [log in to unmask], and she has reported, as
of Nov 27, '97, her list #58.
 
My response:  Today I have emailed Ms. McIntosh for a complete report and
seeing what you did to Ms. Grant's numbers, I am not sure its use in your
post was appropriate.
 
I understand the crux of the debate and the desire to "prove" something.
This list is not a representative sample, only persons with access to pc,
internet, some form of technology skills, free time and a desire to learn
more/read about/ discuss ferrets.  There are hundreds of thousands of
ferrets and only ______ subscribers to the FML (BIG-please help me out).
Thus the FML is NOT, IMHO a representative sample.  Remember Dewey v. Truman?
 
Just my two cents.
 
Sharon & Vince (looking for a brother soon)
 
[Moderator's note: Number of subscribers is on top of each issue.  2908
actually, but I subtract 1% or so figuring there will be a few bounces
and a few duplicate subscriptions and report that number on top.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2142]