>From: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Colloidal silver >I've posted citations as to its use/source/effectiveness, etc. Actually no. No credible source has yet come out to claim that colloidal silver was anything but quack medicine. I would highly recommend never giving any of the various products called colloidal silver to any ferret (or other living thing). I in the past did exhaustive searches and have never ever seen a credible source claiming effectiveness of colloidal silver. We have a few anecdotal claims but in all of those cases there were other factors that probably made the difference. All of them. Ferrets are such incredible patients that it is easy to confuse coincidence with causality. You can find all of that in the archives as well. >From: Gary Holowicki <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: colloidal silver for ferrets & spleens >There are no side effects I know of Other than possibly turning blue. Heavy metal poisoning. And most important isn't really a side effect but by relying on a placebo those who take colloidal silver (or give it to their ferrets) delay true medical assistance. >as it's reasoned to act catalytically to boost the bodies' own immune >system, not chemically act like "modern" anti biotics do. That is double talk. A catalyst is an agent that causes a chemical reaction (or more generally any reaction) so its saying it does what it doesn't do. >As such, it is also not specific to just some germs or virus', but acts >as an anti-virus, anti biotic, and anti fungual. This is a silly statement. If silver kills all of these things it will kill lots of other things such as the necessary body flora and well all the living cells of the body. It is poison. >It's not pushed by "modern medicine" as it's not a patent drug that large >profits come from. Its not used because it doesn't work. Aspirin is no longer under patent so it has small profits and yet is used in more and more ways by modern medicine. Lithium is an extremely inexpensive medicine that has no patents and is the most prescribed medicine for bi-polar disorders. What is stated is an excuse for companies that make higher profit margins on a non-medicine and claim they are oppressed by companies that actually do make real medicines. >It's usage goes back to early pioneers who put silver dollars in milk to >help prevent spoilage. That has two mistakes. Silver dollars are not colloidal silver nor does that really work worth considering effective. People at about the same time used leeches to suck the disease from your body if you remember. No company that sells colloidal silver is supposed to make any claims about medical benefits as there are NO proven medical benefits. Colloidal silver is not any of the other silver products used in medicine. Using other silver medical uses (it is used for example in external applications) to back use of colloidal silver is like saying that you should use chlorine gas to kill germs in your body since chlorine dioxide is also used to purify drinking water. Chlorine gas if you don't remember is used in the deadly chemical weapons. >From: Pat Stauffer <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Reply to Megan Quinn's observations I saw one of the two incidents Meagan mentioned. It isn't how I would treat my ferrets but knowing the person and her ferrets I don't think I would classify it as abuse. But certainly not something I would recommend especially ina crowded show hall. It looked like a more forceful nip trainingor rough housing more than anything. I prefer other methods. I also know her ferrets and know that they do sometimes need a stronger message than other ferrets - really not all ferrets respond immediately to "hugs and kisses". Tooth cleaning looks like tooth cleaning. I didn't want to do anything at the show though it made me uncomfortable. I was very hesitant to say anything here. <sigh> -bill (with some help from diane) -- bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://www.zenferret.com/ mailto:[log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 2756]