Drinking Spouts for Laboratory Animals

Abstract

LABORATORY rats are usually allowed to obtain their water from an inverted glass bulb with a stem, or from an inverted bottle fitted with a bung and spout. The bulbs are awkward to clean and refill, and are very easily broken. The bottles are satisfactory; but the bungs and spouts jam and break, with frequent minor casualties to attendants. The extension of watering to mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc., necessitated by the use of diets in the form of dry pellets and cubes (Bruce and Parkes^1,2), made urgent the elaboration of a more efficient water container.