88 FISH DISEASES 



constantly upon it for the chemicals necessary to sustain life. This prac- 

 tice has a tendency to prevent constipation. 



Chopped earthworms will be found a mild laxative. In severe cases 

 some fanciers place a drop of castor oil well down the throat of the fish 

 by means of a dropper. The author has never been convinced that the 

 fish swallows any medicine administered in this way, but results are 

 claimed for the method. A physician friend hypodermically injects 

 castor oil into small earthworms before feeding them to the fish, thus 

 insuring the swallowing of the dose— a sort of living capsule ! Scrambled 

 egg, salted with Epsom salts, undoubtedly is a splendid laxative. Chopped, 

 crisp, lettuce leaves are also beneficial. 



Tail-rot. This disease first affects the end of the tail and other fins ; 

 the appearance is one of being frayed and split. If allowed to continue 

 until the base of the tail is affected, the fish will die. Taken in time the 

 trouble is easily corrected. It must not be supposed that every case of 

 split and ragged tails is one of tail-rot. This is often a manifestation 

 of a generally run-down condition, and in addition to the regular treat- 

 ment for tail-rot, also requires a general building-up under improved 

 environment. 



Treatment. The same treatment as that for white fungus is indi- 

 cated. Dipping the tail in a 10% solution of peroxide of hydrogen is 

 beneficial. Should the ends be hopelessly frayed, they may be eaten 

 off by a 50% peroxide solution. On returning to the water the treated 

 parts will be full of bubbles and will slough off in a few days, leaving 

 a less sharp line than when cut with a knife. 



Consumption. This is a real form of tuberculosis, but caused by a 

 bacillus different from that in warm-blooded animals. The body becomes 

 wasted and thin, and so shrunken that the head appears to stand out 

 from the body. Listlessness and loss of appetite are accompanying 

 symptoms. 



Treatment. This trouble seems to be deeply seated and is difficult 

 to treat successfully. Unless the fish is a particularly valued one, it 

 had best be destroyed. Place fish in an ample supply of green water 

 or water containing y 2 ounce of sea salt to the gallon. Feed well on 

 daphnia, chopped earthworms and soft bits of oyster. Placing fish 

 in a shallow muddy pond or tank may be beneficial. 



For fishes that are slightly run down, a reliable correspondent, who 

 seems to be no joker, informs the author that diluted whisky dropped 

 in the throat of goldfishes effects a wonderful cure. He dilutes the whisky 

 with five times the volume of water and drops four drops in the throat of 

 the fish twice daily. 



Dropsy. The cause for this distressing complaint is not known, but 



