I20 



its ultimate effects upon our birds is hard to conceive; 

 but when one remembers that the men who are guilty 

 of it are those who constantly assume the position 

 of being the only efficient guides and leaders of 

 aviculturists, the stupidity of it dwarfs every other 

 consideration. And when it is sought to cover the 

 pitiable mistake by the still more miserable excuse 

 that it does not matter, words simply fail to express 

 one's astonishment. " Any port in a storm " is an old 

 proverb, and doubtless to some minds such a defence 

 may be admissible — perhaps even praiseworthy ; but 

 let us see how a similar case works out when applied 

 to ourselves. 



A child, presenting certain cerebral symptoms, is 

 taken by its anxious mother to a man, who, while 

 absolutely innocent of all knowledge pertaining to 

 medical science, has nevertheless come to be regarded 

 as a wonderful physician by the laity at large — entirely 

 by reason of a well advertised assumption of knowledge. 

 Seeing that the patient seems drowsy and that in 

 other respects there appears to be something the 

 matter with its head, and being pretty familiar with 

 the word "beri-beri," this gentleman promptly 

 diagnoses that disease, although at the same time — 

 did he and the child's mother but know it — it is one 

 to which English children are complete strangers. 

 Having next been entertained with a few illnatured 

 sneers directed against those who have made it their 

 life's business to study both the science and art of 

 medicine, and armed with a prescription of no earthly 

 value in either beri-beri or any other disease, and 

 moreover loaded up with curious directions and obiter 

 dicta as to feeding, our confiding mother at length 

 takes her child home — generally to die. This per- 

 formance having been gone through so often in the 

 market place — all but the final stage, which takes 

 place in private and unattended by any flourish of 



