DISEASES. 55 



carbonate of ammonia (5) or purified nitre (77) every three hours 

 daily. The remedies for cold in the air tubes should also be 

 given when the inflammation of the lungs is catarrhous. 



Windpipe Woem or Larynx Worm {Syngamus trachealis, s. 

 Strongylus Syngaiims) is one of the most mischievous of parasites 

 for cage or yard birds. It resembles a leech in shape, cylindrical, 

 but pointed towards the end, of a reddish colour ; the male 

 is •15752in. to -lOGOin., and the female '4725 Gin. to •51194in. 

 in length, and from -OlQGOin. to •023628in. diameter. The eggs 

 are cylindrical, and from •0043318in. long and •00l41768in. 

 diameter. With a strong cover to its mouth, which acts as 

 a cupping-glass, it bores into the mucous membrane of the 

 larynx or windpipe, singly or in numbers, causes redness, 

 swelling, accumulation of thick stringy phlegm, and, by 

 this, as well as by its ever-increasing bodily size, causes 

 suffocation. Symptoms : Peculiar cough, throwing the head 

 about, want of breath, open beak, gasping for air, and 

 discharge of phlegm. Cause : The sick bird has eaten the 

 phlegm discharged by itself or some other bird, in which in- 

 numerable eggs of the parasite may be found. Precautionary 

 measures : The strictest isolation of every fresh arrival, as well 

 as of every sick bird, and the most careful watching ; good, 

 dry, airy quarters, and the utmost cleanliness. When the 

 visitation appears as an epidemic, the cages and walls must 

 be scrubbed with warm water and soap, or with a solution of 

 carbolic acid (49). The food and drinking vessels must also be 

 thoroughly scrubbed. Treatment : Examine the larynx, and 

 take out the worm by means of tweezers (Ziirn) ; rub in 

 pure spirits of turpentine or benzine ; give creosote vapour 

 (54) to inhale, and administer half or one teaspoonful of pure 

 linseed oil. 



Diphtheria and Croup (Diphtheritic-croupish Inflam- 

 mation OF THE Mucous Membrane) is caused by vegetable 

 parasites, called gregarinse."^ Symj^to^ns : Coughing, sneezing, 

 difficult breathing with open beak, shaking of the head, dis- 

 charge of sweet-smelling phlegm, difficulty in swallowing, 

 gasping for air, and increasing shortness of breath, together 



* Gregarinse are microscopical living creatiu'es, which have of late been 

 regarded mostly as vegetable organisms. They appear in masses and occasion 

 severe symptoms of disease in men and animals. 



