THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. I05 



ACCIDENTS. 

 I 



According to the old saying, "accidents happen in the best reg- 

 ulated families," so will they happen to goldfish. In most cases, 

 nature, if let alone, will repair damages with surprising skill, though 

 a little assistance often helps to secure a der.irable result. Scales 

 that have been knocked off will be replaced, just as a finger-nail is 

 when bruised. 



Injured fins grow again, but the form afterwards does not always 

 assume perfection. 



If an eye has been torn out, it will not necessarily kill the fish, 

 as in most cases it heals kindly, and indeed might (for appearance' 

 sake) be replaced by an artificial substitute, such as are in use by the 

 taxidermist. 



When we wish to assist nature to heal a wound, we must bear in 

 mind that a warm temperature is most favorable for that purpose, and 

 is also not favorable for the growth of fungi, which would certainly 

 collect on the wound and reduce the chances of complete recovery. 

 As an additional guard against the formation of fungus, table-salt in 

 quantities mentioned above in treating asphyxia, is good, as also is a 

 solution of carbolic acid, five drops to the gallon of water. 



We conclude this description of the various diseases with the 

 homely phrase, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," 

 so bearing that in mind, one will see to it that his aquaria and ponds 

 do not suffer from neglect, as that always tells upon the fish. 



