58


POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.



RULES.


Each bird must lie forwarded, as soon after death as possible, carefully packed and postage

paid, direct to Mr. Arthur Gill, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Establishment, Bexley Heath,

Kent, and must be accompanied by a letter containing' the fullest particulars of

the case.


If a reply by post (in addition to any Report that may appear in the Magazine) be required,

a stamped and addressed envelope must likewise be sent.


BENGALESE. (Mr. A. K. Boothroyd). Found dead in straw nest: has never

seemed very well.


[Death was due to an abdominal tumour pressing on the artery that

comes directly from the heart, which was much dilated. The immediate

cause of deatli was heart failure.]


Cordon Bleu, female. (Mrs. H. M. Metcalf.)


[Apoplexy was the cause of death ; the bird was extremely fat].


Al^RIO Finch, female. (Miss West). Looked ill for some time ; for a few

days was better, but had a relapse. Showed signs of loss of breath,

puffiness, and weakness.


[Cause of death—tuberculosis ; one lung and the liver being full of

tubercular deposit.]


BENGALESE, male. (Miss Hodgson). Did not seem to ail until a few days

before death.


[Cause of death — congestion of the liver and bowels, caused probably

by chill.]


Cockatiel, male. (MissR. Alderson). Had been ill two days, but had not

looked very bright for some time. Taken suddenly ill on Dec. 4th ; on

the 5th could hardly stand; breathing became gradually more difficult

before it died.


[Your Cockatiel suffered from cerebral haemorrhage (apoplexy). No

doubt he had fits, although you did not see him in them. The last attack

of haemorrhage was so severe that it caused death by' pressure on the brain

substance, which caused the want of co-ordination of muscular movements].


Pekin Robin. (Mr. H. W. Burgess).


[Death was due to haemorrhage from the liver which was ruptured,

probably' by external violence. It may have resulted from the bird flying

against a perch.]


Californian Quail, male. (Miss B. Shepherd). Died suddenly; had

been fed on canary- and millet-seed, oats, ants’ eggs, egg-food, and

mealworms.


[Death l-esulted from acute inflammation of the bowels, probably the

result of a chill. I find Californian Quails do best on canary-, millet-, and

a little hemp-seed, dari, wheat, and a plentiful supply of green food;

preferably, chopped grass. Soft food, with egg and mealworms, is too

fattening and stimulating.]


Redrump ParrakeeT, male. (Mrs. Johnstone). Was bred in aviary

last year; looked a little puffy, which was attributed to severe

weather. Suggested malformation of lower mandible, which appeared

to protrude beyond the upper when found dead.


[The cause of death was pneumonia; there was no malformation of

the mandible; the appearance you describe is common with Parrots after

death ; it occurs during the death struggle.] Arthur Gill-



