
AILMENTS AND DISEASES 

SwimMMInG Biapper Trousie. The confinement incident to ex- 
istence in the aquarium, together with water impurities and insufficient 
aeration cause affections of the swimming bladder of the goldfish; but it 
is more likely that such diseases are congenital and due to malformations 
of the bladder, as they occur most frequently in highly bred, very short- 
bodied fishes. ‘The disease is not always noticeable in its incipiency 
but develops more and more, becoming evident in the second and third 
months by irregular action and later by partial or entire lack of control 
over the movements. For example, the fishes may not be able to rise 
from the bottom of the aquarium, or may swim only on the surface of the 
water, often in reversed position ; or they may only be able to swim with 
the tail uppermost, or altogether on their sides. 
A fish may have this affliction, be strong, eat well and grow; but it 
is unsatisfactory in appearance and undesirable to breed from, as many 
of the progeny may be similarly afflicted. This ailment is most general 
with the Chinese varieties, and the transparently-scaled white fishes with 
blue eyes are most usually so affected. Diseases of the liver and spleen 
produce similar symptoms. Sometimes it is due only to too cold water. 
Treatment. Nocure or method of alleviation is known,though keep- 
ing the fish in water at a temperature of 60° F. and over, has been found 
to be beneficial ; because fishes so afflicted become worse or entirely help- 
less in cold water. Unless the fish is valuable itis best to destroy it, in 
order to put it out of its apparent misery. Castor oil and other remedies 
for Constipation, however, should first be tried. 
Dropsy. This is not a disease in itself but is a symptom secondary 
to an affection of the liver or the spleen. It produces a distended appear- 
ance of the fish by the presence of serum in its tissues, together with loss 
of the control of its movements. In advanced cases, there is a ruffled 
appearance of the scales, and sometimes a protrusion of the eyes and oper- 
cule and finally complete helplessness and death. 
TREATMENT. No cure, either in fishes or other animals, is known 
for this affection of the liver, and its resultant dropsy. If the fish is other- 
wise strong, has a good appetite and assimilates its food, palliative measures 
by surgical operation, similar to that used with mankind, (tapping), will 
often prolong life for years and keep the fish in apparently good condition, 
although the operation may have to be frequently repeated. When the 
abdomen is greatly distended, a small trocar, (a hypodermatic needle is 
excellent for this purpose), inserted on each side from below upward and 
outward, just under the skin, will open canals through the connective 
tissue, which will enable the serum to exude, thus reducing the diameter 
and relieving the condition. It is, of course, imperative that no organ of 
the body is injured. This operation has been performed five times in 
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