66 



bv otlu'i- foreign Ixidies in the iiiiesiiut' or. wliat 

 amounts to the same thing, by indigestible ov imper- 

 fectlr digested food that remains there for an unusual 

 length of time. The first evidence of irritation of the 

 digestive tract is loss of appetite and general depres- 

 sion. This is quickly followed by diarrhoea, and the 

 voidings are sometimes mixed with mucus or. in bad 

 cases, with blood. When this symptom appears the 

 fowl loses liesli very rapidly, becomes weak and soon 

 dies. 



The first measure in the way of treatment is to place 

 the bird in a warm dry j)lace where it will not be an- 

 noyed by its companions ajid supply it with small 

 quantities of food that is easy of digestion. This 

 should be given in a fresh state in clean troughs or 

 vessels and all of the surroundings should be kept 

 clean. If the diarrhoea is severe, cooked food should 

 be pi-eferred, such as boiled meal, rice or barley; oat 

 meal is also good. Small pieces of chocolate consti- 

 tute a useful remedy for this condition in cage birds. 

 Linseed meal is also good and the gelatinous substance 

 that separates from linseed when it is boiled is of 

 great value in diarrhoea. It is good of itself, and it 

 also fnrnish.es an excellent medium for the administra- 

 tion of other more active remedies. Opium can usually 

 be relied upon to check this disease unless it has gone 

 so far that no treatment will avail. Opium is best 

 used in the form of the tincture, known as laudanum. 

 Tlie dose is from five to ten drops. Tincture of catechu 

 is very efficient and may be given in doses of five to 

 twenty drops with a little water for each fowl, oi- for 

 fiftv fowls, half ounce in meal. 



