48 THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 



Hoarseness. 



Caged singing birds are subject to attacks of hoarse- 

 ness; in other words they " catch cold" from being 

 exposed to draughts, the same as men do. There are a 

 number of remedies for this ill, and they are easily ad- 

 ministered by dissolving half a dozen pellets of the 

 chosen one in the bird's water cup. If the bird sneezes 

 and is evidently just taking cold, Aconite is the remedy, 

 but if it is plainly hoarse, tries to sing but has little 

 voice, and that rough in sound, give Causticum or 

 Hepar sulph. If there is great hoarseness, watery 

 eyes, yet occasionally the voice breaks out clear, give 

 Pulsatilla. 



Humid or Black Disease. 



Humid, " black " or " sweating " disease sometimes 

 attacks hens who are setting and remain too long on the 

 nest at a stretch, especially if the nest be too damp and 

 cold. Under the wings the featherless parts will be 

 found blackish looking and clammy. Medicine can hardly 

 do any good in such cases. The best cure is to make 

 the hen air herself more. Also, look carefully for lice, 

 both for the little red mites and the large gray lice. 

 Some writers recommend washing the under part of 

 the wing with tepid water. But this process may excite 



