Diseases. 127 



preceding mixture; this I have found most serviceable, even 

 in obstinate cases. I have likewise found the following pre- 

 paration very efficacious in prolonged and difficult cases : 

 Tinct. of aconite Idr., tinct. of belladonna Idr., sp. of ether 

 nit. 2dr. Mix and give ten drops to each fluid ounce of 

 drinking water, in place of the ordinary drinking water, to be 

 renewed every alternate day. It is necessary to pay particular 

 attention to the bowels of the sufferer, and a gentle purgative 

 should be given when required; a little of the carbonate of 

 magnesia, or, in some cases a few drops of molasses (treacle) 

 put into the drinking-water, will have the desired effect. By 

 following up the treatment recommended here, all cases of 

 recent date should be cured, and even cases of long standing, 

 and which are so thoroughly confirmed as to defy all remedies, 

 can be greatly relieved, and the life of a bird suffering from 

 this tiresome complaint may be prolonged for a considerable 

 period, for this disease is not nearly so fatal in its effects as 

 consumption; but unless a bird is a prize-taker, and valuable 

 on this account, it is probably not worth while to persevere 

 with chronic cases of asthma, as it is certainly incurable. 



BEAKS AND CLAWS, OVERGROWN. See under " Claws," and 

 also p. 79. 

 BOWELS, INFLAMMATION OP. See under "Enteritis." 



BROKEN LIMBS. It happens occasionally that a canary has 

 the misfortune to break one of its legs. When an untoward 

 event of this kind takes place, remove the perches from the 

 cage in which the bird is placed; supply their places with a 

 nice clean bed, made with soft hay or straw (the former 

 preferred), cut it into short lengths and tease it well out, and 

 remove anything of a hard or prickly nature that may by 

 accident have been placed amongst it; make it as smooth as 

 possible in the centre for the bird to rest upon, and in a few 

 weeks the limb will become perfectly sound. Nothing further 

 need be done, as the fracture will heal by the process knowp 



