Diseases. 129 



will permit of it, the window of the room should be opened 

 for an hour or so for two or three days prior to their removaJ. 



CATARACT AND OPHTHALMIA. See under " Ophthalmia and 

 Cataract." 



CATARRH, OR COLD. This complaint is most frequently 

 brought on by birds having to travel long journeys during 

 cold and inclement weather, and more particularly is this the 

 case if a bird has been kept in a warm room, either at home 

 or during the time it has been at a show. At most shows 

 the rooms are allowed to get over-heated, especially at night 

 when a large number of gaslights are usually employed and 

 visitors are most numerous. The symptoms are : First, 

 sneezing, then a dullness in the eyes, ruffled feathers, and a 

 general " knocked-about " sort of a look. Sometimes there 

 is a swelling about the eyes and a watery discharge. 



This complaint requires prompt action, or it will probably 

 develop into something more serious. Remove the patient to 

 a warm room, and exclude all draughts. Prepare some linseed 

 tea by simmering 2 table-spoonfuls of linseed in a teacupful 

 of boiling water for twenty minutes, when cold it is fit for 

 use. Give fifteen drops of the following mixture to each ounce 

 of linseed tea, in place of the ordinary drinking water : Tinct. 

 of lobelia Idr., vin. ipecac. Idr., tinct. aconite dr., glycerine 

 3dr. The patient should be dieted on hard-boiled eggs and 

 bread, with a slight sprinkling of cayenne pepper, and from 

 twenty to thirty drops of almond oil. If this treatment is 

 not successful in the course of a few days, give the following 

 in place of the first-named formula: Tinct. aconite Idr., tinct. 

 belladonna Idr., oxymel soillie 2dr., sp. ether nit. 2dr. Mix 

 well and give the same quantity and in the same manner as 

 directed above. 



CHOREA. Chorea is a disease with which birds are some- 

 times afflicted, but very rarely. I have only seen two cases 

 of it, both in very " sib-bred " birds. The birds affected keep 



K 



