Diseases. 151 



of the bird gently and hold it firmly, dip a small feather in 

 the gargle and pass it a few times carefully into the throat, 

 and quietly turn it round. 



The diet should consist of white bread soaked in warm 

 milk, given fresh two or three times a day, and as an occa- 

 sional change sponge biscuit soaked in sherry wine and 

 squeezed partly dry. After the sixth day, if the patient 

 appears to be recovering, add to the drinking water, in place 

 of the antimonial wine and nitre, thirty drops of the tincture 

 of gentian, fifteen drops of diluted sulphuric acid, and a 

 small quantity of fche best gum arabic. 



Ventilation is a great factor in restoring health to sufferers 

 from this malady, therefore, if the weather is at all genial the 

 window of the room should be opened, but all draughts must 

 be rigorously guarded against. In cases of the malignant 

 type the birds should be removed to pastures new, and the 

 bird room and cages disinfected in the manner pointed out 

 under the head of Typhus Fever. I have no doubt whatever 

 that birds are more or less prone to all or most of the ills 

 and epidemics that human flesh is heir to, but as the poor 

 little mites cannot tell us of their troubles or describe their 

 feelings otherwise than by their appearance and actions, it is 

 often very difficult, and more particularly so to an inexperienced 

 person, to diagnose correctly the ailments from which they 

 suffer. 



SORE FEET. These are almost invariably produced through 

 dirt and neglect. Birds get their feet clogged up with filth, 

 which forms into little balls, hardens, and produces sores. 

 This state of things ought not to exist. I have known 

 fanciers supply their birds with horse-hair or cow-hair for 

 the purpose of building their nests, and the birds have 

 worked on with it until it has got so twisted and wrapped 

 round their claws and feet that the disentanglement became 

 a work of considerable difficulty and patience to overcome; 

 and if birds are permitted to go about with the hairs 

 fastened round their claws in this manner for any length 

 of time together, they will most probably lose some of them. 



