156 The Canary Book. 



feathers for the adult plumage. At this period of a bird's 

 life there is a great demand on the serum of the blood, and 

 if there is not sufficient health and vigour to replenish this 

 loss freely, stagnation or blood-ferment follows, which is 

 supposed to create a bacillus, considered by medical men to 

 be the origin of these disorders. There is a difficulty of 

 getting rid of the excretory matter, and it lodges in the 

 region of the vent, which is readily discernable on examination. 

 This being the first symptom, the application of a purgative 

 is at once necessary to get the bowels fully relieved : a 

 small quantity of the carbonate and sulphate of magnesia, 

 and two or three senna leaves, should be put in the drinking 

 water, allowed to remain for two days, and renewed if 

 necessary, until the excrement is natural in appearance and 

 quantity. Some tonic medicine in the shape of gentian or 

 camomile should also be added to the drinking water. 



As soon as the malady is discovered, all birds not 

 apparently affected with this complaint should be removed 

 without delay from among the affected birds, and placed in 

 fresh cages, which have been previously disinfected by the 

 application of a solution of carbolic acid (loz. of carbolic 

 acid to each pint of hot water) freely used over the whole 

 of the outside, and well saturated with Condy's Fluid on the 

 inside. The birds should be removed, not only from the pre- 

 mises where the disease exists, but out of the town or village 

 a few miles distant, and the room in which they are placed 

 should be well sprinkled with Condy's Fluid, or have a vessel 

 placed in the centre of it containing chlorate of lime. The 

 birds should be kept moderately warm, and be fed with light 

 but nutritious diet. They should have given them some mild 

 aperient such as magnesia (20gr. to each ounce of water), and 

 an infusion of senna leaves (loz. to a pint of boiling water; 

 infuse for two hours and give cold) added to their drinking 

 water, renewed daily for three or four days, and the room 

 should be freely ventilated during the day, but should be free 

 from draughts. 



