DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 293 



delicacies, and food which is too stimulating, is given to 

 them, and their health greatly suffers from the mistaken 

 kindness of their protectors. We say this to caution and 

 warn those who desire their feathered pets to enjoy long 

 lives, and be happy in confinement. 



It is very pretty and pleasant to see the little songsters 

 peck and peck at the piece of sugar or some other dainty 

 morsel with such evident enjoyment, but by-and-bye 

 come the glazed eye and the ruffled plumes, the drooping 

 head and the tottering gait, and probably, after all efforts, 

 the lifeless form and the hushed music ; for a bird stricken 

 with disease is not often cured, although sometimes the 

 remedies which are here presented will be found effectual, 

 and therefore they should be tried : 



The Pip. The symptoms of this malady, which is sim- 

 ply a cold, are a ruffled state of the feathers of the head, 

 a yellow tinge at the root of the beak, frequent gasping as 

 though for breath, and great dryness of the tongue, the 

 skin of which has become hardened by fever, while the 

 orifices of the nose are also stopped, so that breathing has 

 become difficult. In this emergency, relief may sometimes 

 be afforded by the removal of the hardened cuticle of the 

 tongue, beginning at the base, by the palate, and stripping 

 it off to the top, thus opening the pores and allowing the 

 saliva to flow. But this can only be done with the larger 

 kinds of birds. To remove the obstructions in the nostrils 

 a small feather may be drawn through them. A pill, con- 

 sisting of fresh butter, pepper, and garlic, should be given, 

 and for drink, an infusion of the herb speedwell; probably 

 horehound tea, or an infusion of any herb, having demul- 

 cent properties, would answer the same purpose. 



The Rheum is indicated by frequent sneezing and shaking 

 of the head. This too is caused by a cold. A few drops 

 of pectoral elixir or paregoric, in a little infusion of speed- 

 well, is the best remedy. When there is merely hoarse- 

 ness, a weak decoction of dried figs should be given, and 

 carrot-juice as a purgative ; boiled bread and milk is also 

 serviceable for this disease, which is sometimes spoken of as 

 Asthma. 



Consumption, sometimes called atrophy or wasting. In 



