mm> — ^ 



22 INTRODUCTION. 



lowing manner, but much delicacy and skill are required, as 

 there would be great danger of laming the bird : — A very small 

 hole is made on the surface of the claw, with a lancet or very 

 sharp penknife ; it is then plunged in lukewarm water, and if 

 the operation be well done, the blood runs like a thread of red 

 silk; when removed from the water, the bleeding stops: no 

 bandage nor dressing is required. 



Tympany, or Bloating. — In this disorder, the skin on one 

 part of the body, or even the whole body, rises and swells to 

 so great a degree that it is stretched like a drum. It is gene- 

 rally sufficient to pierce it with a pin, so as to let the air 

 escape, and the bird will be cured. 



Disease in the Feet. — House birds are often subject to bad 

 feet. From the second year, they become pale, and lose their 

 freshness. They must be frequently cleaned, taking care to 

 remove the skin ; the thick loose scales ought also to be taken 

 off, but with all possible precaution. 



The gout occasions the feet to swell ; they are also so scaly 

 and painful that the poor little bird cannot support itself with- 

 out resting on the points of its wings. Dr. Handel prescribes a 

 warm fomentation with a decoction of soapwort (Saponaria 

 officinalis). If a foot should be bruised or broken, he advises 

 that the diseased bird should bo shut up in a very small cage, 

 the bottom of which is very smooth and even, without any 

 perches, or anything which would tempt it to hop, and put 

 in a very quiet and solitary place, out of the way of anything 

 which might produce agitation. In this manner, the bird will 

 ciire itself in a little time, without any bandage or plaster of 

 any kind. 



Dr. Bechstein was of the opinion that the principal cause of 

 bad feet is want of bathing. The scales, contracting from 

 dryness, occasion great pain ; in order to remove them with 

 ease, and without danger, the feet must be softened in luke- 

 warm water. The following method has been used with a 

 bullfinch with success: — Its cage was made with a movable 

 tin bottom, which, being half or three quarters of an inch deep, 

 could hold water, that was put in tepid, to bathe the bird ; 



