266 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



audible, dullness, disorder of plumage, vacancy in the 

 eye, and indisposition to stir. Death is not to be pre- 

 vented by any remedy we can point out. Human 

 patients can explain their feelings, cattle to a certain 

 degree indicate them ; but birds give little indications 

 by voice or manner leading to what the medical man 

 calls a diagnosis. Besides, how are we to bleed a 

 bird ? The skin of most birds is very thin, it is un- 

 supported by a thick mass of cellular tissue, and 

 the vessels which ramify upon it are minute, none 

 presenting a fair chance for successful venesection. 

 To cut and wound a bird at random for the purpose oi 

 obtaining a flow of blood is barbarous. 



OBSTRUCTION OF THE NOSTRILS. 



FOWLS, as already remarked, do not in general breathe 

 through the mouth, but through the nostrils, and conse- 

 quently, when these through any cause become obstruct- 

 ed, the bird may be observed to gape and pant for breath. 

 This is the case in the "pip," as before mentioned and 

 it is also a very common consequence of the wounds 

 received in skirmishing and fighting, the blood from the 

 lacerated comb trickling over, and plugging up the nos- 

 tril with a hard adherent crust. When this is observed, 

 the parts ought to be washed with warm water till the 

 crust can be loosened. 



If the obstruction arise from canker or ulceration ot 

 the nostril itself, it may, if recent, be rubbed with a little 

 honey to defend it from the air; but if of long standing, 

 and not seeming likely to heal, it may be touched with 

 a red-hot wire, which will produce a scab, and in most 

 cases be followed by a speedy cure. This may be con- 

 sidered by some a very barbarous remedy ; but the pain 

 it produces can only be momentary, and in reality is 

 not so severe an operation as cupping. 



In the case of obstructed nostrils from pip or catarrh, 

 bathe them with warm milk and water, or anoint with 

 sweet oil or fresh butter. 



