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INTRODUCTION. 21 c s 



same time, must by corrected be healing food. Birds in this 

 state, generally do nothing but drink; therefore plenty of 

 boiled milk should be given them, as it nourishes them, as well 

 as acts medicinally, but should it appear to turn sour in the 

 stomach, it must, at least for some time, be discontinued. 



Obstruction of the Rump Gland. — This gland, which is on 

 the rump, and contains the oil employed for anointing the 

 feathers, sometimes becomes hard and inflamed, and an abscess 

 forms there. In this case, the bird often pierces it itself, or it 

 may be softened by applying fresh butter without any salt ; 

 but it is better to use an ointment made of white lead, litharge, 

 wax, and olive oil, which may be had of any good chemist or 

 apothecary. The general method is to pierce or cut the 

 hardened gland, in order to let out the matter. 



The gland is known to be obstructed when the feathers, 

 which surround it, are ruffled, the bird never ceasing to peck 

 them, and instead of being yellow it becomes brown. Dr. 

 Bechstein says, this disease is very rare among wild birds, for, 

 being exposed to damp, and bathing often, they make more 

 use of the liquor in the gland, consequently, it does not accu- 

 mulate sufficiently to become corrupted, sour, or cancerous. 

 This confirms the necessity of giving them the means of 

 bathing as often as instinct would induce them, as nothing 

 can be more favorable to their health. 



Dr. Handel, after piercing the gland, recommends a little 

 magnesia to be mixed with the bird's drink. 



Epjlepsy. — This is a disease with which house birds are 

 very often attacked. What has been found to be most useful 

 in this case, is to plunge the sick birds every now and then 

 into very cold water, letting them fall suddenly into it, and 

 cutting their claws, or at least one or two, short enough for 

 the blood to run. 



From bleeding giving so much relief, one would think that 

 this disease is a kind of apoplexy, occasioned by want of 

 exercise and too much food. Bullfinches and thrushes are 

 more subject to it than any other birds, and bleeding always 

 cures them, which has been done with great success in the fol- 



