THE CANARY BIRD. 39 



DISEASES. 



The Canary bird, in a state of captivity, seldom enjoying the 

 open air and having but little exercise, is subject to most of 

 the maladies peculiar to the domestic, feathered race. The 

 diseases to which it is particularly liable, may be described 

 and treated as follows : — 



1. Rupture. — This is a common malady, especially in young 

 birds, and is a kind of indigestion which causes inflammation 

 of the intestines. The symptoms of this disease are a lean, 

 transparent, blown-up body, full of small red veins, and in 



' which all the intestines seem to have fallen to the lower part 

 of the body, where they become entangled and turned black. 

 Too much nutritious food is the cause of this evil. All reme- 

 dies appear to have been ineffectual in this malady, but 

 assistance is sometimes obtained from a spare and simple 

 diet. 



2. The Yellow Gall in the Head and Eyes may be cured by 

 refreshing food ; but if there be a tubercle of the size of a 

 hemp seed about the head or eyes, it must be cut oif, and the 

 wound anointed with fresh butter. . 



3. Sweating. — Some females, whilst hatching, have a sweat- 

 ing sickness, which is injurious to the blood, and may be 

 detected by the feathers of the lower part of the body being 

 quite wet. The body of the bird should be washed with brine, 

 and afterwards with rain or spring water to free the feathers 

 of salt, and then rapidly dried by the sun or fire. This may 

 be repeated once or twice a-day. This sickness, however, is 

 not so prejudicial to the bird as is generally supposed. 



4. Sneezing. — This is occasioned by a stoppage of the nos- 

 trils, and may be removed by a very small feather dipped in 

 olive oil being passed through them. 



5. Loss of Voice. — If the male, after moulting, lose his voice, 

 he must have diet similar to that given to young birds ; that is, 

 some thoroughly-baked, stale roll, dipped in boiled milk or 



1 water until completely saturated ; then press out the milk and 



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