230 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



Megrims is the curious term applied to a nervous or brain 

 disease, shown by various twistings or turnings of the head, or 

 turning round of the whole body, more or less constant and 

 marked. A free incision at the back of the skull will some- 

 times relieve the brain and cause a cure ; but such cases are 

 not hopeful. We should also be disposed to, try seclusion in a 

 rather dark pen, with daily doses of -^ grain of acetate of 

 morphia, or if that failed, J grain of bromide of potassium. 

 Mr. Betty recommends opening the bowels with castor oil or a 

 compound aloe pill, followed by pills made thus : Half a grain of 

 carbonate of ammonia, a quarter of a grain of camphor, one 

 grain of carbonate of soda, divided into eight pills, one given 

 twice or thrice a day. 



Prolapsus is a very frequent complaint. The first symptom 

 is a soft swelling at or near the vent, which gradually becomes 

 worse, and may or may not harden, till the bird is useless. The 

 complaint was called "gizzard-fallen" by old fanciers, but is 

 really a descent of the intestines or other internal organs near 

 the part, due either to original weakness and relaxation of the 

 tissues, or to debility consequent upon excessive sexual appe- 

 tite ; the latter being the most frequent cause. We are not 

 sure that cure is possible, but we have seen apparent benefit 

 follow an astringent injection of alum three times a day, 

 accompanied by exposing the vent to a stream of cold water for 

 a few minutes. Such birds should not be bred from. 



RJieumatism is difficult sometimes to distinguish from gout, 

 but is more apt to occur at moulting time or in wet weather. 

 Warmth and dryness, away from draught, and the biniodide 

 of mercury ointment mentioned under gout, with the alkaline 

 water, are the most serviceable remedies. Sometimes rubbing 

 the affected limbs with camphorated oil is of great benefit. 



Roup in pigeons may be treated with Walton's Pills and 

 seclusion in a pen free from draught, first giving a mild aperient, 



