20 INTRODUCTION. 



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. 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 accumulate sufficiently to 

 become corrupted, sour, or cancerous. This confirms the 

 necessity of giving them the means of bathing as often as in- 

 stinct would induce them, as nothing can be more favourable 

 to their health. 



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

 magnesia to be mixed with the bird's drink. 



EPILEPSY. 



This is a disease with which house birds are very often at- 

 tacked. What I have 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 exer- 

 cise and too much food. Bullfinches and thrushes are more 

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

 them. I have seen this done with great success in the follow- 

 ing 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 

 or dressing is required. 



TYMPANY. 



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 generally sufficient to pierce it 

 with a pin, so as to let the air escape, and the bird will be 

 cured. I had some larks attacked with this disease, which 

 began again to sing a quarter of an hour after the operation. 



