22 INTRODUCTION. 



ing the eyes, when disposed to blindness, with an infusion of 

 the root of white hellebore. 



TUMOURS AND ULCERS. 



As to the tumours and ulcers which come on the heads of 

 the birds, Dr. Handel touches them with a middling-sized 

 red hot knitting-needle. This makes the watery humour 

 run out, the wound afterwards dries and heals. To soften the 

 pain a little liquid black soap is used. If, from the softness 

 of the tumour, matter seems to have formed, it should be 

 rubbed with fresh butter until it is come to a head ; it may 

 then be emptied, and opened by a few drops of essence of 

 myrrh. During all this time the bird must have nothing but 

 beet juice to drink. 



Ulcers in the palate and throat may be cured by making 

 the bird drink the milk of almonds for several days, at the 

 same time lightly touching the ulcers several times a-day with 

 a feather dipped in a mixture of honey and borax. 



MOULTING, 



Though natural, is generally accompanied with disease, during 

 which the birds ought to be taken great care of. Their food 

 should be changed, but without giving any heating delicacies, 

 which are very injurious. 



It has been observed that birds always moult at the time 

 when their food is most abundant ; the forest birds may then 

 be seen approaching fields and cultivated places, where, having 

 plenty of insects and seeds, they cannot suffer from want; 

 indeed, the loss of their feathers prevents their taking long 

 flights, and the reproduction of them occasions a loss of flesh 

 which must be repaired. An abundance of food is therefore 

 necessary, and, following this rule, during moulting some 

 additional food must be given to house birds, appropriate to 

 the different species millet or canary seed, a little hemp-seed, 

 white bread soaked in water, and lettuce, or endive, to those 

 which feed on seeds; with a few more meal worms and 

 ants' eggs to those that eat insects : all should have bread 

 soaked in boiled milk, warmth, and baths. Nothing has suc- 

 ceeded better than this regimen : all the birds which I have 

 seen treated in this manner have passed their moulting season 

 in good health. 



