BIRDS. 131 



Cause. — About this there is some difference of opinion, but 

 as to the actual condition there can be no doubt. There is a 

 weakness which causes inabiUty to contract upon the food and 

 to perform the usual function. 



Treatment. — Internal remedies have effect in building up 

 the debilitated constitution and the best are of the carminative 

 order, as cayenne pepper, alum, and sulphate of iron. Ten 

 grains of the first two, and three grains of the latter, should be 

 made into twelve pills, one being given four times daily. The 

 dose may be increased to two pills if necessary. 



Externally we have in Elliman's an admirable remedy, as it 

 imparts tone and vigour direct to the affected parts. 



CUTS. 



Wounds in birds heal easily enough if they will only let 

 them alone ; the worst consequences are merely emphysema, or 

 elastic distension of the body from air accumulated in cavities, 

 indicating a good deal in human surgery but of no account in 

 bird doctoring. The surgical wounds made in caponing give 

 no trouble except for this admission of air, and the remedy is 

 simple enough, consisting as it does of pricking the bladder and 

 allowing the air to escape. If by chance a wound becomes 

 poisoned, all that is necessary is to dress it with Elliman's, when 

 it will take on healthy action. 



DEBILITY. 



Cage-birds and domestic fowls occasionally suffer from 

 weakness, or wasting, without any apparent or assignable cause. 

 There is one, doubtless, but we cannot always find it out during 

 the lifetime of the bird, and post-mortem results are only use- 

 ful as serving to prevent further losses from the same cause. 



Pallor of the comb, or the membranes of the mouth or white 

 of the eye, indicate an insufficient quantity of red blood. This 

 may be to a large extent supplied by giving iron in some form 



