480 APOPLEXY, ETC. 



Apoplexy. 



Goshawks are liable to this disease, but peregrines 

 very rarely suffer from it. Nine out of ten of the 

 sparrow-hawks and merlins which are trained yearly 

 die from it. Flying at ' hack ' is the best remedy. 



' Keeks', or ' Croaks! 



So called from the noise made by the bird, when 

 affected with the complaint, when flying or ' bating.' 

 It is a disease of the breathing organs, and is peculiar 

 to peregrines — passage-hawks and nestlings suffering 

 equally. Exposure, especially during autumn and 

 spring, induces it. It is, though common, not a 

 dangerous complaint, if treated properly in time. 

 Rest, warmth, good diet, with occasionally some half- 

 dozen bruised peppercorns, or mustard-seed, given 

 with the castings, will generally effect a cure. 



Whenever it may be desired to administer a laxa- 

 tive, a little powdered sugar, or two or three grains of 

 powdered rhubarb, between a mouthful of meat, will 

 answer the purpose, but it must be given on a fasting 

 stomach, and the bird must not have had any ' cast- 

 ings ' previously. Dipping a few pieces of meat in 

 water will also have a similar effect, but of course 

 the rhubarb has the most marked result. 



Frounce. 



This is similar to the complaint to which children 

 are subject, and which is termed ' thrush,' and is an 

 inflammatory condition of the mucous membrane. It 

 arises from cold and damp. Peregrines suffer from 

 it rather than goshawks. The bird cannot eat, its 

 tongue being swollen and covered with a brownish- 



