Aquatic Lite 79 
necessarly. Then a rest of a day or two 
in a mild solution of epsom salt, with a 
little sea salt added, or a few days in the 
convalescent will usually restore health 
and activity. In a large measure consti- 
pation can be prevented by feeding live 
foods at intervals. Little trouble should 
be experienced when Daphne is available. 
Fin congestion is the result of poor 
circulation of the blood through the fins, 
and may be caused by chilling, over-feed- 
ing, Over-crowding, impure water, rough 
handling, intestinal disturbances and sud- 
den changes in temperature. Some cases 
are chronic, yield to treatment and then 
return. In severe cases the tails, fins 
and even the lighter portions of the 
body, become fiery red; in a mild form 
the tails and fins will be bloodshot. For 
treatment add 10 to 20 drops of aromatic 
spirits of ammonia to each gallon of 
water in the hospital tank. The fish may 
remain in this solution for from 5 to 20 
minutes, but should be watched contin- 
ually, and removed before they show 
signs of serious distress. Transfer to a 
mild solution of permanganate of potas 
sium, repeat the ammonia bath to~simu- 
late the circulation of the blood, and then 
return to the permanganate. The pa- 
tient may remain in the permanganate so- 
lution for several days, longer if deemed 
necessary, but a new solution should be 
made every twenty-four hours. When 
the congestion has entirely disappeared, 
a few days in the convalescent tank, or 
in green water, is desirable. 
Tail rot is a serious and contagious dis- 
ease following aggravated and neglected 
fin congestion. In the early stages it may 
be recognized by a grayish, curled and 
ragged appearance of the ends of the 
tails. Don’t wait for the advanced stage 
This disease develops very rapidly and 
must be given immediate attention. Some 
aquarians advocate cutting away the ‘af- 
fected parts with a pair of sharp scis- 
sors, or by laying the fins on a smooth 
board and trimming with a keen knife 
or razor. This has never appealed to me 
when only the tail is affected, for it is 
practically impossible to do it without 
spoiling the appearance of the fish for all 
time. When one or both of the pectoral 
fins are diseased, it may be necessary. 
owing to the difficulty of treating with 
the poisonous solution without getting it 
in the gills. I treated my first case of 
tail rot with nitric acid. I was instructed 
to carefully apply a little diluted nitric 
acid, with a cotton swab, to the edge of 
the tail. I used what seemed to be due 
care, but the acid consumed the greater 
part of the tail! Since then I have treat- 
ed a number of cases successfully by dip- 
ping the tails in a saucer containing a 
mild solution of bichloride of mercury, 
washing this off very carefully, and then 
placing the fish in a large pan of water 
to remove further traces. ‘Then follows 
a mild permanganate bath. Repeat the 
bichloride treatment the next day, and 
for a third time if necessary. Between 
treatments, and for several days after- 
ward, keep the fish in the mild perman- 
ganate solution. A week to ten days in 
the convalescent tank should follow. If 
desired, one-half strength peroxide of 
nydrogen, or a mild solution of carbolic 
acid, may be used instead of the bichlo- 
vide of mercury. 
Fungus is a parasitic plant of a low 
order that gains a foothold on a fish 
where the protecting mucus has been 
rubbed away by injudicious handling or 
other causes. The spores of the plant are 
always more or less present in the water, 
but a healthy fish has the power to resist 
them. If taken in the early stages, it is 
easily cured, but if neglected it will 
spread to the gills, when death will ensue. 
Fungus will be clearly observed as white 
