DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT 95 



The treatment should in the first place be that of im- 

 proving and restoring the vital forces. A good nourishing 

 diet is an important element in the successful treatment 

 of an abscess. The soft food should have two or three 

 drops of Scott's Emulsion sprinkled upon it, and in the 

 place of water milk might be given, it being both soothing 

 and nourishing. The abscess should be lanced with 

 the point of a darning needle, bathed with warm water, 

 dried with a soft cloth, and then have a little zinc ointment 

 applied to it. With such treatment it will soon be healed. 



It is advisable, after the abscess has been lanced, to 

 soak the affected part twice a day in a little lukewarm 

 water (this is to remove any dirt that may adhere to it), 

 carefully dry it, and apply the zinc ointment, or, if 

 preferred, vaseline will answer the same purpose. 



An abscess should, whilst in the earlier stages, be 

 painted with tincture of iodine, so as to dry it up. A 

 little aperient medicine should be given at the same 

 time. 



If, however, in an advanced stage when discovered, 

 it should be lanced, then bathed and dressed as directed. 



Aphonia. 



Aphonia, or loss of voice, is an ailment that generally 

 arises from a bad moult. If the moult is slow, or if a cold 

 is caught during its progress, the result is usually an 

 attack of aphonia. When birds are kept in a badly 

 ventilated or overheated room they are also subject to 

 it. Birds afflicted by this complaint are not only robbed 

 of their power of song, but are unable to strike a single note. 

 It is a sort of paralysis of the muscles of the throat. If 

 the bird afflicted be a song-bird, it is quite possible 

 that he may go through all the usual movements of 

 song, such as opening the mouth and throwing the 

 head back, but not a single sound can he produce. 



Birds affected should have a liberal supply of lettuce 

 seed and linseed. To each ounce of drinking water 

 ten drops each of glycerine and paregoric may be added. 

 A piece of raw fat bacon should be placed between the wires 

 of the cage, and especial care should be used in seeing that 

 the seed supplied is sound and free from dust. 



