DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT 97 



of magnesia should be placed in the drinking water, about 

 as much as will lie on a sixpence, to a wine-glassful of 

 water ; or, if preferred, thirty drops of fluid magnesia 

 may be given in the same quantity of water. 



At the actual moment of a seizure the bird falls suddenly 

 off its perch, its limbs become convulsed, its whole body 

 is agitated, the head is thrown back, and it will, after the 

 convulsive movements have subsided, lie on the bottom 

 of the cage in a state of insensibility. Now is the moment 

 for proper action on the part of the owner of the little 

 sufferer. It should be taken out of the cage, placed in 

 the palm of the left hand, and its head dipped in cold 

 water, which will often bring it round. A small piece 

 of sponge should be immersed in spirit of ammonia and 

 applied to the head so that the bird may inhale the vapour 

 therefrom. This must only be done at intervals, and the 

 sponge must only be held near the bird for a few seconds 

 at a time ; just long enough for it to get a whiff of the 

 ammonia. 



On recovering consciousness the bird must be kept 

 very quiet. It should be placed in a cage by itself, and 

 a light covering should be laid over the cage. Its diet 

 should consist of bread and milk ; this may be continued 

 for a week or ten days after the bird has resumed its normal 

 state of health. A little magnesia should be placed in 

 the drinking water. When the bread and milk is dis- 

 continued the diet should consist for some time of canary 

 and red, or summer, rape seed, soaked in water for 

 twenty-four hours previous to its being given to the bird. 



Should the bird at the time of the attack be suffering 

 from any other form of disease, the attack will generally 

 end fatally. 



In cases where the attack is accompanied by partial 

 paralysis, the bird will be incapable to a certain extent 

 of walking or flying ; all perches should therefore be 

 removed from the cage, or the bird may injure its plumage, 

 or possibly break a wing or leg, in its attempt to reach 

 the perch. 



Apoplexy is most prevalent during the breeding 

 season, especially at the commencement. I'he birds 

 most Uable to it are unmated cocks. All unmated 

 cock birds should be fed sparingly during the breed- 

 ing season They should be allowed frequent use of 



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