io6 CANARIES 



cause is an overflow of bile. In diarrhcea the discharge 

 from the bowels will be frequent, and will consist of thin 

 watery motions and half -digested food. The treatment 

 of diarrhoea should be commenced by a couple of drops of 

 castor oil being administered from the point of a knitting 

 needle. A small quantity of prepared chalk might be 

 added to the egg food (about enough to cover a sixpence) 

 and the same quantity of powdered charcoal. Fifteen 

 drops each of elixir of vitriol and tincture of opium 

 should be added to the drinking water. 



A very simple remedy, and one that is often effectual 

 when all others fail, is to take an arrowroot biscuit, boil 

 it in a Uttle new milk, then add sufficient silver sand to 

 make it about the consistency of ordinary egg-food, 

 and give this to the bird instead of its egg and biscuit. 

 This was the favourite remedy of the Lancashire pitmen 

 who years ago used to be such keen lovers of Belgians. 



Gout. 



Gout is a complaint that is only an occasional visitor 

 to our bird rooms, and when it does come it affects birds 

 that are of a sleepy, lazy character such as Crested Nor- 

 wich and Lancashires. Birds that are affected are feverish 

 and drink greedily of water. The feet and legs are much 

 swollen and inflamed. The treatment I have found most 

 effectual is to keep the bowels acting freely, and to dress 

 the parts affected with benzoline or Friar's Balsam. The 

 benzoline should be applied with a camel-hair brush two or 

 three times a day, whilst a small quantity of magnesia 

 or a few senna leaves in the drinking water will do all 

 that is required in the way of keeping the bowels open. 

 When Friar's Balsam is used, the legs and feet should only 

 be painted once a day, and should be well soaked in warm 

 water before being painted. Should the skin show signs 

 of cracking, stop painting at once, and wait till the skin 

 is sound before you use the Friar's Balsam again. 



Enteritis, or Inflammation of the Bowels. 



Enteritis, or inflammation of the bowels, is caused by 

 partaking too freely of stimulating food, or of sour or de- 



