DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT iii 



the cracks and crevices of the cage, and make for the 

 birds. Not content with feasting on the external portion 

 of the body, some of them go off on a tour in the internal 

 regions ; but they cannot get far, the mucus in the 

 nostrils and throat causing them to stay their journey. 



This, said Mr. Mackley, it is that causes the irritation 

 and sets the bird coughing. When the bird is eating or 

 drinking, some of them get forced into the stomach, 

 and then local irritation of that organ is set up, which 

 oftentimes leads to fatal results. Should a bird be found 

 with insects in its throat, a camel-hair brush should be 

 dipped in equal parts of spirit of turpentine and glycerine, 

 then inserted in the throat and twirled rapidly round ; 

 this operation should be repeated two or three times. 

 A small feather should also be dipped in spirits of tur- 

 pentine and drawn through the nostrils. The bird 

 should be well dusted with insect powder, and placed 

 in a clean cage. A little magnesia should be placed in its 

 drinking water, to keep the bowels open and thus prevent 

 any evil results that might be caused by the presence of 

 the insects in the intestines. 



Other learned men have said that Mr. Mackley was 

 altogether wrong in his diagnosis, and that the parasites 

 in the throat could not possibly be body parasites. Mr. 

 Mackley, however, stuck to his guns. It may be, how- 

 ever, that these parasites found in the throat and mouth 

 may have come from foul water. In any case, the treat- 

 ment given is effectual. 



When a cage is found to be infested with red mite, 

 it should at once be removed from the bird room and 

 thoroughly cleansed with hot water and soda. It should 

 be exposed to the weather for several days, then dried, 

 and all cracks and crevices should be well painted with 

 fir-tree oil. All breeding cages should be subjected to this 

 treatment both at the commencement and end of each 

 breeding season, and occasionally during the breeding 

 season. If a little alum is dissolved in the bird's bath it 

 will assist in keeping this scourge of the bird room at a 

 distance ; a small quantity of infusion of quassia placed 

 in the bath will have the same effect. During the breeding 

 season the nests should be kept well dusted with the 

 insect powder. 



If a cage is suspected of harbouring red mites a thin 



