DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT 113 



fectant has been mixed. Dry carefully with a soft cloth, 

 and then anoint with sweet oil, and gently press back 

 into position. 



Skin Disease or Feather Rot. 



Canaries are occasionally affected with a skin disease 

 which appears round the head and neck in the form of 

 a scurfy eruption, causing the feathers to fall out and 

 break off. I have failed to detect the cause of this disease 

 in the few cases that have come under my notice, but as it 

 mostly occurs early in the breeding season I have con- 

 cluded it has some connection with the overheated state 

 of the blood at this time. The treatment that has proved 

 the most successful has been to anoint the parts affected 

 with vaseline and give a tonic, with a liberal supply of 

 watercress and soaked seed. The daily use of the bath 

 should not be neglected. 



Surfeit. 



This is practically a weaning trouble, as it is an affection 

 to which young canaries are particularly liable. When 

 they leave their parents and set up housekeeping on their 

 own account they are apt to overfeed themselves with 

 egg-food. This leads to inward irritation. The abdomen 

 swells and assumes a dark appearance, whilst the bowels 

 are generally constipated. 



When these symptoms are observed, two drops of 

 castor oil should be given immediately in the beak, 

 whilst a camel-hair brush should be dipped in castor oil 

 aud then introduced into the vent, aud a little magnesia 

 should be placed in the drinking water. This will generally 

 set matters right. 



The diet for a few days after the attack should consist 

 of bread and milk. When all symptoms of the attack 

 have disappeared the magnesia may be discontinued, 

 and a little citrate of iron and quinine may be given 

 in the drinking water — say one grain to an ounce of 

 water. 



Sore Feet. 



In a well-ordered aviary this affection is seldom or 

 never met with Neglect to provide the birds with a bath 



H 



