290 Caxar/es axd Cage-Birds. 



miscellaneous ailments, and accidents. 



Fits. — These are of several kinds, and depend upon different causes. Birds that are either 

 constitutionally weak or weakened by injudicious treatment are most subject to them. Gluttony 

 and the use of over-stimulating food predispose to fits ; so, by weakening the heart, does injudicious 

 pairing, as by keeping a male bird with too many hens during the breeding season. As the 

 treatment we adopt is nearly the same in all cases, we need do_ no more here than give the 

 symptoms of two kinds. The first is syncope, or fainting, during which the heart's action is all 

 but suspended. It is nearly always caused by fright^ as by attempting to catch the bird, or 

 letting anything strike the cage. The little sufferer's cage should be held in the open air, and 

 the bird sprinkled with cold water ; that will revive it. 



Another kind of fit is apoplectic in its nature, and, in addition to the usual causes, is 

 often brought on by the thoughtless habit of hanging the cage in a hot, blistering sun. This 

 is more dangerous and deadly, and probably smelling-salts will be needed, as well as the appli- 

 cation of cold water, to revive the bird. But whatever the nature of the fit, the bird subject 

 to it will require the most carefully regulated diet and the plainest of food, with now and 

 then a drop or two of castor oil. For the fainting-fit, give bark and iron tonic ; for the 

 apoplectic, bark alone. 



Surfeit is a name given to a kind of exanthematous disorder. There is irritation of the 

 skin, and a slight eruption, and the bird gets gradually bald. The cause, so far as we yet can 

 tell, is an error in the feeding ; and a return to the natural diet, with some opening medicine 

 (Epsom salts is best — a few grains in the water), the exhibition of green food (a little lemon- 

 juice and three or four grains of chlorate of potash should also be placed in the drinking- 

 water), will not fail to remove it. The head should be anointed with the purest, simplest 

 ointment you can get. 



Pip. — This is a meaningless term applied to a small swelling on the bird's rump. The 

 tumour really is caused by the obliteration, for the time being, of the excretory canal of the 

 lubricating gland placed there. When it is seen to contain matter, it should be opened with 

 a new sewing-needle, and a little cold cream rubbed gently over it. Then give an aperient, and 

 keep the cage very clean. 



Cramp. — This is a common complaint among birds, especially among such as are kept in a 

 filthy state and in small "poky" cages. It may proceed, too, from indigestion ; but from whatever 

 causes it arises, it should be looked upon as merely symptomatic. Give the bird a few drops of 

 castor oil, and put a little laudanum in the water for a day or two. If in the limbs, it may be 

 removed by immersing them in warm water, and afterwards hanging the cage in a comfortable 

 place quite away from all draughts. 



The Claws of Canaries often require attending to, and at times even the beak gets elongated, 

 and prevents them from feeding with comfort. The cure is to shorten the claws or beak with a 

 pair of sharp nail-scissors ; but it should be done carefully, and too much should not be taken off. 



So7'e Feet. — Clean the feet, get rid of all source of irritation, such as a dirty cage, &c. The 

 feet, after being carefully scraped, should be washed, and afterwards anointed with cold cream. 

 The bird is then to be placed in a well-cleaned cage, and seen to every day until the feet are well. 

 It is a very painful and distressing complaint. 



Fractured Limbs. — Take all perches down, and fill the bottom of the cage with hay. Trust to 

 nature to do the rest. 



Accidents to tJie Joints. — The^e sometimes occur, and are followed by painful inflammation, 



