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Post Mortem Examinations.



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.



RULES.


Kach bird must be forwarded, as soon after death as possible, carefully packed and postage

paid, direct to Mr. Arthur Gill, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Establishment, Bexley Heath,

Kent, and must be accompanied by a letter containing the fullest particulars of

the case. Domestic poultry, pigeons, and Canaries cannot be dealt with. If a reply

by post is required a fee of 2/6 must be enclosed.



Cinnamon Dove (Miss R. Alderson). [Bird died of haemorrhage from the liver, which was

ruptured. This may have been caused by an injury. You could have done nothing

for it].


Violet Dove (Miss Alderson). [Am afraid your bird died of exhaustion from want of food,

as there was not a grain to be found in the alimentary canal].


Mynah (Mrs. Kirkwood). Fed on boiled rice, potatoes, currants, carrot, egg, meat, and

fruit occasionally. [Your bird had an apoplectic fit and was more or less comatose

when you found him. When in this state for any length of time it usually proves

fatal].


Virginian Nightingale (Mrs. C. Fogg Elliot). [Your bird died of actuteenteritis. Will you

kindly observe Rules re description of symptoms and as to forwarding birds as soon

after death as possible. Your other bird was too decomposed for satisfactory

examination].


Rufous-tailed Grassfinch (Mr. A. J. Darling). [Your bird died of exhaustion as a

result of long standing malassimilation. These delicate birds are frequently sent

over to this country in cages without any grit. There is as a result (especially with the

more delicate ones) chronic indigestion produced and malassimilation of food. When

later on they are provided with proper food and grit, etc., the stronger ones recover

but the more delicate succumb. Before you can treat cases satisfactorily you must

learn to diagnose disease, which in the delicate mites is very difficult].;


Zebra Waxbii.l, hen. (Capt. B. Horsbrugh). [Your bird died of egg binding],


Firefinch and Rufous-tailed Grassfinch (Capt. Horsbrugh). [Firefincli died of acute

inflammation of bowels. Rufous-tail died of pneumonia. Many thanks for P.O.

2/6. Replies sent per post].


Tanager (Mrs. Noble). [Your bird was much emaciated and smelled very strongly of

paraffin. The immediate cause of death was acute inflammation of the bowels.

Paraffin is a very dangerous ingredient for any lotion to be applied to a large portion

of any animal’s body at one time, it causes so much irritation by being absorbed into

the system. That it is a good parasiticide we will acknowledge, but inasmuch as

insect life is far less susceptible to the effects of most drugs than are the higher

animals, it necessitates a deal of care in the application of drastic remedies, and I

would certainly advise the abolition of paraffin].


Grey Parrot (Mr. Wrigglesworth). [Your bird died of acute enteritis. Boiled maize

alone is not sufficiently nutritious for any length of time : wheat, dari, oats, canary,

millet, and a little hemp should be tried, and also fruit],


Bibfinch (Mrs. Robertson). [Acute pneumonia was the cause of death].


Crossbill (Mr. G. C. Swailes). [Your bird died of concussion of brain and I should be

inclined to suspect the Tinamous],


Cockatiel (Mr. Moerschell). [Your bird died of acute enteritis].


[Bird from Mr. Hart too decomposed for examination].



Arthur Gill.



