Post Mortem Examinations.



237



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.



RULES.


Each 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.



Virginian Nightingale, cock (Mrs. C. Fogg-Elliot). [Your bird died of apoplexy. You

do not say on what he was fed, as this may have had something to do with the fit. If

you will send full particulurs of diet I shall be pleased to give you my opinion].


Masked Weaver (Mr. M. E. Griffiths). [Your bird died of pneumonia].


Blood-romped Parrakeet (Mr. F. C. Thorpe). [Your bird was much emaciated, and

died of heart failure].


Diamond Sparrow, hen (Mrs. Connell). [Your bird died of congestion of the liver and

jaundice].


Turtle Dove (Mr. T. H. Newman). [Your bird died of starvation owing to softening of

the bones of the upper and lower mandibles. This was a most interesting case. The

whole of the bones were undergoing softening. The left humerus was fractured.

This is the first case of the kind I have seen. I quite think that had you administered

a regular course of the syrup of phosphates in the early stages you might have

saved your bird].


Green Cardinal (Mr. F. Moerschell). [Your bird died of broncho-pneumonia. There

were evidences on the skull of its previous injuries, but these had nothing to do with

its death. Am very pleased if I have been able to assist you, and appreciate your

kind remarks].


Rufous-tailed Gkassfinch (Mrs. Johnstone). [Your bird died of inflammation of the

bowels. I would certainly take the precaution never to give cold water to birds in a

heated aviary, but let it be at least the same temperature as the aviary. I am pleased

to note you do not give egg food, as this is so frequently blamed. Flowering grass is

a safe form of green food if not given in a very wet or frozen condition. Many

thanks for postal order, 2/6, received. Answered by post].


Sc aley-breasted Lorikeet (Mrs. Johnstone). [Your bird died of apoplexy, there being

a large clot of extravasated blood from a ruptured blood vessel on the brain. The

action of an aperient depends on the extent of the lesion. If the cerebral vessels are

only congested and thus cause pressure the aperient is frequently successful, but if

there has been a ruptured blood vessel and the pressure is caused by extravasated

blood and this extravasation is to any great extent it usually proves fatal in spite

of treatment. Your feeding is good].


Spice-bird (Mr. I,. W. Horton). [Inflammation of liver. Thanks for P. O. 2/6 received.

Answered by post].


Cordon Bleu and Zebra Finch (Miss Furneaux). [Apoplexy was the cause of death in

both cases].


Parson Finch (Mr. T. N. Wilson). [This bird died of inflammation of the oviduct owing

to retention of a ruptured soft-shelled egg. Am obliged for your detailed letter.

You provide a good supply of shell-forming materials, but evidently not in the form

appreciated by the birds. Obtain some old mortar rubbish from a demolished buildiug.



