38 



delight, will keep your own Pigeons at home, and allure others that are 

 straying ahout, and at a loss where to fix upon a habitation. 



72. — The best way is to put your salt cat in jars, with holes in the 

 sides for them to peck it out, and a cork at top to prevent their dunging 

 on it, and to keep off the rain, or any other contingencies if exposed to 

 the weather. 



DISTEMPEES OF PIGEONS. 



73. — ^We come now to treat of the several distempers incident to bird^ 

 of this kind, and to prescribe the various remedies generally made use of 

 in their cure. 



74. — 1. The first disease therefore that we shall take notice of is, the 

 corruption of the egg in the uterus ; this generally proceeds from an 

 unmatched hen being over salacious, by reason of high feeding, ,or some 

 ether cause, who will often without the coition of the male engender eggs, 

 but seldom without his cpncurrenqe either perfect them or bring them 

 forth, so that they will corrupt in the womb ; the only remedy for this is 

 to put her to a cock in time* 



75.-2. The wet roop next falls under our consideration, and in this 

 case, once in two or three days give them three or four pepper corns at 

 most, and put a handful of green rue in their water, you may let all your 

 Pigeons drink of it, for it is very healthful. 



76. — 3. The dry roop, which you generally distinguish by a husky 

 cough ; and I am apt to believe proceeds from a cold, to which they are 

 very liable, especially in molting time ; to cure this, give them every day 

 three or four cloves of garlick. 



73 to 98.— See J. M. Eaton's Almond Tumbler, paragraphs 558 to b65. "As a," 

 &c. 



73 to 98. (GiETTN, p. 124.) — In treating of the diseases relating to Pigeons, we shall 

 chiefly follow the sentiments of the late Mr. John Mooke, who was not only a very 

 judicious Fancier, but also a gentleman of the faculty, who spared no pains to make 

 himself acquainted with the diseases of these birds, and to apply the best method of 

 cure, therefore, without further apology, we shall take him for our guide. Matok and 

 GiRTiN gives word for word the late Mr. John Moore, on distempers and cures, and 

 nothing more. 



73 to 98. (Eaton.) — I would strongly recommend the young and inexperienced 

 Fancier to put in practice the remedies as laid down by Mooke, whenever any of his 

 Pigeons are suffering from distempers or accidents from whatever cause. I entertain a 

 much higher opinion of the remedies prescribed, when I ascertained from his Work, 

 Columbarium, or the Pigeon-house, that he was a medical man : his Work shews how 

 great an observer he was of a Pigeon, which he only kept as a fancy, and to relieve the 

 mind. I cannot help thinking, one who thought so hard and deeply on a Pigeon, 

 thought equally as hard, or more deeply on his profession, and was a credit and an 

 ornament to the profession to which he belonged ; and it must be so with you, pro- 

 vided you think hard and deeply on the Pigeon. I am then convmced that you are 

 blessed with the means to think hard and deeply on matters of infinite greater import- 

 ance. Entertaining so high an opinion of his advice and instructions all throughout 

 his Work, I advise you that if unfortunately any of your Pigeons are overtaken with 

 diseases or accidents, which most assuredly they will, apply Moore's remedies, and the 

 sooner it is discovered the better, remembering the Poet's advice, " A stitch in time, 

 saves niue." 



