39 



ft. — 4. The next distemper that falls under our cognizance is, the 

 canker, which proceeds mostly from the cocks fighting and pecking each 

 other, though some people have assured me, that giving them water in a 

 tin vessel, will likewise throw them into this disease. The method of cure 

 is this, take burnt alum and honey and rub the part affected every day 

 and it will cure it ; but if this happens not to take effect, dissolve five 

 grains of roman vitrol in half a spoonful of wine vinegar, add it to the 

 former composition, and rub the part affected. Some people will take off 

 the scurf and make it bleed, before they apply the remedy, but I am apt 

 to believe, you will generally find it searching enough without. 



78.— 5. If the wattles or flesh round the eyes of the carrier, horseman, 

 or barb, are pecked and torn, wash them first with stale urine for several 

 days ; if this does not do, dissolve two drams of alum in an ounce and a 

 half of water and wash the part grieved { but if the case be very stubborn, 

 mix twenty grains, of red precipitate with half an ounce of honey, anoint 

 the part therewith and it will certainly effect the cure. 



79. — 6. Pigeons, especially in the Summer season, are apt to be 

 troubled with small insects, which the Fanciers term lice ; in this case, 

 smoak their, feathers well with the smoak of tobacco, and it will infallibly 

 kill them. 



80. — 7. There is another sort of small vermin, which are very trouble- 

 some, and will often kill your young ones in the nest, by creeping into 

 their ears, &c., especially when first hatched, and always prevent their 

 thriving ; to hinder this, strew tobacco dust in the nest, and over your 

 young Pigeons, and it will destroy these vermin, which are called pigeons 

 bugs by some, and by others the blacks. 



81. — 8. Another disease to which they are subject is gizzard-fallen, 

 that is, the gizzard falls down to the vent. The gentlemen of the fancy, 

 say it proceeds from weakness, though I rather believe it is caused by 

 feeding with too much hemp-seed. I know no cure for this malady, 

 unless nature herself works one, which it sometimes will in young 

 pigeons. 



82.-9. The next distemper is what the Fancy calls navel-fallen ; in 

 this case, there is a kind of bag hanging down near the vent. This malady 

 is generally desperate ; and if giving them clary, or some other strengthen- 

 ing things won't cure them, I know nothing that will. 



83. — 10. Pigeons are liable to be pap-arsed, as the fancy call it. This 

 distemper proceeds either from a natural innate weakness, or from a cock's 

 being too salacious and treading his hen too often ; I know no cure for it, 

 except flying will do it. Young pigeons and carriers are most subject to 

 it especially if not flown. 



84. — 11. Some pigeons, as croppers, and powters, are apt to gorge 

 themselves, that is, when they have been too long from grain, they will eat 

 so much that they cannot digest it, but it will lie and corrupt in the crop 

 and kill the pigeon. If this therefore at any time happens, take the fol- 

 lowing method. 



