40 



85. — Put them in a strait-stocking, with their feet downward, stroak-^ 

 ing up the crop, that the bag which contains the meat may not hang 

 down ; then hang the stocking upon a nail, keeping them in this manner, 

 till they have digested their food, only not forgetting to give them now and 

 and then a little water, and it will often cure them ; but when you take 

 them out of the stocking, put them in an open basket or coop, giving them 

 but a little meat at a time, or else they will be apt to gorge again. 



86. — If this does not effect the cure, you may slit the crop from the 

 bottom with a penknife or sharp pair of scissars, take out the corrupted 

 meat, wash the crop, and then sew it up again. This method has been prac^ 

 tised with some success, though the crop will not be so round as before. 



87. — ^Others will tie that part of the crop, in whicli the undigested meat 

 lies, tight round with a string, and let it rot off. This method never fails, 

 though it spoils the shape of the crop* 



88. — 12. The next and most fatal distemper incident to this kind of 

 birds is the vertigo, or (as generally styled by the Fancy) the megrims ; 

 in this disease the pigeon reverts or turns its head, in such a manner, that 

 the beak will lie on its back, and will flutter and fly about at random * 

 This distemper is usually reckoned incurable, and indeed it too often 

 proves so ; though I once had a turbit, of the owl kind, taken with it in a 

 violent manner. Some gentlemen seeing it, advised me to pull the head 

 off; 1 told them, I would first try if I could not cure it, which they asserted 

 to be impossible ; however, T took about a quarter of a pint of water, an 

 ounce and a half of spirit of lavender, one drachm of spirit of sal armo- 

 niac distilled with quick lime ; these I mingled together, then I tasted it, 

 and found it. too strong for the bird, and therefore added a little more 

 water ; I believe in three or four hours, T poured down its throat, at three 

 or four times, a spoonful and a half of this mixture, for I had rather it 

 should die than live in that condition ; at last it began to discharge a 

 white slimy substance upwards and downwards, but did not care to feed 

 that day ; the next day I found it better, but still it would hold its head on 

 one side or awry. This medicine I gave it every third or fourth day, still 

 lessening the quantity ; I gave it garlic the days betwixt, and sometimes 

 two or three peppercorns till perfectly recovered ; I am not certain whether 

 this pigeon ever bred afterwards or no. 



89. — 13. If your pigeons do not molt off kindly, or stop in their molt- 

 ing, so that they don't throw their feathers well, it is a certain sign of 



88. — 12. (Eaton.) The vertigo, or megrims, I have observed, attacks the birds 

 in bitter cold weather, where the lofts are very high and cold, and the birds are not 

 allowed to fly at large. It sometimes happens in this complaint the birds keep their 

 necks out straight and stiff as a poker, only twisting or moving their heads a little (and, 

 if I may use the term, appear like stuck pigs). From observation you will perceive 

 the complaint lies in the head. The only cause I can give for it is, that the cold 

 weather affects the bird's head, read paragraphs 557, 558, 559, and 565. I recollect 

 taking and pointing out Mooke, paragraph 88, and I have no doubt it was the pre- 

 scription that cured my black mottle cock. I put it in a basket before the fire in hopes 

 of more circulating its blood. Some Fanciers make a small incision in the roof of the 

 mouth to let out a little blood. See J. M. Eaton, Almond Tumbler, paragraph 565. 



