160 



think this is of any use. The only remedy I am acquainted with is to keep them 

 warm, and squeeze the rheum out of their nostrils, by pressing with the thumb and 

 finger, at the same time opening the mouth : a lump of rheum like a jelly will be seen 

 obtruding itself from the orifice, which should be removed ; the bird will then breathe 

 freely. This should be repeated twice a day, and a pill of bitter aloes, the size of a 

 pea, given once in two days, which wiU warm the inside. The bird will soon recover. 

 A few pepper corns are not amiss to be given the intervening days. This is by no 

 means a dangerous complaint, if attended to when discovered. It is similar to a vio- 

 lent cold and stoppage in the head, 



THE VERTIGO, OR MEAGRIMS. 



497. These birds are subject to a complaint called the Vertigo or Meagrims, which is 

 an involuntary turning or twisting of the head towards the back, accompanied with an 

 involuntary blinking of the eyes ; the bird flutters and flies indiscriminately against 

 anything that comes in its way. It is very disagreeable and painful to see them in 

 this situation, I have yet to find out a cure for this complaint ; as the bird seldom or 

 ever gets better of it, was it mine, and an indifferent bird, I should think it best to 

 put it out of its misery, not torture it with useless experiments. 



THE STAGGEES. 



498. This complaint is a constant turning round or staggering, when the bird attempts 

 to walk or fly. As I am in the same predicament with respect to the cure of this com- 

 plaint as the other, I should be necessitated to adopt the same remedy. 



499. Both the above complaints are very rare, and have never happened in my loft, 

 although I'have seen them, so I have never been driven to the necessity of considering 

 what would be proper to administer on these occasions. What information I have 

 gathered upon the subject, I am inclined to think these complaints are rarely or ever 

 cui-ed. 1 think it probable, making a small puncture in the roof of the mouth, to let out a 

 little blood, might be attended with beneflcial effects, as both seems to me to arise from 

 a giddiness in the head. Was a valuable bird of mine to be in either of these situa- 

 tions, I should certainly be induced to try the experiment. It would be hardly worth 

 making upon an ordinary bird, unless for satisfaction sake, for the purpose of knowing 

 how to treat a better bird, was it in that situation. 



SOOUEING OE PUEGING. 



500. Pigeons are sometimes subject to scouring or purging, particulary young ones, 

 which is generally accompanied with a foetid smell ; when this is perceived, put down 

 the throat a lump of chalk, the size of a bean, three or four times a day, which will 

 effectually stop it ; the bird will soon be well as before. Pump water, being more 

 astringent, should be given them ; the clotted feathers should be plucked from about 

 the anus, to prevent their being cold and wet, which the constant purging will occa- 

 sion. Their nests should be kept dry, as from weakness in this complaint they are fre- 

 quently unable to dung over the side of the nest pan. 



THE SMALL POX. 



501. The young birds are also subject to a complaint, which, from its similarity, is 

 by Fanciers called the SmaU Pox ; it generally makes its appearance, just before the 

 birds begin to fledge, and comes out pretty thick in little pustules, filled with matter, 

 about the head neck, and back. I never observed the birds were the least ill with it ; 

 It usually disappears in six or seven days, without having had the smallest effect upon 

 them that I could perceive, the birds thriving and grovnng all the time, as if nothing 

 was the matter with them. 



502. They have some other little complaints too trifling to notice. If a bird is un- 

 well, and I cannot discover the cause of its illness, I generally administer a pill or two 

 of rhubarb, the size of a pea, and repeat it on the alternate day, which purges them, 

 and generally sets them right. 



