The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



fall over dead. This I should call apoplexy. An ex- 

 amination will prove that it is fat and showing no in- 

 dication of disease. The trouble is caused, no doubt, 

 by a rupture of some blood-vessel in the brain produced 

 by the sudden fright. Should it fall and yet live, give 

 six pellets of belladonna every two hours. 



VERTIGO 



This is a disease peculiar also to highly-fed and pam- 

 pered birds. The symptoms are a staggering gait when 

 attempting to walk and frequently falling forward on 

 its breast. Its eyes are dull and its head is held rigid 

 and stiff. Hold its head under a gentle stream of cold 

 water, remove it to a quiet, secluded cage, and give a 

 gentle purgative — one of Carter's Little LivSr Pills or 

 half a grain of Epsom salts. Treated homeopathically, 

 I should give it six pellets of belladonna dissolved in a 

 cup of water. If it is unable to drink, turn a teaspoon- 

 ful down its throat every hour or two. 



PARALYSIS . 



This is also a disease of rare occurrence, arid chiefly 

 affects laying hens, especially young ones. It usually 

 affects them after laying the second egg. You will 

 find the sufferer lying on her breast, with her legs 

 stretched out behind, entirely helpless. Fortunately, as 

 a rule the trouble is only of short duration. Taken up 

 and laid in a quiet, retired place, they recover in the 

 course of a day. Gently rubbing the small of the back 

 and thighs sometimes hastens recovery. Should the 

 paralysis not yield after a few days to treatment of thi.s 

 kind, there is not much hope for it, and it might as well 

 be put out of its misery. As a remedy, give six pellets 

 of gelsemium dissolved in a teacup of water. 



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