The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



CONSUMPTION OR GOING LIGHT, 



This is a disease that seems to arise from various 

 causes, and is difficult of diagnosis for the reason that 

 while the symptoms vary, the results are the same. 

 Sometimes it is caused by tubercles on the lungs, some- 

 times from a diseased condition of the liver, sometimes 

 from inflammation of the bowels and, again, from worms. 

 It often affects young birds three or four months old, 

 particularly the more delicate kinds ; sometimes birds 

 whose eggs have not hatched, or whosa young have died 

 before the soft feed was fed off, and often old birds 

 about molting time. With some there is a slight cough 

 and ravenous appetite and yet they do not continue to 

 grow and thrive. In such a case as this I should suspect 

 tubercles on the lungs or lung consumption. Should 

 there be copious watery discharges mixed with blood 

 and of such a nature as to cling to the feathers about the 

 vent, clogging and befouling them, I should suspect in- 

 flammation of the bowels or some trouble with the liver. 

 Should none of these symptoms appear and yet the pig- 

 eon be uneasy and continue to grow thin, I should sus- 

 pect worms. Should it occur about molting time, I 

 should suspect a debilitated condition of the system 

 either from overbreeding or other causes. In the case 

 of consumption of the lungs I would suggest capsules 

 of cod liver oil, one every day, or Parrish's Chemical 

 Food. This is a remedy used at one time largely by 

 Philadelphia fanciers, or the homeopathic remedy cal- 

 carea carbonica, six pellets dissolved in water. For 

 liver disease, Carter's liver pills, one every two or three 

 days, or the hom. remedy, podophyllum. For diarrhcea 

 or dysentery from inflammation of the bowels a few 

 drops of paregoric in a small quantity of water or hom. 

 rerpedy arsenicum in proportions as previously de- 



131 



