The Feather's Practical Pigeon Booli 



scribed for these remedies. If a pigeon is sick from 

 molting, a castor ail capsule will sometimes benefit it. 

 Parrish's Chemical Food is always good, and Long's 

 Atrophy Lozenges are highly recommended, also the 

 hom. remedy calcarea carbonica. At such times if the 

 oil-gland of the ailing birds is examined, it will be found 

 swollen and the oil congealed; if squeezed gently the 

 oil will ooze out in long worm-like strings of a yellow- 

 ish color, streaked with black. This gland should be 

 sponged with warm water and gentle means used to 

 get it to resume its natural functions. Removing the 

 entire tail will frequently effect a cure, and in all cases 

 of going light this is one of the first things I would do. 

 While this disease is not contagious I would remove the 

 bird to a warm, quiet place. If worms are suspected, 

 small pieces of garlic about the size of a Canada pea 

 given twice a day will prove a cure, or the hom. remedy, 

 santonine in six-pellet doses. 



CANKER 



This disease is undoubtedly of scrofulous origin, and 

 may be said to be hereditary, and consequently born 

 with the pigeon. Like consumption it descends from 

 parents to the young. For this reason old birds showing 

 a tendency to cankerous eruptions should not be used as 

 breeders. It is a loathsome, filthy disease, and I believe 

 in a measure contagious ; therefore when it makes its 

 appearance in a loft, stringent measures should be taken 

 to stamp it out even to sacrificing if necessary the sub- 

 jects of its attack. It most frequently attacks the mouth 

 and throat, sometimes making its appearance first in 

 small deposits of a yellowish, cheesy matter, on the sides 

 of the bill, under the tongue, and in the back of the 

 throat around the opening of the windpipe. In Car- 



132 



