CHAPTER VIII. 



DISEASES OF PIGEONS. 



The choicest kinds of fancy pigeons are subject to many diseases, no 

 doubt arising in many instances from hereditary causes. Where a large 

 stock is kept, the pens set apart for sick birds will seldom be altogether 

 untenanted, for whether much doctoring be practised on them or not, 

 ailing pigeons will have more chance of recovery when put in hospital 

 than when left among the healthy birds, who often treat them very roughly. 

 The eye of the experienced fancier soon detects a pigeon that is out of 

 sorts, a disinclination for food or for the bath, a peculiarity in its 

 flight or walk, and many other signs proclaim something wrong. As 

 delay can only complicate matters, success in the treatment of a sick 

 bird may often be attained by doing what may be done quickly. For 

 my own part I may say that I never had much success iu treating 

 pigeons with medicines, that I have found their action very uncertain, 

 and that about the same number of sick ones recover, in certain illnesses, 

 whether drugged or not. For better reference I shall treat of the 

 principal diseases fancy pigeons are liable to in alphabetical order. 



Boivels, Inflammation of. — The most fatal disease of fancy pigeons 

 is inflammation of the bowels. Nearly all have it at some period of 

 their lives, and a large proportion before the completion of their first 

 moult. It may almost be called the distemper of pigeons, and may be 

 known by the huddled up appearance of the bird. The disease is some- 

 times so rapid in its action that in a few days the bird is reduced to 

 nothing but skin and bone. The power of flight is soon lost, and the bird 

 retires into a corner. When first observed, the pigeon so effected 

 should be secluded, and have access to old lime. The best remedy I 



