68 THE PIGEON BOOK 



being the same. Generally it is due to a low temperature 

 and a damp loft. In cases where the legs are affected, 

 I have found rubbing with Elliman's horse oils as good 

 as anything; or, in mild cases of lameness from rheu- 

 matism, I have cured the subject by a warm flannel bandage 

 saturated in turpentine. Where rheumatism, leg- 

 weakness, or cramp seizes very young birds before or just 

 after leaving the nest don't attempt to cure them, but 

 pull their heads off. 



Roup. 



The ravages that roup plays annually amongst pigeons 

 is really alarming. Some, I think, will scorn the sug- 

 gestion, but I know from experience that it is only too 

 true. It is because I know and feel this that I propose 

 to give young fanciers the benefit of my experience. 

 Catarrh and roup are no friends of mine, nor are any 

 diseases, and, as I have said on so many occasions, I 

 do not write with the idea or object of curing sick pigeons, 

 but by giving an outline of the diseases and my experi- 

 ence as to the cause, a young fancier is better able to 

 guard against any outbreak in his own loft. Forewarned 

 is forearmed. 



Most of the old authorities on pigeons agree that roup 

 is a contagious disease, and I must confess that I am of 

 that opinion. 



Roup must not be confounded with mild catarrh. Mild 

 catarrh and one-eyed cold I do not think contagious, but, 

 on the other hand, there is also a contagious form of 

 catarrh as well as roup. 



Roup and contagious catarrh nearly always arise from 

 the same cause — ^badly reared young, overcrowded lofts, 

 bad ventilation, and want of fresh air. 



These lower the tone of the pigeons, and make it 



