72 THE PIGEON BOOK 



the body ; but if taken in time a cure can easily be 

 effected." 



Tfiere are several forms of roup in pigeons, the most 

 common being wet roup and dry roup. 



Whenever a pigeon starts a cold care should be given 

 to it, for roup begins exactly the same as ordinary cold, 

 with the difference the subject gives off an offensive smell. 



The disease takes from a fortnight to three weeks to 

 run its course. 



Generally when roup breaks out in a loft such loft is 

 overcrowded or badly ventilated. 



If overcrowded, and there are too many birds, you 

 can effect a remedy by killing off the smallest and weakest 

 and at once suppressing any that show the least symptoms 

 of contagion. 



Providing the ventilation is seen to, overcrowding at 

 once stopped, and the birds exercised freely, the following 

 is the best general prescription for roup I know : Epsom 

 salts, idrm. ; sulph. of iron, |drm. ; Glauber salts, 

 2drms. ; water, 8oz. Give one teaspoonful to each pint 

 of drinking water. 



When feverish symptoms are noticeable (which are 

 indicated by the bird being very thirsty) a small dose of 

 tincture of aconite may be given. Two minims in a little 

 water every two or three hours until the excessive thirst 

 seems allayed. 



Unfortunately, roup being contagious, no loft is abso- 

 lutely safe from it, for it can be picked up at shows 

 by contamination, or by birds that are discharging mucus, 

 leaving some of the poison in the drinking water, which 

 is thereby contaminated, and the Protozoa once in the 

 system multiplies with the greatest rapidity. 



In a week or more I have seen birds apparently well 

 before the attack, choked first in the nostrils then in the 



