THE PIGEON BOOK 73 



eyes, and subsequently in the throat, until death super- 

 venes, and puts the subject out of its misery. 



I can call to mind lofts that had an annual attack of 

 roup, and where nothing seemed to suppress it. In this 

 case the only effective cure might have been the suppres- 

 sion of all the inmates, a reconstruction of the loft on 

 more hygienic lines, and fresh importations of vigorous 

 birds from other districts. 



Rice, good peas, and a little salted and baked bread- 

 crumbs, as well as crushed hemp-seed is the best diet 

 for a subject suffering from roup. When the disease 

 is accompanied by an offensive discharge, it is best to 

 bathe the affected parts with boracic acid lotion as recom- 

 mended in the case of one-eyed cold. 



Soft-shelled Eggs. 



Generally, I have found the above eggs laid by pigeons 

 when they have been too fat and fed on too heating a diet. 

 The best remedy is to substitute stone eggs in place of 

 the shell-less ones laid. Meanwhile, frequently admini- 

 ster a dose of Epsom salts to the patient, and, unless 

 the laying of soft-shelled eggs is due to permanent de- 

 rangement of the secreting glands where the shell is 

 formed no futher trouble will arise. Plenty of grit, con- 

 sisting of old mortar, crushed fowl's egg-shells, crushed 

 oyster shells, and cuttle fish bone, should be placed before 

 the birds. 



Surgery. 



Generally speaking, it is unwise for in experienced 

 fanciers to perform any surgical operations on pigeons. 

 In the case of eggs embedded in the oviduct, if a fancier 

 attempts to remove them by breaking them, death will 

 generally supervene, but, in the case of outward growths, 



