FISH DISEASES 157 



fishes effects a wonderful cure. He dilutes the whisky with five times 

 the volume of water and drops four drops in the throat of the fish 

 twice daily. (Although this is written since prohibition went into 

 effect, we refrain from any witticism on the use of whisky, although 

 the opportunity seems a favorable one.) 



Dropsy. The cause for this distressing complaint is not known, 

 but it is considered to be due to a disordered liver. It is more apt to 

 attack fancy goldfishes and tropicals, Trichogaster lalins being particu- 

 larly susceptible. The manifestations are a swelling of the body and 

 the scales standing out at an angle. This can best be seen from a top 

 view. Strangely enough, the victims do not seem to feel depressed 

 until within a few days of death. 



Treatment. No cure is known for dropsy in fishes. They have 

 been known to improve under absolute starvation lasting several 

 weeks, but a recurrence is likely to take place. There is a current 

 belief that a few drops of digitalis in the water sometimes effects a 

 cure. The author has never been able to verify a single such case. 

 If the fish is valuable, its life may be prolonged by "tapping" it. This 

 is done by inserting a fine needle beneath the skin, holding needle 

 nearly flat to the body so that it again emerges in about a quarter 

 inch. After repeating this at a number of points, enough liquid can 

 be drawn off to relieve the fish temporarily. The operation can be 

 repeated when necessary. 



Swimming Bladder Trouble. As before stated, highly bred, short 

 bodied fishes are the more susceptible to this not uncommon disorder. 

 Sometimes the victims are unable to rise from the bottom except by a 

 violent effort, or again they may lie at the top of water at an angle, 

 or even upside down. Scaleless varieties are the more susceptible, 

 particularly the light colors. Reduced temperatures, even when 

 brought about slowly, are responsible for most cases. 



Treatment. No sure cure for swimming bladder trouble is 

 known, but it is sometimes relieved by placing in very shallow, sHghtly 

 salt warm water. If the fish is benefited it will always have to be 

 kept in temperate water, preferably shallow. 



It should be borne in mind that not all cases of loss of equilibrium 

 are due to bladder trouble, but may be caused by accumulated gases 

 resulting from indigestion. Treatment for constipation will relieve 

 these cases, but such fishes will have to always be watched carefully 

 thereafter. The author has had some remarkably good results in 

 these cases by feeding earthworms. 



Gill Congestion. There are two forms of gill congestion. The 

 most important, generally known as "gill fever," is that attacking fry 



