28 



of cleanliness having been observed, and the birds having been treated in every 

 respect the same then, as since, as far as I can recollect, and I have not had a 

 single instance of the kind for many years past. Tlie only possible conjectnre I 

 can make, is, that possibly I might not have been so particular about the food I 

 then gave them, and most unquestionably, the quality of the food is very material 

 in the prevention of complaints. 



THE ROOP. 



The next disorder that comes particularly under our notice is, the Roop. Tliis, 

 as I before observed, is a kind of cold or influenza, and is more frequent in cold, 

 damp, and wet weather, therefore in such weather the loft should be kept 

 pariicularly clear of dung, which if suffered to remain will increase the damp, and 

 make the birds worse, and perhaps spread the complaint through the whole loft, 

 for I am of opinion, that this disorder is also contagious, therefore, on its first 

 appearjinfe the infected bird or birds should be taken away, and kept warm, and 

 should occasionully have a handful of seed given them. Some put rue into their 

 water, but I do not think this is of any use ; the only remedy with which I am 

 acquainted, is to keep them warm, and squeeze the rhenm out of their nostrils, 

 and also from the orifice in the palate or roof of the mouth, which communicaltes 

 with the nostrils, by pressing which wiih the thumb and finger, and at the same 

 time opening the mouth, a lump of rheum Hke jelly, will be seen obtruding itself 

 from the orifice, which should be removed, and the bird will then breathe freely. 

 This should be repealed about twice a day, and a pill of bitter aloes, the size of a 

 pea, given once in two days, which will warm the inside, and the bird will soon 

 recover. A few pepper-corns are not ami^is to be given the intervening days. 

 This is by no means a dangerous complaint, if attended to when discovered. It 

 seems to me to be very similar to a violent cold and stoppage in the liead. 



THE VERTIGO, OR MEAGRIMS. 



These birds are subject to a complaint called the Vertigo or Meagrims, which is 

 an involuntary turning or twisting of the head towards the back, accompanied 

 with a blinking of the eyes, and the bird flutters and flie.s indiscriminately against 

 any tiling that comes in its way. It is very disagreeable and painful to see them 

 in this situation ; as I have yet to find out a certain cure for this complaint, and 

 as the bird seldom if ever gets the better of it, was it mine, and an indifferent 

 bird, I should think it best to put it out of its misery, and not torture it with 

 useless e^Yperiments. 



THE STAGGERS. 



This is another complaint, and is a constant turning round or staggering, when 

 the bird attempts to walk or fly ; but as I am in the same predicament with respect 

 to the cure of this complaint as of the other, I should be necessitated to adopt the 

 same remedy. 



Both the above complaints are very rare, and have never happened in my loft, 

 although I liave seen ihem, so that 1 have never been driven to the necessity of 

 considering what would be proper to administer upon these occasions. By what 

 information I have gathered upon the subject, I am inclined to think that these 

 complaints are rarely, if ever cured; I think it probable, that making a small 

 puncture in the roof of the mouth, to let out a little blood, might be attended with 

 beneficial effects, as the disorders both seems to me, to arise from a giddiness in 

 the head. Was a valuable bird of mine to be in either of these situations, I should 

 certainly be induced to try the experiment, notwithstanding what I before said 

 about useless experiments ; indeed the experiment would be hardly worth making 

 upon an ordinary bird, unless for satisfaction sake, and for the purpose of knowing 

 how to treat a better bird, was it to be in that situation. 



