56 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



hours. The seeds are then removed by straining and 

 the mucilaginous liquid which has valuable demulcent 

 properties may be kept before the affected bird as a 

 simple drink, or it may also be used as a vehicle for 

 certain medicines. Sufficient nitrate of potash should 

 be dissolved in the drinksothatthe bird will take about 

 one grain three times a day. If the patient appears to be 

 failing and becomes very sleepy with a dark bluish 

 color of the comb and gills, mix fifteen drops of tinct- 

 ure of digitalis with one ounce of water and adminis- 

 ter ten drops of this mixture every two hours. In 

 dropping such medicines it is best to use a medicine 

 dropper, as drops of more uniform size are obtained. 

 Great care should, also, be observed in administering 

 the medicine to avoid its getting into the air -passages 

 and causing strangulation. When the bird begins to 

 improve, a grain of quinine or ten drops of cod liver 

 oil twice a day, will hasten recovery. The food dur- 

 ing sickness and recovery should be nutritious and 

 digestible. A small quantity of warm milk, or milk and 

 egg beaten together, or chopped raw beef may be offered 

 from time to time, while the attack lasts and as the 

 appetite returns gradually replace with mash or more 

 solid articles of food. The disease may be prevented by 

 the measures mentioned in the article on congestion of 

 the lungs. 



MYCOSIS OF THE AIR-PASSAGES, OR ASPERGILLOSIS. 



Several species of fungi or molds may develop with - 

 in the air-passages of animals, and particularly of 

 birds, and cause serious disease. These fungi all be- 

 long to the genus Aspergillus, the parasitic species 

 being in the order of their importance as follows : 

 Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nigrescens, Asper- 



