THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 105 
ACCIDENTS. 
According to the old saying, ‘‘accidents happen in the best reg- 
» 
ulated families,” so will they happen to goldfish. In most cases, 
nature, if let alone, will repair damages with surprising skill, though 
a little assistance often helps to secure a desirable result. Scales 
that have been knocked off will be replaced, just as a finger-nail is 
when bruised. 
Injured fins grow again, but the form afterwards does not always 
assume perfection. 
If an eye has been torn out, it will not necessarily kill the fish, 
as in most cases it heals kindly, and indeed might (for appearance’ 
sake) be replaced by an artificial substitute, such as are in use by the 
taxidermist. 
When we wish to assist nature to heal a wound, we must bear in 
mind that a warm temperature is most favorable for that purpose, and 
is also not favorable for the growth of fungi, which would certainly 
collect on the wound and reduce the chances of complete recovery. 
As an additional guard against the formation of fungus, table-salt in 
quantities mentioned above in treating asphyxia, is good, as also is a 
solution of carbolic acid, five drops to the gallon of water. 
We conclude this description of the various diseases with the 
homely phrase, ‘‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” 
so bearing that in mind, one will see to it that his aquaria and ponds 
do not suffer from neglect, as that always tells upon the fish. 
