PIGEON DISEASES AND THEIR REMEDIES 111 



It is however more usually the former. Paint the joint witli 

 Iodine daily or rub it with camphorated oil. 



In some cases this lump may be more serious and prove to 

 be a form of tuberculosis. In this case the hmip will be filled 

 with a cheesy deposit. In order to save the bird this lump 

 should be opened with a sharp lance and this deposit removed. 

 Mr. Vale, the noted English authority on pigeon diseases, ad- 

 vises that once the lump is open tlie deposit Ijc removed with 

 a stiff quill and the cavity painted with carbolized oil (one 

 part fluid carbolic acid in nineteen parts of best olive oil) and 

 skin drawn together with single stiches, care being taken to 

 remove all dead skin from the wound. 



Mud Balls 



We have all seen pigeons with hard lumps on their feet. 

 These lumps are caused from filth and mud being collected on 

 the foot and they grow larger and larger until it is extremely 

 difficult for the bird to walk. They should be removed as soon 

 as noticed but care must be taken not to injure the bird's feet 

 and toes. It is an excellent idea to soak the bird's feet in tepid 

 water for a few minutes and then either cut the ball or pry it 

 off by inserting a thin edged stick between the deposit and the 

 top of the foot. It is not unusual for squabs to have this same 

 trouble but they will only have it when their nest is allowed 

 to become filthy. One will usually see that loose bowels is 

 the cause of this trouble with squabs and therefore the breeder 

 should start feeding rice for a lew days. 



