CHAPTER XI. 

 DISEASES. 



Pigeons are very healthy birds, and if kept under 

 sanitary and natural conditions give their owners little 

 trouble in the way of doctoring. In a work of this 

 kind there is not room for a long dissertation on the 

 diseases to which Pigeon flesh is heir, apart from the 

 fact that there exists a \'erjr complete treatise dealing 

 with such. I shall, therefore, only touch upon a few 

 minor or common ailments in this chapter, and refer 

 my readers to that admirable work by Mr. Richard 

 Woods, " Diseases of Pigeons and their Treatment," 

 which is the standard and most reliable book on the 

 subj ect . 



In connection with disease, as with many other 

 things, " prevention is better than cure," and if fan- 

 ciers would onlj' attend to the small details of ordinary 

 management, especialh^ the items of grit, water, fresh 

 air, and cleanliness, there would arise little occasion 

 for the medicine chest to be resorted to. Still, how- 

 ever careful one may be in their management, there 

 are times when disease makes its appearance from 

 causes quite beyond the control of the owner. 



For instance, a bird which has been to a show may 

 come in contact with a diseased bird, be placed in a 

 pen in which such a bird has been, or have to drink out 

 of a tin which has been used by such a bird. Again 

 hereditary taint may cause disease to show itself; 

 particularly is this so in regard to scrofulous diseases, 

 to which, unfortunately, many strains of high-class 

 Pigeons seem pre-disposed. 



In dealing with diseases in any form one needs to 

 act promptly, and with decision. " A stitch in time 

 saves nine," therefore I would urge upon every fan- 

 cier the supreme importance of becoming thoroughly 

 familiarised with every bird in his stock. 



