24:0 Pigeons and All About Theji. 



cases commence with a dose of salts morning and 

 night for the first day, then give three drops of 

 laudanum in fifteen drops of sweet oil, or five drops 

 of chlorodyne in the same quantit}- of oil twice a dav. 

 I have also found good results from the use of Com- 

 pound Syrup of the Hypophosphites in the proportion 

 of thirty drops to an ounce of water. 



FOI'L CROP. 



This is caused by the retention of food in the crop. 

 If birds are left a long time \\-ithout food they gorge 

 themselves, then drink water, with the result that 

 they are unable to digest the food, it swelling too much 

 to allow of its passing from the crop to the stomach. 

 The crop becomes hard and distended, the bird is un- 

 able to feed, and in a da^' or two is dead unless prompt 

 and effectual measures are taken. 



The bird should be caught, then held firmly by 

 an assistant whilst the owner pours a little warm 

 water down its throat; then the crop should be gently 

 kneaded with the fin,gers, more water poured down, 

 more kneading, and then when the mass is somewhat 

 loosened the bird should be held head downwards, 

 and the contents of the crop gently forced down the 

 throat into the mouth. It is a slow and tedious matter, 

 and all the operations described will have to be per- 

 formed several times ere the crop is quite empty. 

 When it is empty the bird should be placed in a pen, 

 given some clean water to which a pinch of Epsom 

 vSalts has been added, and for food a little wheat and 

 canary seed. This should be continued for two or 

 three days, at the end of which time the bird may be 

 returned to the loft. 



,'\ FIN.VL AVORD. 



To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Therefore, 

 T advise all breeders of Pigeons to kec]:) a medicine 

 chest. This chest should contain an assortment of 

 the remedies suitable for dealing with all the 

 common ailments to which Pigeons are liable. 



