SURGICAL DISEASES 299 
of the bones of the leg and feet. The bird is laid upon the back and. 
the feathers are clipped from the region of the break. The skin is 
cleaned of blood by washing with three per cent solution of com- 
pound solution of cresol. The two broken ends are brought into the 
correct position. A strip of adhesive tape of the proper dimension 
is wrapped about the broken bone so that there is formed an en- 
veloping band. Care should be taken not to draw the tape too tight. 
Pigeons and most sorts of hens do not require a special splint, for 
the adhesive tape is stiff enough. In the case of very heavy boned 
fowls, ducks and geese it is preferable to use thin strips of wood or 
an envelope of stiff paper as a foundation for the bandage. Goose 
quills, softened in hot water and split from end to end, are useful as 
splints. In the case of weak bones, one quill is enough, but larger 
ones need two quills, one on each side. The softened quill fits itself 
to the bone and is held in place by a bandage. ‘These quill splints are 
at the same time light and strong and consequently are decidedly 
preferable to other material. 
Fractures of wing bones of pigeons are mostly followed by an im- 
pairment of the ability to fly so that treatment is only indicated in 
valuable individuals which can be utilized as breeders. An adhesive 
tape bandage is applied after removal of the feathers as in the case 
of a fracture of a leg bone, only it is useful to make the bandage 
broader and longer. As soon as the bandage is applied, but while 
yet soft, it is pressed with the fingers into a flat shape correspond- 
ing to that of the wing. The bird is then wrapped with bandages so 
that both wings lie close to the body and the use of even the sound 
one is impossible. 
The bandages are kept in place for about two weeks and in that 
time healing has mostly taken place. To hasten recovery the bird 
is isolated in a cage without perches or in a crate with planer shav- 
ings. In such cases when a bird is confined for a long time, the 
feathers and cage should be thoroughly dusted with insect powder. 
The torments suffered by such a bird from blood sucking insects are 
severe and the restlessness ensuing, retards recovery. 
After removal of the bandages, the bird is to be kept isolated for a 
time from others of his kind for fear that the bone will be broken 
again. 
Swelling of the extremity after bandaging a broken bone indicates 
that the bandage is too tight and that it must be replaced by a better 
fitting one. Often in this case it is too late, and it is better to kill 
