152 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
gray or whitish appearance. Without treatment, death is sure to come 
quickly. This was formerly a common disease among fancy fishes, but 
for some unknown reason has largely subsided, we hope permanently. 
TREATMENT IN Fry. Innumerable experiments have been tried to 
cure this devastating disease, but without consistent results. So fatal is 
it considered by many expert fanciers that when they find a few affected 
fishes they destroy them, together with perhaps thousands of their fellows 
in the same tank without attempting a cure, throwing out bad and appar- 
ently good alike. The tank is then disinfected with strong salt water or 
more powerful germicides. The great trouble is that any chemical which 
will kill the vegetal parasites is also very apt to kill the delicate fry. How- 
ever, it is almost certain a cure can be found, and it is a great pity to 
neglect an opportunity for experimenting. Cases have been cured, but 
exact data is lacking. Nevertheless we have two experimental points to 
start from. The first and more likely is with permanganate of potash. A 
well-known and thoroughly reliable breeder claims to have cured over 
one thousand fry by making the water a “pale purple” with this chemical, 
leaving the fish in it. To gauge a permanganate solution by color is most 
difficult. If one looks through 12 inches of water, the color will be 12 
times as deep as through 1 inch. We would suggest trying % grain by 
weight to the gallon. This just flavors the water. (Tasting without swal- 
lowing will do no harm.) If fishes not yet affected are removed from 
their diseased companions and placed in such a solution for half a day, it 
is reasonably sure that many if not all could be saved, taking care, of 
course, not to return to an infected tank. Here it might be repeated to 
advantage that small fry should be lifted with a spoon and transferred 
carefully, avoiding pouring or any violent movements. 
The other basis for experiment is with sulphate of copper in ex- 
tremely diluted form—about 1 to 10,000 or weaker. Copper is fatal to all 
forms of life and therefore the treatment should only be temporary. We 
would suggest finding a strength that would kill the fry in an hour, then 
use that strength for 15-minute treatments for remaining fishes. Reports 
of cures by copper are current, but details are entirely lacking. 
TREATMENT Larcer FisHes. This form of gill congestion has also 
been considered necessarily fatal, but such is not the case. The fish should 
be placed in strong salt water (3% ounces to the gallon) until it rolls 
over from exhaustion. It is then transferred to a tank of gently running 
water which overflows. It appears as though the salt loosens the disease- 
germs and the running water carries them off while they are weakened. 
If this is a correct theory the cure could no doubt be hastened by pouring 
fresh water in the under side of the gills after the salt treatment, thus 
also helping to revive the fish. Treatment is repeated daily until improve- 
ment is noticed. 
Eye Inflammation. The protruding eyes of telescope fishes are quite 
subject to injury, especially against the sides of cans in travel. Painstaking 
