ther on, remains still and decomposing, throws off 

 irritating gases, poisons, etc., into the blood of the 

 bird. 



Treatment: The best treatment is to remove as 

 much of the undigested food as ])ossible, after which 

 administer a dose of Castor Oil. This will carry the 

 remainder of the poisonous food downward and heal 

 the irritated mucous membrane as it goes. 

 MOPING. 



Most pigeon lofts contain certain birds which 

 never seem to have their full spirit, but are always 

 moping about. This moping, as it is called, may be 

 due to some of the diseases mentioned in this book, 

 but if the excrement voided has its natural appear- 

 ance and consistency, their is no fever or indication 

 of disease. This moping can often be cured by pull- 

 ing out the tail feathers. Take hold of the tail and 

 with one sudden pull extract the whole tail. The 

 bird will usually begin to improve immediately 

 afterward. 



CANKER IN THROAT. 



Canker is a disease of very common occurrence, 

 afflicting, as it were, all varieties of pigeons and is 

 one of the most dreaded diseases all fanciers must 

 contend with. It is an exceedingly contagious dis- 

 ease and often when one loft is infected with it, 

 others in the same neighborhood are likewise infect- 

 ed. It usually appears in an epidemic form and 

 many birds die each winter from this terrible disease. 

 It greatly resembles Diphtheria, and some authors 

 claim it is the same. 



Symptoms: When canker begins to form in the 

 mouth, the mucous membranes soon begin to grow 



37 



