WORMS, (Intestinal.) 



There is a class of pigeons who, though they 

 eat heartily, never seem to thrive but lay around 

 lazily and have no ambition. If no other disease 

 can be discovered that ails them, they undoubtedly 

 have Worms." Only one variety afflicts pigeons and 

 they are a parasite long and slender, averaging in 

 size from an eighth of an inch to several inches in 

 length. They infect the intestmes only and seldom 

 migrate into the large bowel unless carried there by 

 the excrement, and will not remain there but be 

 expelled with the droppings. The presence of these 

 parasites set up an inflammation of the intestines 

 causing the worst form of Enteritis of a chronic 

 nature. The bird eats heartily but still emaciates 

 gradually, finally dying if assistance comes not. The 

 diagnosis can never be fully made without examining 

 the excrement, in fact it is the only means of mak- 

 ing a true diagnosis. If these Worms are not 

 discovered upon the first examination, look time and 

 again for they are voided only occasionally, and not 

 in very large numbers at one time often only one 

 can be found. 



"Treatment: Soon as these parasites have been 

 discovered^ feed the bird very lightly giving only a 

 little light food such as soaked bread, and administer 

 one-fourlh to one-half grain of Santonin once or 

 twice a day for several days. Then follow with a 

 brisk cathartic such as Castor Oil. They will usually 

 all be exterminated after the first treatment. I once 

 held a post mortem examination on one of my birds 

 immediately after death relieved it and was astonished 

 when I cut into the intestines. There were worms 



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