oil may be used to stretch the vent, when the egg 

 will drop out easily. Care must be taken however 

 in this operation not to break the egg while still 

 inside. After the egg has been expelled always 

 grease the vent with sweet oil to heal and soothe. 

 CONGESTION OF LIVER. 



Causes: Birds which are fed upon rich food or 

 overfed, and not being allowed enough proper exer- 

 cise quite frequently become subject to this disease. 

 Unsuitable food such as mouldy peas, cracked corn 

 or grains having undergone germination to a certain 

 extent will cause a congestion of liver, if fed for any 

 length of time. A weakness of the heart causing an 

 insufficiency of blood to flow into the very impor- 

 tant organ is another cause of liver trouble, but in 

 this case the liver will be pale and somewhat shrunk- 

 en, when from improper food or from feeding upon 

 one article of food too long, the liver becomes dark- 

 ish red and somewhat enlarged. 



Symptoms: The bird has a very lazy appearance 

 eyes are dull, does not care to eat very much, and 

 prefers to lay around having the appearance as 

 though unconcerned about anything. The appearance 

 and character of the excrement voided by such birds 

 is the only true means by which a diagnosis can be 

 made, and it is for that reason very easy to diagnose 

 properly. The droppings in these cases instead of 

 being brownish in color as in health, will be rather 

 tarry looking, slightly looser than normal and at the 

 same time very offensive. Occasionally the droppings 

 will be very watery and black. 



Treatment: Feed the bird upon the best food 

 obtainable, discarding any mouldy food probably 



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