228 THE PEACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



arises from inflammation (often accompanied by ulceration) of the 

 bowels. We should suspect this cause when young birds were 

 afiected as they began to feed themselves or after any marked 

 change of food ; or when older ones were attacked when first 

 feeding young; or when the bird almost from the first, and 

 rather suddenly, assumed a huddled-up, rough, woe-begone 

 attitude, which, however, distinguishes most sick pigeons before 

 the end. In cases of this type the remedy is laudanum (see 

 Diarrhoea), and the laird should be fed on pellets of oatmeal 

 mixed with boiled milk. The second class of cases arise from 

 what is truly consumption, or tubercle, and is to be suspected 

 generally when the birds appear to gasp for breath towards the 

 end. Such are practically hopeless, and show a diseased con- 

 stitution. The only remedy would be to give, as soon as old 

 ^ enough, from the nest-pan, a few drops daily of syrup of hjrpo- 

 phosphite of soda. This will act as a preventiv^e in many casesj 

 but we would always try to change or renovate the strain. The 

 third class of cases is much allied, but depends upon a strumous 

 rather than consumptive tendency. These cases afford most 

 room for treatment, and may be suspected when they occur 

 largely at moulting time. They are diagnosed beyond doubt 

 when examination shows scrofulous deposit in the liver, or 

 when accompanied by wing disease, or gouty swellings on the 

 legs, or joints, in the same loft. Here, again, constant doses 

 from infancy of hypophosphite, but in this case choosing syrup 

 of hypophosphite of iron, will be of the greatest benefit; or 

 Parrish's compound Syrup of Phosphates may be given in the 

 same way ; and as the critical time approaches a capsule should 

 be added daily of cod-liver oil. This treatment we have proved 

 in several cases to have worked a wonderful change in the 

 number of squeakers reared in the loft. Plucking the tail is 

 sometimes of great service, but is not suitable for some 

 varieties on account of the plumage coming again with blemishes, 

 as with Almonds and Fantails. 



