336 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Treatment in sickness. 



Cold and catarrh — Is commonly met with among pheasants and 

 other gallinaceous birds, both young and adult ; it is mostly induced by 

 exposure to wet and draughts. If detected early, and causes removed, 

 the patient quickly recovers ; but if allowed to run on it assumes a puru- 

 lent form and generally proves fatal : as the purulent catarrh is infectious, 

 the affected bird should be killed, and the place thoroughly washed out 

 and fumigated. A small quantity of raw ginger and a little treacle 

 should be given to the bird suffering from simple cold. 



Rheumatism, cramp, and stiffness of joints are also brought about 

 by wet and cold ; perfect dryness, warmth and good feeding are the only 

 remedies that can be recommended. These are preventible diseases, and 

 if proper attention be paid to sanitation and hygiene, no trouble need be 

 apprehended from them. 



Gape is a most troublesome malady, generally affecting the 

 chickens ; it is caused by the presence of a kind of parasite in the 

 trachea of the gallinaceous birds. If not removed and checked early,, the 

 parasites multiply immensely and cause death by suffocation. By 

 way of treatment, spirit of turpentine may be applied to the wind-pipe 

 by means of a feather ; the spirit of turpentine when properly applied 

 kills the parasites, which are presently expelled in a fit of coughing 

 induced by the application. The parasites may be mechanically removed 

 by a loop of horse hair passed into the trachea. The most successful 

 remedy, however, appears to be the vapour of carbolic acid ; its applica- 

 tion is easy, and may be managed by placing the afflicted bird in a 

 small wooden box with open top, over which a piece of cloth is stretched, 

 the vapour may be produced by pouring a few drops of carbolic acid 

 on a small earthen gamla, previously made hot for the purpose. Much 

 suffocation will be caused; but this need not be feared, as the bird 

 will recover immediately on being ]et out in the open air. One 

 application is generally enough to cure the disease. It is recommended 

 by competent authorities that the worms after removal should be 

 burnt, and the dead bodies of the bird affected by them should be 

 similarly treated. 



Inflammation of the eyes is also a troublesome complaint, afflicting 

 both young and old birds. It generally breaks out in an epidemic form 

 during the summer and the rains, more especially the former; the 

 orbital area becomes swollen and tumified, and the eyes glued together 

 with a thickened discharge. The patient should be removed from the 

 pheasantry and placed in a clean and roomy cage by itself ; the eyes 

 should be washed with tepid water, in which about 5 grains of 

 alum may be dissolved, and having gently wiped them dry with a bit 

 of sponge, a few drops of nitrate of silver (4 grains to an ounce of 

 water) should be applied. This treatment will have to be followed 

 several mornings before recovery takes place. The bird should be fed 

 by hand, otherwise it will die of hunger and thirst : milk and egg 

 treated in the same way as recommended for feeding chicks (p. 334) ; 

 satoo prepared with finely minced meat ; Indian-corn and other nutri- 

 tious grains crushed and prepared with vegetables; raw ginger and 

 treacle, &c— should constitute the diet of the birds while suffering from 

 this and similar ailments. 



