112 



CANARY BIRDS. 



the abdomen, which should be slightly receding, is of a 

 yellowish-white colour. 



Catarrh (of the Nose, Mouth, and Jaw). — The causes 

 are : draughts, iced drinking-water, sudden lowering of tem- 

 perature, and catching cold in general. The indications of 

 illness are : sneezing, and a yellow, slimy efflux from the 

 nostrils, which settles in a crust ; also a tremulous move- 

 ment of the head and expectoration of phlegm. Means of 

 cure : Warmth and dryness, inhalation of the vapour of tar 

 (tar 1, hot water 100, to be put into a small bottle and held 

 under the beak of the bird), inserting good fat by means of 

 a small brush, cleansing the beak and jaw with a solution 

 of chloric acid (1-100), cleansing the nostrils and the beak 

 with a feather dipped into salt water, and rinsing with oil 

 of almonds. In popular diction every disorder of the 

 breathing-organs of a bird is called " Pipps." The remedies 

 prescribed by the ignorant are to scrape the heated and dry 

 tongue of the poor bird with a pen-knife or a piece of whale- 

 bone, or to pinch the tip of it off w 7 ith one's finger-nails. 

 This procedure is, of course, only a useless, fruitless cruelty, 

 and should never be resorted to. 



Catarrh of the Windpipe (also Inflammation of the 

 Throat.) — The causes are the same as above, and the signs 

 are hoarseness or complete loss of voice, cough, quickened 

 breathing attended by a rattle in the throat. Remedy : 

 Doses of sweet substances or liquids, such as honey or sugar- 

 candy and pure liquorice juice; further, a mixture of 

 ammoniac (J gr., honey, 3 grs., fennel water, 10 grs.) ; 

 several drops in a teaspoon several times a day ; extract of 

 a dulcamara (1*500), two or three drops twice a day ; also 

 a weak fomentation of "wood-vinegar" or tar (see above), 

 the vapour of which is to be inhaled ; tepid water; brushing 

 out, deep down into the throat, as well as the nostrils, with 



