INFLAMMATION. 



117 



Flatulency manifests itself by a flat, white swelling, 

 and declares itself mostly in the case of young birds, often 

 before fledging. It is caused by impaired digestion, and is 

 also produced by abundant, spoiled, or unsuitable food. 

 When in a mild form it is curable by a cautious pricking of 

 the pimply swelling. This causes the air to escape, and the 

 spot is then tipped with warm oil. Nestlings should also be 

 wrapped in soft, loose wadding. A further remedy is to 

 feed the sick, resp. the old birds, sparingly and frugally. 



Abdominal Inflammation, Inflammation of 

 the Bowels, Mortification, and Gastric In- 

 flammation. — Causes : Catching cold, iced drinking- 

 water, spoiled, or too abundant food, also the consump- 

 tion of seeds which are too fresh, or of wet green-herb. 

 Symptoms : A downward bending of the abdomen at a 

 whipping movement of the tail during evacuation ; inflated 

 and reddened abdomen (in the Hartz, this disease is therefore 

 called the red sickness), and a perceptible projection of the 

 breast-bone, excrements of an evenly blackish-green colour, 

 (instead of being calcinous in part, and in part blackish) 

 and sour or ill-smelling ; ceasing of the desire for food, a full 

 crop, and great thirst. 



This illness is extremely contagious, and therefore trans- 

 ferable. If the watery excrements should, somehow, come 

 in contact with the food, in such cases the illness becomes 

 epidemic. Cure : Isolation of every sick bird, location of the 

 same in an evenly heated room (18-20 degrees of Reaumur or 

 Fahrenheit) ; stopping of all soft food, of soaked seeds, green 

 herbs, and fruit, etc. The diarrhoea must not be stopped, 

 but a drop of simple opium tincture should be given, or 

 some red wine in water. Food: Some poppy-seed, rice 

 water, burned magnesia to be mixed with water and given as a 

 thin pap, and finally a solution of nitrate of silver (1*800). 

 In most cases, however, the birds are lost. 



