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CANARY BIRDS. 



Diarrhoea (Intestinal Catarrh).— Causes: With old birds 

 it usually results from sour or spoiled food, but, in the case 

 of young ones, it is often caused by catching cold. Symp- 

 toms : Whitish or yellow, slimy excretions, cleaving together 

 of the feathers at the lower body, or even an inflammation 

 of the posterior aperture. Remedies : Withdrawal of green 

 herb, warmth, spreading some warm oil or balm of nutmeg 

 over the abdomen, feeding with poppy-seed ; and for each 

 bird one drop of tincture of opium, given daily in the drink- 

 ing-water. In cases of dysentery, which latter shows itself by a 

 strong pressure and by a wagging movement of the lower part 

 of the body, and slimy or bloody excretions, two or three drops 

 of ricinus-oil with a thin oatmeal gruel, also well diluted tinc- 

 ture of rhubarb (one to three drops to a medicine glassful 

 of water, daily), and an oil-clyster are given. The feathers 

 at the abdomen, which are cleaving together, must be washed 

 with warm water, whereupon the inflamed parts are anointed 

 with almond-oil. 



CalcillOUS Diarrhoea. — Causes: Bacteria and other 

 microscopic vegetable parasites, which are easily transferable. 

 Symptoms : Strong diarrhoea, with excretions of a thin, 

 whitish-yellow phlegm, which, later, turn to a greenish 

 colour and strongly soil the abdomen, want of appetite, 

 a dejected attitude, drooping wings, debility, and sometimes 

 vomiting of a thin, greenish pulp, strong thirst, trembling, 

 strongly ruffled plumage, dizziness, and death amidst convul- 

 sions. Preventative measures : Strict isolation of every sick 

 bird j a most careful disinfection by means of chloric water 

 and extreme cleanliness. When the disease has broken out, 

 the birds which still remain healthy should be given a solu- 

 tion of sulphuric oxid of iron (one to three drops in water), 

 during a fortnight. Cure: The same solution as above, 

 three or four times a day. At Andreasberg they give 



