CUTANEOUS ULCERS. 



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Fractures, too, heal with a surprising facility in the 

 case of birds. The simple fracture above the ankle wants 

 nothiug but rest in order to heal again completely. It will, of 

 course, be better to pull the two ends of the bone into their 

 proper position — they will then be inserted between two 

 smooth pieces of wood (according to Zuern, slips of paste- 

 board, or, better still, thin Norwegian splints should be 

 used). These will be tied with a firm but soft thread and 

 some pulp of gypsum, or some thick, moderately warm 

 joiner's glue (or, if you have not this in the house, gum) 

 will be spread over the whole ; the bird should be held fast 

 until it is dry, and then be put into a narrow cage. In 

 about a month the bandage may be carefully removed by 

 softening it with water. If the fracture be at the wing, the 

 feathers must, of course, be cut off, but in no case should 

 they be plucked out. Zuern advises to tie a woollen 

 bandage over the injured part, to cover this with a linen 

 band steeped in the solution, and to spread some powdered 

 chalk over the latter. This kind of bandage is said to offer 

 the advantage of being adhesive, and yet easily cut off. 



Ulcers. — Hard ulcers are softened by placing upon 

 them a warm poultice with some grease. A very much 

 inflamed, hot and reddened swelling, will be cooled by an 

 application of lead water, and, subsequently, a warm poul- 

 tice. A mature, suppurating ulcer may usually be emptied 

 by means of an incision, without incurring any danger. 

 After squeezing it out, it should be covered with salad oil, 

 mixed with carbolic acid (1*200 Prov. oil). 



Cutaneous Ulcers. — Principally forming at the head, 

 near the beak or the eyes. Such an ulcer is neither hard 

 nor soft, and is filled with a skinny compound. It either 

 spreads out very much, or it grows deeper, and, in either 

 case, it causes great inconvenience and pain to the bird. 



