146 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
of appetite, swelling' of the lower parts, and falling- away at 
tlie breast, are among the symptoms : a bread and milk diet, 
with seed about tv/ice a week • no water on the seed days ^ 
juice of vihite turnip to drink, and a chili or blnck pepper- 
corn occasionally, are the best remedies ; if taken in good 
time, this disease can generally be cured, and when not, the 
patient will often live many years with proper care and 
attention. 
Convulsions, or Fits. — The lories are most subject to 
these : take the bird up immediately ; open the beak, and 
put into it a few drops of cold water ; if this does not restore 
it to consciousness, plunge it suddenly into a cold bath ; this 
failing', draw out one of the tail-feathers, and lay the 
Eatient on some cold substance, such as stone or iron : you 
ave then done all you can for it. If recovery takes place, 
wrap the bird in flannel, and put it in a warm place until 
thoroughly dry ; afterwards feed it for some time as directed 
for asthma ; and give it a few drops of spirits of nitre 
occasionally in its watei*. 
CosTiVENESs may be detected by frequent and useless 
efforts of the bird to void its excrements. Itemedies: a 
bread and milk diet, with a few shreds of saffron boiled in 
the milk ; if this is not effective, give about four drops of 
castor oil, and introduce into the vent the head of a large 
pin dipped in linseed oil. 
DiARRHCEA, or ScouRiNG. — The caiise of this disease 
is generally some sudden change of diet, or stale or improper 
food, such as unripe fruit, &c. ; the symptoms are frequent 
evacuations of fluid chalky matter, which adheres to the 
vent and lower part of the body, and causes great irritation 
in the parts. Itemedies : keep the bird unusually warm, 
feed it with soaked bread and Indian corn boiled in a decoc- 
tion of lettuce seed ; anoint the irritated parts with palm 
oil, and give water impregnated with iron to drink, mixed 
with a small proportion of milk ; chilies are also good in 
this complaint, and the yolk of hard boiled egg. 
Diseased Feet often result from want of attention to 
cleanliness, and sometimes from what we should be inclined 
to call gout, or rheumatism, occasioned by cold settling in 
the extremities. In this state the bird is unable to grasp 
the perch properly, and becomes restless and uneasy; it 
