J  24  Our  Canaries 
prietary  articles  are  of  value.     On  the  contrary,  some  of  them  are  of  great 
utility  and  value  when  applied  with  discrimination  to  suitable  cases. 
IMPROPER   USE   OF  DRUGS. 
When  using  proprietary  articles  of  any  kind,  and  more  particularly  drugs 
and  medicines,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  adhere  as  far  as  possible  to 
the  instructions  of  the  manufacturer,  who  knows  their  ingredients,  and,  con- 
sequently, ought  to  be  the  best  judge  of  their  application.  Some  of  these 
preparations  appear  to  produce  a  different  effect  when  given  in  the  water  to 
that  observed  when  given  in  the  beak.  We  once  endeavoured  to  give  a  much- 
advertised  remedy  for  asthma  to  a  Canary  by  the  beak,  as  per  instructions, 
but  he  was  such  an  obstinate  old  fellow  that  it  was  practically  impossible  to 
give  it  in  this  manner.  A  proportionate  dose  was  mixed  in  the  drinking  water, 
which  resulted  in  setting  up  a  violent  diarrhoea. 
Medicine  containing  powerful  drugs  of  a  poisonous  nature  should  never 
be  given  direct  in  the  beak.  Neither  should  drugs  which  have  no  affinity 
with  water,  and  are  insoluble,  be  given  in  the  drinking  water  when  an  emulsi- 
fying agent  cannot  be  added.  Of  the  latter  class  of  drugs  the  Tincture  of 
Benzoin,  also  known  as  Friar's  Balsam,  is,  perhaps,  the  most  frequently  misused. 
Its  greatest  effect  is  to  make  a  filthy  mess  in  the  drinkers  which  it  is  difficult  to 
clean  out. 
In  response  to  our  request  for  an  opinion  Dr.  Bowes  very  kindly  wrote  us  : — 
"  I  will  answer  your  question  about  Friar's  Balsam.  I  agree  with  you  its  chief, 
virtue  is  to  make  a  disagreeable  mess.  It  is  composed  of  the  resin  benzoin,  the 
balsams  of  storax,  and  tolu,  aloes,  and  alcohol.  The  first  three  are  insoluble  in 
water,  but  the  aloes  partially  soluble,  so  that  on  adding  it  to  water  the  resin  and 
balsams  are  separated,  and  make  a  sticky  mess,  and  the  aloes  remain  partially  in 
solution.  The  effect  would  be  the  laxative  of  the  aloes  and  the  stimulating 
property  of  the  alcohol.  Given  in  the  drinking  water  of  birds  it  can  only  have  any 
effect  on  lung  conditions  by  its  stimulating  properties,  and  indirectly  by  unloading 
the  digestive  tract.  Both  these  are  useful,  as  will  be  seen  later,  but  this  object 
can  be  equally  well  obtained  without  disfiguring  the  water  vessel."  In  a  word  all 
the  good  to  be  got  from  it  can  be  equally  well  obtained,  and  that  much  more 
agreeably,  by  adding  a  few  drops  of  whisky  and  a  pinch  of  Epsom  Salts  to  the 
water. 
HOW    TO    GIVE  MEDICINES. 
The  actual  method  of  administering  medicines  to  cage  birds  must  necessarily 
vary.  Whenever  possible,  it  should  be  given  in  the  drinking  water,  but  watch 
the  birds  to  see  that  they  really  drink  when  they  approach  the  vessel  for  that 
purpose.  It  is  only  when  absolutely  necessary  that  medicines  should  be  given 
by  the  beak,  as  the  flutter  and  excitement  of  catching  a  sick  bird  two  or  three 
