J 22  Our  Canaries 
flesh  is  heir  to.  It  is  rather  limited  to  just  what  is  beheved  will  be  found 
of  the  most  service  to  the  average  fancier,  and  the  remedies  prescribed  are 
also  those  which  experience  teaches  us  will  consistently  give  the  most  satis- 
factory results,  and  are  at  the  same  time  the  safest  in  the  hands  of  the 
novice,  whose  ideas  respecting  powerful  and  dangerous  drugs  are  often  hazy 
and  peculiar.  It  will  then  be  found  that  remedies  which  may  be  popular  in 
some  quarters  are  either  ignored  or  relegated  to  a  lower  position,  simply 
because  an  equally  satisfactory  result  is  to  be  gained  by  a  simpler  and  safer 
means.  In  all  cases  where  more  than  one  remedy  is  suggested  preference  should 
always  be  given  to  the  first  named,  then  if  that  fails  to  give  a  satisfactory 
result  in  a  reasonable  time,  the  others  may  be  tried  in  the  order  named.  It 
will,  however,  always  be  best  in  such  cases  -  to  consider  whether  the  cause  of 
the  complaint  has  been  removed,  or  a  wrong  diagnosis  made. 
AILMENTS   ALPHABETICALLY  ARRANGED. 
ABSCESS. 
Is  better  understood  by  the  term  "boil"  or  "gathering."  Used  in  its 
proper  sense  Canaries  rarely  suffer  from  the  trouble.  It  will  sometimes  be 
found  around  the  oil  gland;  probably  due  to  injudicious  interference  with  the 
gland  under  the  impression  that  it  is  something  unnatural.  When  it  appears 
quite  ripe  it  should  be  pricked  with  a  clean  needle,  the  contents  gently  pressed 
out,  the  place  well  washed  with  a  lotion  of  a  small  teaspoonful  of  boracic 
acid  dissolved  in  half  a  teacup  ful  of  warm  water.  Then  dry  gently  and 
anoint  each  day  with  a  little  zinc  ointment.  The  term  is  often  incorrectly 
applied  to  small  sores  which  are  apt  to  occur  on  the  heads  of  too  closely 
double  crest-bred  crests,  for  which  similar  treatment  may  be  adopted  should 
the  sores  become  troublesome. 
ANiEMIA. 
Is  seen  among  badly-kept  and  cared-for  birds,  and  especially  such  as  are 
hand-reared  by  negligent  persons  or  naturally  by  bad  parents.  It  is  best 
observed  by  an  unusual  lack  of  tint  in  the  legs  and  beak,  and  there  is  a 
weakly  and  delicate  appearance  generally.  The  best  treatment  is  to  add  a 
little  bread  and  milk,  sprinkled  with  soft  sugar,  to  the  diet  every  second  day 
for  a  time,  and  a  mealworm  daily  is  a  good  addition.  Ten  drops  of 
chemical  food  in  each  tablespoonful  of  drinking  water  every  second  day, 
and  three  drops  each  of  tincture  of  gentian,  tincture  of  calumba,  and 
aromatic  sulphuric  acid,  in  the  same  quantity  of  water  on  the  alternate  days 
for  a  week  or  fortnight,  will  be  most  effectual. 
APOPLEXY. 
Canaries  often  succumb  to  this  fatal  complaint.  When  it  is  not  a 
complication  of  some  other  disease  its  onset  and  termination  are  too  sudden 
