Our  Canaries 
139 
pea,  half  as  much  sulphate  of  iron,  and  six  drops  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  in  the 
same  quantity  of  water  every  second  day  for  a  week,  then  missed  a  week,  and 
repeated  the  following  week  if  necessary,  should  enable  the  bird  to  pull  itself 
together  on  a  proper  diet  and  hygienic  treatment. 
LOSS  OF  VOICE  AND  HOARSENESS. 
The  latter  is  generally  the  forerunner  of  the  former  and  is  nearly  always  due 
to  cold  draughts,  overheated  air  and  extreme  fluctuations.  These  causes  must  be 
removed.  Add  a  little  bread  and  milk  sprinkled  with  soft  sugar  to  the  diet.  In 
each  tablespoonful  of  drinking  water  add  three  drops  each  of  Liq :  Ammon :  Acet ; 
and  Oxy:  Squillse. ;  two  of  Sweet  Spirits  of  Nitre  ;  and  five  of  Glycerine,  for  a  few 
days.  An  inhalation  morning  and  evening  for  a  day  or  two  in  the  vapour 
cabinet  illustrated  on  page  107,  will  also  be  of  great  benefit.  For  inhalation  use 
either  the  mixture  recommended  for  bronchitis,  or  twenty  drops  of  Friar's 
Balsam  and  six  of  eucalyptus  oil  in  two  tablespoonfuls  of  water.  Guard  against 
chills  afterwards. 
MITES,  EFFECT  OF. 
These  pests  have  been  fully  dealt  with.  There  is,  however,  one  effect  of  their 
presence  whilst  the  birds  are  moulting  which  is  usually  ascribed  to  another 
cause.  This  is  the  production  of  imperfect  feathers  as  shown  in  our  sketch. 
It  is  probably  due  to  the  mites  piercing  the  quills  of  the  feathers  and  extracting 
blood  close  to  the  base.  To  prevent  the  appearance  of  such  imperfect  plumage 
the  course  is  quite  obvious. 
MOULT  OBSTRUCTED. 
It  sometimes  happens  that  after  a  bird  has  got  well  into  moult,  a  sudden 
chill,  from  a  considerably  lowered  temperature  or  exposure  to  draught,  causes 
it  to  stop,  and  to  exhibit  signs  of  serious  illness.  This  is  called  being  "stuck 
in  moult,"  and  if  not  speedily  relieved  the  bird  v/ill  either  die,  or  have  its 
health  and  future  career  thoroughly  ruined.  It  should  be  given  a  vapour 
bath  morning  and  evening  for  a  day  or  two,  using  only  plain  water  in  the 
vaporiser  (see  page  107),  and  kept  in  a  quite  warm  equable  temperature 
until  relieved,  A  little  bread  and  milk  sprinkled  with  sugar,  and  twenty  drops 
of  Brandy  and  five  of  Sweet  Spirits  of  Nitre  in  each  ounce  of  drinking  water 
is  the  only  other  treatment  needed, 
PIP, 
A  relic  of  old  times,  and  a  complaint  which  almost  invariably  exists  only 
in  a  vivid  imagination.  If  the  oil  gland  should  really  appear  a  little  swollen 
and  inflamed,  smear  it  slightly  for  a  day  or  two  with  carbolised  vaseline,  or  cold 
cream,  and  add  a  pinch  of  Epsom  salts  to  the  drinking  water.  Do  not  interfere 
any  further  with  the  oil  gland. 
