174 
Our  Canaries 
THE  TREATMENT. 
Steaming  may  be  resorted  to  as  a  first  aid,  and  unless  it  is  a  severe 
case  nothing  else  will  be  necessary.  Before  touching  the  hen,  get  a  pint  jug 
— it  is  the  best  all-round  article  for  the  purpose— half-filled  with  very  hot 
water,  and  tie  loosely  over  the  top  a  piece  of  gauze— pieces  of  common  butter 
or  cheese  cloths  will  serve  the  purpose  admirably,  and  may  usually  be  begged 
from  the  "  domestic  authorities  " — pressing  it  down  a  little  in  the  top  of  the  jug, 
so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  nest  in  which  the  bird  can  sit.  Now  test  the  heat  of 
the  rising  steam  by  holding  a  sensitive  part  of  the  hand  or  arm  upon  the  gauze. 
The  bared  elbow  will  afford  the  best  test,  and  the  steam  should  not  be  hotter 
than  the  elbow  can  comfortably  bear. 
Now  warm  a  little  castor  oil,  and,  after  gently  catching  the  bird,  blow  aside 
the  feathers  at  the  vent,  and  with  a  small  feather  or  camel-hair  pencil  place  one 
drop  of  the  warm  oil  upon  the  vent.  After  a  few  seconds  place  the  bird  on  top 
of  the  water  jug,  as  though  she  were  in  a  nest.  Release  her  from  your  hold,  but 
keep  the  hand  over  her  to  prevent  her  struggling  away.  Before  placing  her  on 
the  jug,  arrange  her  plumage  so  as  to  give  the  steam  full  play  over  the  vent  and 
abdomen. 
OBSTINATE  CASES. 
Sometimes  the  egg  will  be  laid  in  a  minute  or  so,  but  if  it  is  not,  allow 
her  to  remain  over  the  steam  for  five  minutes — this  is  why  one  must  carefully 
test  the  heat  of  the  steam  before  commencing,  so  as  to  avoid  the  least  danger 
of  scalding  the  bird — then  remove  her,  and  give  2  drops  of  a  mixture  of  equal 
parts  of  glycerine  and  brandy  in  the  beak,  and  place  her  in  a  cosy  nest 
in  a  small  travelling  cage,  and  put  her  in  a  warm  place  near  the  fire  until 
she  is  relieved.  If  she  has  not  laid  in  a  couple  of  hours,  repeat  the  treatment 
all  over  again,  but  instead  of  dropping  more  oil  in  the  vent,  smear  it  over 
with  a  mixture  of  vaseline  and  belladonna  extract,  which  any  chemist  will 
prescribe  on  being  informed  of  the  intended  purpose.  But  in  the  case  of  the 
hen  laying  soon  after  she  is  first  placed  upon  the  jug,  return  her  to  her 
proper  cage,  and  give  10  drops  of  glycerine  and  30  of  brandy  in  the  drinking 
vessel  for  the  next  two  days. 
EGG-BINDING   SCIENTIFICALLY  CONSIDERED. 
For  the  following  excellent  exposition  of  the  subject  our  thanks  are  again 
due  to  Dr.  T.  A.  Bowes,  of  Herne  Bay. 
"A.  Causes  Arising  in  the  Hen.— The  egg  having  been  fully  formed 
in  the  oviduct,  reaches  the  lowest  portion  of  this  organ  ready  for  expulsion. 
At  the  time  of  laying,  certain  forces  are  brought  into  play  against  certam 
resistances.  The  junction  of  the  oviduct  with  the  cloaca  is  narrower  than 
the  circumference  of  the  egg,  as  is  also  the  vent  orifice.  The  first  resistances 
therefore  are : 
