Diseases of Pouters. 
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as that scourge of the human race called by the same name. It can often be alleviated, and a bird’s 
life prolonged. Occasionally there do appear cases of real cures ; but as a rule it is hopeless ; and 
there not being the sacredness in this case which of course attaches to human life, we doubt if 
recovery is much to be desired, since it would probably result in handing down the diseased 
constitution to others. The only treatment we have ever found at all generally successful is the 
administration of cod-liver oil floated on milk ; but it only deserves to be called a palliative. The 
symptoms are a rapid wasting away, more or less accompanied by panting or other signs of 
disease of the lungs. 
There is another disease, not altogether peculiar to Pouters, but which seems to attack them 
more than others, carrying off many birds every season. That it is one development of a cold is 
certain, and it has a character in some respects resembling influenza ; but beyond that we can say 
little, nor has it any definite name — many people knowing it simply as “the head disease.” It 
chiefly attacks young birds just previous to, or during the process of moulting their nestling 
feathers ; from which it has often appeared to us very analogous to distemper in the dog. The 
symptoms are profuse discharge in the nostrils, and often in the eyes, the former being often filled 
with matter of a gelatinous consistence, though at first the secretion is watery. Sometimes this is 
so plentiful that the poor bird is nearly choked ; and with these symptoms is almost always 
conjoined considerable disorder of the bowels, shown by the droppings being of a green and slimy 
character, and the bird refusing to feed. We are sorry to say we can give no specific cure, having 
repeatedly found that the course of treatment which seemed to cure one pigeon had not the 
slightest effect upon another ; but we have followed all the following methods of treatment, and 
have found each at times beneficial. hardly know which to advise in preference ; but it wiil 
be seen that we chiefly depend on assisting the bowels to carry off what we believe is a general 
inflammatory condition of the whole system, and would upon the whole try the various modes of 
treatment in the following order. We would put the bird as soon as it was noticed in a warmish 
pen free from draught, giving to drink half a pint of water in which half a tea-spoonful of Epsom 
salts is dissolved, and no other drink till all this had been imbibed. Feed on tares, rice, a little 
old wheat, and oatmeal cake broken small. On the third day cease the salts, but if the bird has 
not taken it put a pinch down its throat. Some get better with this simple treatment, as shown 
by the discharge decreasing, returning appetite, and the droppings assuming a more healthy 
character as soon as the salts have ceased to act. Others are entirely unaffected ; and in that 
case we would give jalap — say half an ordinary jalap pill — every second day for a week. This 
will often succeed when salts have failed. The next expedient will be to give two capsules 
of castor-oil every second day for six days, with milk to drink instead of water, the food in any 
case being as before stated ; but if the bird will not eat, make some pellets of rice boiled in milk 
mixed with oatmeal, and give say ten the size of a bean twice daily, rolling them in fine gravel to 
assist digestion. In all cases, if the motions assume a more healthy character it is a hopeful sign ; 
and more especially if the bird, after having refused its food, begins to feed. A little hempseed 
sometimes assists this return of appetite ; but should be given sparingly and only of the newest 
and best quality. When all the preceding means fail, we have sometimes known success follow the 
free use of sulphur; feeding the bird on pills made as before directed, but with the addition of one 
fourth part powdered sulphur. In any case, should the bird be attacked before it has moulted its 
tail, or if an old bird, the tail (but not the flights) should be plucked ; when the sudden impetus 
given to the circulation of the blood, through the growth of the new feathers, often assists the 
cure. In most cases, if the droppings entirely lose a green and slimy appearance, and regain a 
firm and healthy character, the bird recovers. 
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