376 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
more successfully, and even a deformed or crooked limb made straight. Should the case be a 
fracture, the two ends of the bone should be properly adjusted, after which a strip of calico is to 
be wrapped round the place, and over this a thin strip of gutta-percha which has been dipped into 
boiling water until perfectly soft. Two should perform the operation, one holding the bird, and 
seeing that the position of the limb is not disturbed, while the other applies the calico and gutta- 
percha, gently pressing the latter while soft till it exactly fits the limb, and joins into one piece. 
In case of a curvature or deformity to be straightened, the shank will be held in the required 
position till the gutta-percha hardens, which is quickest done if cold water be poured over it. In 
about a fortnight the fracture will be united, or the limb will be straightened, as the case may be ; 
when the splint may be taken off by applying to it a hot wire, taking great care not to burn the 
leg. In case of a fracture, particular care is necessary not to cause a fresh one while removing the 
splint. If gutta-percha be not at hand, a pretty good splint for a fracture may be made with 
paper, which after putting on the limb is well soaked with white of egg. As soon as this hardens 
the splint will be sufficiently stiff, but an appliance of this kind is of no use for a deformity. 
Going Light. — This is the usual name amongst pigeon fanciers for what seems to us 
to be really either consumption or the result of enlarged liver or internal tumour. Its general 
treatment (so far as we can give any) has been given at page 183 of the chapter on Tumblers, 
and consists briefly of a change of food from peas and tares, which require a good digestion, to 
wheat, rice, barley without the husk, or dari, with a little hempseed ; also plucking the tail, 
and giving pills made of oatmeal and sulphur with cod-liver oil, with boiled milk to drink instead 
of water. We cannot say a large proportion of birds recover. It is sometimes beneficial to give 
a jalap pill first of all. 
[It is probable that many cases might be prevented by giving the young birds a small capsule 
of cod-liver oil twice a week for a month before the usual time of attack, with two or three drops 
daily (given by dropping on a pill of bread or meal) of syrup of hypophosphite of iron. We have 
known a marked increase of success in raising young ones in several cases after following this 
prescription, and the hypophosphites are known to be of great benefit for similar complaints in 
human beings. Parrish’s Chemical Food might be given instead, but we should prefer the simple 
syrup of iron in most cases. — En.] 
Gorging. — An affection of Pouters \ see page 127. Some pigeons besides Pouters have a 
tendency to dilate the crop with air to an extent that materially injures their health. In some 
cases this can be cured by giving a small quantity of powdered charcoal ; in others it is necessary, 
besides this, to make two small apertures close to each other, which is easily done by taking up a 
small portion of the crop and passing a large needle right through. 
Gout.— This has been described in the treatment given at page 91. [We may add to Mr. 
Fulton’s treatment that, even in the hard and comparatively hopeless stage, we have recommended 
with success, after turpentine had failed, painting the affected places with tincture of iodine, and 
the internal administration of very small doses of iodide of potassium. — Ed.] 
INSECTS. — We believe all pigeons have insects among the plumage, more or less; but these 
do not increase so as to annoy them unless kept dirty, or too long without a bath. 1 he use of 
coarse pine sawdust, as recommended in the early part of this work, will keep fleas and other 
objectionable pests away ; but, as just said, the small insect known as the feather-louse is never 
