Diseases oe Pigeons . 
usually best in the early stage, and painting with spirits of turpentine when more developed 
into a cheesy tumour, other modes of treatment may also be suggested. For instance, in the later 
stage, when matter seems formed, we have known successful results follow plucking the wing nearly 
bare of all except the flights, slinging it as just described, and anointing regularly with citron oint- 
ment over the tumour. Painting with tincture of iodine will also often effect a cure; and sometimes 
cases will get well of themselves. Again, there are cases of evident disease in one or even two 
joints, in which no swelling can be discovered. In such a case all that can be done is to sliner the 
wing, and perhaps hold the joint under a cold-water tap for a few minutes every day. In nearly all 
cases a cock is useless for breeding while suffering from any form of wing-disease ; but a hen is not 
necessarily unfertile, though the complaint usually denotes a scrofulous taint which should make 
caution desirable in perpetuating the strain. 
Mr. Caridia considers that wing-disease is generally of two kinds. The first kind, denoted by 
a hard swelling on one or other of the joints, he believes to be immediately caused, whatever the 
original constitutional tendency, by the bird striking its wing against obstructions; and states that 
if taken in time it can almost invariably be cured by simply plucking all the flights of the wing 
affected, both outer and inner, and also the feathers immediately surrounding the hard swelling. 
The bird will be for the time incapable of flight, and when the feathers are re-grown will generally 
be well ; but care should be taken to remove all such corners or obstructions as may have caused 
the malady. The other kind is where the tumour is soft, containing a viscid fluid. This he 
believes to be caused by the bird not having enough flying exercise, and the oil which Nature 
provides to lubricate the joints not being consequently absorbed, accumulates, and forms the 
tumour. In this case also he advises the wing to be stripped ; but the blister must also be 
pierced, or a small seton inserted as long as the fluid accumulates. As the feathers re-grow, they 
carry off the superabundant secretion, and the bird will generally be perfectly well when the wing 
is again properly furnished. 
WOUNDS. — These should always be attended to whenever perceived, even if only scratches of 
the skin, since, if neglected, they may lead to festering sores or canker ; very frequently being the 
immediate exciting cause of the latter breaking out, when there is any previous tendency to it. If 
clean and recent, nothing better can be done than to pluck enough feathers (should it be 
necessary), to leave the place bare, and apply a little zinc ointment once or twice. If the 
wound be older, dirty, bleeding, or look at all unkindly, it should be washed with Condy’s Red 
Fluid diluted with water, and the ointment applied an hour or two later, or when the bleeding (if 
any), has ceased. 
B 
Fig. 70. 
