DISEASES OF PARROTS. 29 
not argue the matter beyond this ; brash out his house, and 
supply him with fresh mill-stones. 
Some little care is requisite in the preparation of bread and 
milk for a parrot. It must not be sloppy. Hot the least 
particle of what is left of the previous day’s supply must be 
allowed to remain in the food pot. It will indeed be as well, espe- 
cially during the summer months, to scald out the food vessel each 
day, and wipe it thoroughly dry. Looseness of the bowels is the 
commonest and most dangerous ill that parrot flesh is heir to, and 
nothing causes it sooner than sour food. By the bye, avoid zinc 
food- vessels, — they are poisonous. 
Another of the diseases to which parrots are subject, is 
asthma. This either arises from an undue allowance of heating- 
food, or through cold. This last is a matter that requires special 
mention. A choice exotic bird should be carefully placed in the 
sunniest nook, and scrupulously screened from cold draughts ; but 
these unfortunate natives of the hottest countries in the world 
are too often left hanging before open windows on chill autumn 
nights, and placed before chinks and crevices through which 
there is sufficient draught to turn a windmill. It should be 
borne in mind that the best treatment goes for nothing unless 
you keep them snug and warm in chilly weather. 
The symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath and a fre- 
quent disposition of the bird to gape. If the attack is but 
slight, it may be cured by altering the diet, taking care that a 
good portion of his food is of a moist and warm character. If 
the bird is very ill, make a stiff paste of boiling milk and wheat 
flour, and add to every table-spoonful half a dozen grains of 
cayenne pepper. Give him nothing else for at least three days. 
Insufficient attention as regards cleanliness will induce bad 
feet. The bird’s perch should be moveable, and scraped and 
scalded at least once a week. The feet should be frequently 
cleansed with a piece of flannel and Windsor soap. A covered 
perch may be substituted for the bare one until the bird’s feet 
heal. They are subject to a disease which seems much the same 
sort of thing as gout with us. The legs and feet swell, and the 
bird is unable to grasp its perch properly. Like gout, it is very 
difficult to cure, and the best remedy I know of is to place the 
bird in a smaller cage, and stand him up to the thighs in 
water, — two parts boiling and one part cold. Let him remain 
in this warm bath fifteen minutes, then take him out, dry his 
feet before the fire ; do this daily. If he has sores on his feet, 
apply to them a little loaf sugar. 
