DISEASES OP CANARIES. 
to. Put as much, magnesia as you can pile on a sixpence into 
a gill of •water, which place in his drinking-glass. Renew the 
dose every morning till the bowels are free, and the inflammation 
subsides. If the bird should be v&nj bad, give him two drops 
of castor-oil. It may be poured down his throat through a 
quill, but by this method the oil may be wasted, and the surest 
way of administering it is as follows : — take away his 
water for about two hours, and then return it to him 
with the dose of castor-oil floating on the surface. He 
will be thirsty, and along with his first draught of water, 
the oil will be swallowed without difficulty. See that he 
has plenty of sand at the bottom of his cage; the sharp 
little grains will materially assist his impaired digestion. Feed 
him on bread and milk, on which you may sprinkle a little 
maw-seed. Put a small pinch of salt into his drinking-glass 
every morning for a week or two. 
Sweating is a disease peculiar to hen-birds, and attacks them 
while they are sitting on their eggs more than at any other 
time. It is important that it should be looked to, as other- 
wise the young brood may be weakened. There is no mistaking 
this disease, for when the bird has it, the belly-feathers are 
always saturated with perspiration. As weakness is the chief 
cause, nourishing food should be administered. Induce it to 
take exercise, and every morning wash the bird in lukewarm 
salt and water, afterwards rinsing it with clear water of the 
same warmth, that the salt may be washed from the feathers. 
Let the bird dry again as quickly as possible. 
The yellow gall is a small ulcer that forms on the head 
or near the eyes. While the pimple is very minute, it 
may be cured by giving it for a time choice food. If, how- 
ever, the tubercle should grow to the size of a peppercorn, 
it should be cut off, and the wound anointed with lard or fresh 
butter. 
Sometimes, after moulting, the canary will lose his voice. 
Feed him for a few days on the same food as you would give to 
a fledgling. If your bird should catch cold in his head, and 
take to sneezing, pass a small feather through his nostrils, 
hang him in a warm corner, and give bim comforting food. 
Birds will occasionally have fits. Pull out one of the smaller 
tail-feathers, which will draw blood, and most likely recover 
him. It is less cruel, however, and quite as effective, to plunge 
him for a moment in cold water. Don’t leave him until you 
see that he resorts to his water trough for drink. For two or 
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