PIGEONS, MANAGEMENT. 
559 
and under parts, including the thighs, are a rich coppery-bronze color 
covered throughout with a bright metallic luster that must be seen to 
be appreciated. 
.Diseases of Pigeons. 
Among the diseases most frequently known to pigeons are the 
following: 
Canker. —Canker is an evil that the squab raiser has sometimes 
to contend with. The cause of it is often ascribed to impure air and 
water, but as it makes its appearance in flocks that have the best of 
care, this evidently is not the true cause. It is diphtheritic in its na- 
ture and the symptoms are high fever, congestion, and swelling of the 
blood-vessels ol the throat, accompanied by little white ulcers which 
it neglected spread very rapidly over the interior of the mouth and 
throat. Like roup, it generally makes its appearance in cold damn 
weather. When a squab once becomes affec ed old and young should 
be at once taken from the breeding room, and the apartment they occu- 
pied disinfected. The old birds should be examined, and if' found 
" dh canker in their mouths it should be removed and the canker spots 
painted with a solution of lemon juice and sugar. Powdered burnt 
alum is also good to pply. The young birds can be treated in the 
same way, but il the canker has spread much about the mouth it hardly 
pays to spend much time over them. The old birds need to be thor- 
oughly cured before turning back into the breeding room. A small 
piece of alum in the drinking water of the old birds will aid in the cure 
and if the whole flock is threatened a piece in the different drinking 
vessels lor a while will act as a preventive. & 
Cholera.— Cholera usually attacks pigeons in hot weather, and 
can generally be attributed to improper food, new wheat, musty corn 
foul screenings, or impure water. It is accompanied by a waterv 
.diarrhea of a greenish color. The plumage is dull, and the bird mopes 
and soon loses its strength. Change its food and place a little pre- 
pared chalk m the water. A lump of quicklime about the size of a 
walnut placed in a two-gallon vessel of water has been found to check 
the discharges. 
Egg Bound— liens, especially young ones, often have trouble in 
vo’dmg or passing their eggs. Frequently the first egg will be voided 
a right, and the hen on the following day gives evidence of distress 
sometimes entirely losing the use of her legs and unable to stand Bv 
taking her in the hands, and feeling of the abdomen, the egg can gen- 
erally be located, and when convinced that this is the cause of the 
trouble nature needs to be assisted. One way to do this is, af ter rubbing 
the passage with vaseline or sweet oil, introducing the finger as far as 
possible, at the same t me being careful not to break the egg- holding 
her abdomen over steam, not so hot as to scald, but so as to thorough^ 
warm and relax the parts as much as possible. After a few minutes 
ol such treatment as this, put her in a quiet pen, and unless a stub- 
born case she will soon pass the egg. Some, at the same time as treat- 
ing with steam, give the hen a small quantity of molasses internally. 
