INTRODUCTION. 
21 
same time, must by corrected be healing food. Birds in this 
state, generally do nothing but drink; therefore plenty of 
boiled milk should be given them, as it nourishes them, as well 
as acts medicinally, but should it appear to turn sour in the 
stomach, it must, at least for some time, be discontinued. 
Obstruction of the Rump Gland.— This gland, which is on 
the rump, and contains the oil employed for anointing the 
feathers, sometimes becomes hard and inflamed, and an abscess 
forms there. In this case, the bird often pierces it itself, or it 
may be softened by applying fresh butter without any salt; 
bi it is better to use an ointment made of white lead, litharge, 
wax, and olive oil, which may be had of any good chemist or 
apothecary. The general method is to pierce or cut the 
hardened gland, in order to let out the matter. 
The gland is known to be obstructed when the feathers, 
which surround it, are ruffled, the bird never ceasing to peck 
them, and instead of being yellow it becomes brown. Dr. 
Bechstein says, this disease is very rare among wild birds, for, 
being exposed to damp, and bathing often, they make more 
use of the liquor in the gland, consequently, it does not accu¬ 
mulate sufficiently to become corrupted, sour, or cancerous. 
This confirms the necessity of giving them the means of 
bathing as often as instinct would induce them, as nothing 
can be more favorable to their health. 
Dr. Handel, after piercing the gland, recommends a little 
magnesia to be mixed with the bird’s drink. 
Epilepsy.— This is a disease with which house birds a; % e 
very often attacked. What has been found to be most useful 
in this case, is to plunge the sick birds every now and then 
into very cold water, letting them fall suddenly into it, and 
cutting their claws, or at least one or two, short enough for 
the blood to run. 
From bleeding giving, so much relief, one would think that 
this disease is a kind of apoplexy, occasioned by want of 
exercise and too much food. Bullfinches and thrushes are 
more subject to it than any other birds, and bleeding always | 
^ cures them, which has been done with great success in the fol- 1 
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