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INTRODUCTION. 
22 
lowing manner, but much delicacy and skill are required, as 
there would be great danger of laming the bird:—A very small 
hole is made on the surface of the claw, with a lancet or very 
sharp penknife; it is then plunged in lukewarm water, and if 
the operation be well done, the blood runs like a thread of red 
silk; when removed from the water, the bleeding stops; no 
bandage nor dressing is required. 
Tympana or Bloating.— In this disorder, the skin on one 
part of the body, or even the whole body, rises and swells to 
so great a degree that it is stretched like a drum. It is gene¬ 
rally sufficient to pierce it with a pin, so as to let the air 
escape, and the bird will be cured. 
Disease in the Feet.— House birds are often subject to bad 
feet. From the second year, they become pale, and lose their 
freshness. They must be frequently cleaned, taking care to 
remove the skin; the thick loose scales ought also to be taken 
off, but with all possible precaution. 
The gout occasions the feet to swell; they are also so scaly 
and painful that the poor little bird cannot support itself with¬ 
out resting on the points of its wings. Dr. Handel prescribes a 
warm fomentation with a decoction of soap wort (Saponaria 
officinalis ). If a foot should be bruised or broken, he advises 
that the diseased bird shoul 1 be shut up in a very small cage, 
the bottom of which is very smooth and even, without any 
perches, or anything which would tempt it to hop, and put 
in a very quiet and solitary pffice, out of the way of anything 
which might produce agitation. In this manner, the bird will 
cure itself in a little time, without any bandage or plaster of 
any kind. 
Dr. Bechstein was of the opinion that the principal cause of 
bad feet is want of bathing. The scales, contracting from 
dryness, occasion great pain; in order to remove them with 
ease, and without danger, the feet must be softened in luke¬ 
warm water. The following method has been used with a 
bullfinch with success:—Its cage was made with a movable 
tin bottom, w hich, being half or three quarters of an inch deep, 
k could hold water, that was put in tepid, to bathe the bird; 
