FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
503 
them so much that it killed most of them ; a little of this 
may therefore be good in case of scouring. 
15. There is another distemper which is called the small- 
pox, in which there rise, on their legs and wings and body, 
eruptions or pustules full of a yellow matter. Some open 
them, and apply burnt alum and honey, or touch them with 
Roman vitriol, and it will cure them. 
16. When your pigeons are sick, lowering, or hang their 
wings, give them every day a spider or two, wrapped up in 
butter, and, if you dare trust them, let them flj\ 
17. Pigeons will be sometimes lamed, and the ball of their 
foot swelled, either through cold, or the prick of a nail ; in 
this case, spread some Venice turpentine on brown paper, 
apply it to the part, leave it there till well, which it will be 
in a very few days. 
18. The flesh-wen comes next under our consideration, 
which is no more but a fleshy tumor, arising on the joints 
of the wings or legs ; this may be either cut oft' or opened, 
and, after having taken out the kernel, wash it with alum- 
water. 
19. The bone-wen is an ossificated tumor, arising upon 
the joints as before. This is seldom or never cured, and the 
pigeon that is affected with it will never breed. Some pre- 
tend to cure it by a composition of quicklime and black 
soap ; but if you make it too strong, or let it lie on too long, 
it will take off the leg or other part that ’tis applied to, for 
it is a caustic. 
20. The last distemper I shall take notice of is a core, so 
called because it resembles the core of an apple. It is hard, 
and generally of a yellowish color, intermixed with red, and 
is usually found in the anus or vent. This when ripe may 
be forced or drawn out; and, in order to ripen it and keep 
them loose, give your pigeon so affected a purge of tobacco ; 
a very small quantity is sufficient ; I have known this make 
them discharge the core themselves. I once knew a pigeon 
affected with this sort of malady in the oesophagus or throat; 
some part was taken out, but the bird died. 
THEIR USEFULNESS. 
Having thus instructed you how to breed, preserve, and 
cure your pigeons, we shall next show their usefulness in 
human life. 
It is a bird well known to be much used by way of food ; 
and here I shall give you the remarks of one or two authors 
on this head. Mr. Lemery, in his “Treatise on Foods,” 
after having advised to the choice of young pigeons that are 
tender, fleshy, and well fed, proceeds thus : “ They are nour- 
ishing, somewhat binding, strengthening, and provoke urine ; 
they are looked upon to be good for cleansing the reins, and 
to expel the gross matters that stick there. 
“As a pigeon grows old, so proportionably does its flesh 
become drier and more solid, harder of digestion, and so fit 
to produce gross and melancholy humors ; and hence it is that 
some authors have condemned the use of pigeons, and look 
upon them to be bad food. 
“They agree at all times with any age and constitution, 
but those that are melancholy ought to make use of them 
more moderately than other persons.” 
Dr. Salmon, in his “ Seplasium or English Physician,” 
which- I look upon as the best book he ever wrote, says: 
“The flesh is not so easy of digestion as that of chickens. 
Authors say that eating of their flesh is profitable against 
the plague, insomuch that they who make it their constant 
or ordinary food are seldom seized with pestilential distem- 
pers. Others commend it against the palsy or trembling. 
Others say it is of great use and advantage to them that are 
dim-sighted. The flesh of young pigeons is restorative, and 
of good use to such as are in consumptions, and to recruit 
the strength of such as are getting up, or newly recovered 
from some great sickness. It is indeed savory and good 
food, and not much inferior to the most esteemed. The anus 
of a live pigeon applied to the biting of a serpent, viper, or 
rattlesnake, draws away the poison and cures the sick, being 
renewed as often as the pigeon dies ; applied to the soles of 
the feet in a fever, it draws away the fever, and helps the 
megrims or headache. Cut up alive and applied to the place 
pained, eases the pain and draws away the malignity, if any 
be ; for the vital spirit yet remaining in the hot flesh and 
blood do insinuate themselves through the pores of the skin 
into the blood of the sick person now dispirited and ready 
to stagnate, enduing it with new life and vigor. Potestates 
made of the flesh admirably cure consumptions, and restore 
wasted' flesh. 
“ The blood put warm into the eyes allays pain, cures blear 
eyes, and also green wounds. 
“ R. Of the blood 5;ij, honey gvj, white sugar-candy jij ; 
grind them together till they are well mixed, for the pur- 
poses aforesaid; as also against suffusions, blood-shots, and 
other distempers and weaknesses of the eyes. 
“The coats of the stomach. R. Of them powdered gij, 
opium in tine powder 4 grains, catechu in fine powder 7)ij ; 
mix them. Dose: 12 or 13 grains every night on going to 
bed.” 
The Doctor has left us in the dark what distemper this 
medicine is designed to cure, but I am apt to believe it is 
for a diarrhoea, yet I can’t see of what use the coats of 
pigeons’ stomachs can be, unless from their diuretic quality. 
“The feathers. R. Of the ashes of them 3 ss., sanguis 
draconis, fine bole, sheeps’ blood dried, fine aloes, ana gj ; 
mix them. It stops bleeding in any part being applied.” 
THEIR DUNG. 
Having thus shown you something of the usefulness of this 
bird, both in food and physic, I cannot omit saying some- 
thing of its most excrementitious part. 
The dung therefore of pigeons challengeth the priority, 
not only of the dung of fowls, but of all other creatures 
whatsoever, on the account of its usefulness in human life. 
Its benefits in agriculture are so well known to some farm- 
ers, that Plat gives an account of those that have fetched it 
sixteen miles, and given a load of coals in lieu of it. 
“Where,” he observes, “that in the place it was fetched 
from it would have done more hurt than good, whereas, 
where it was carried, it did as much good as double the 
charges; in the one soil it cured the barrenness, whereas in 
the other it would have poisoned the fertility.” 
It is of a very hot nature, from the nitrous quality where- 
with it is endued, and therefore it is a very excellent soil for 
a cold, moist-natured ground. It is generally used for wheat 
and barley that lie afar off, and not easily to be helped. One 
load of it is worth ten load of other dung, and will go as far 
in manuring of land. It is generally sown after the same 
manner as the grain, and harrowed in with it. 
It is likewise extraordinary good soil for a hop garden. 
Tanners make use of it in tanning the upper leathers, and 
if you pick and sift it, will give you eiglitpence a bushel for 
it, provided you send it home to their own houses ; so that 
(To be continued.) 
