Yd 4 vA &
Nn Z

DISEASES
OF.
PIGEONS.

Ne
oI

PUBLISHED BY
Cc. E. TWOMBLY,
BOSTON.

prea
rs

Saas va a
(is oe
ae

Hh
Re home

~

HOR ASES

pOrn

eTEONS:

/BY
J. A. SUMMERS.

NSO
we inc
vd Cc. E. Twombly, 7?
w _—sOWublisber, w
n Boston, NY
¢€ Mass. ‘

ia cee?

L

TWo

———

S ¥9 Sx.
pe ,
Se

49544

COPYRIGHTED, 1899,
BY
C. E. TWOMBLY, BOSTON,

U. Ss. AS

COPIES RECEIVED,

‘< OF ( 7 =
we mm Qt we
; me SECOND GOPY,
hed da y ~ idv VA
Bon, mo x f
7. Se m : 5 ae

Preface.

The author after publishing the book entitled
“Squabs for Profit” has received numerous inquiries
concerning the various ailments of the Pigeon Family.

I write this book giving a description of most
all diseases, with particular reference as to the Cause,
Prevention and Treatment for the benefit of th Je
making inquiries which will, I trust, be of great
service to them and all other fanciers as well,

Chaifout, Pa. J. A. Summers.

Apoplexy,
Anaemia,

Blight,
Bronchitis,
Broken Bones,
Barrenness,

Care of Sick,
Catarrh,
Congestion of Lungs,
Crop Disease,
Canker of Throat,
Cholera,

Canker in Ear,
Crop Bound,
Colds,

Diseases,
Diseases,

Dry Roup,
Diphtheria,
Enteritis,

Egg Bound,
Fungoid,

Gout,

Gorging,
Gastritis,

Going Light,
Inflammation of Bowels,
Influenza,

Inder.

Page.

Moder.

Inflammation of Egg Passage,
Liver, Congestion of

‘* Enlargement of

a Inflammation of
Leg Weakness,
Moping.
Moulting Period,
Pneumonia,
Poor Blood,
Prolapsus Anal,
Pointers, a Few
Rheumatism,
Swelling of Neck,
Suppression of Feathers,
Sprouts,
Shivering,
Sour Crop,
Soft Shelled Eggs,
Tumours,

Tonic, the

Vertigo,

Wing Disease,

Worms, d : : :
Wing Paralysis, . ; :
Wounds, : : ° °

oe

Page.
32

52

25

33

52

Diseases of Pigeons.
ion

a pigeons are in their proper state of

health they are without doubt the liveliest

and happiest family of the feathered tribe.
They are always active, full of spirit and a_ source
of much pleasure to the fancier. When ill they are
the very opposite, huddle up their feathers, are usual-
ly “off their feed” and have a very miserable ap-
pearance.

One must have some practical experience with
the birds when in health, and should have close ob-
servation also so as to readily tell when disease has
taken hold of his stock.

As soon as disease sets in, no matter in what
organ, or what part of the body, the eye is about
the first to show it. The eye of a pigeon in _ health
is bright and clear, having the appearance of intelli-
gence, but it soon becomes somewhat inflamed and
watery in the feverish conditions, and glassy and
sunken in wasting diseases. When a bird is taken
ill, it is not an easy task to the inexperienced to be
able to detect the disease or to make a proper diag-
nosis. After carefully examining the eye, direct
your attention to the other parts, taking particular
notice of the mouth, jooking far down the throat
which enables one to detect any false growth as
Canker, Ulcerations, inflamation of the mucous mem-
branes or abnormal changes of the secretions. This
close examination ot the mouth is by far the most
important part in making a diagnosis of <liseases

~
j

and should not be overlooked, by any means, as the
condition of the whole elimentary canal can be read-
ily ascertained from the appearance of the membranes
of the mouth and throat. Another very important
part of the examination is to notice the character of
the excrement voided, taking particular attention as
to its color, consistency, etc. The droppings of a
bird in full health should be somewhat firm, with a
small amount of the whitish substance (the urea, )
When frothy, black or green in color, or watery and
containing much mucus and slime, there is a derange-
ment somewhere needing attention.

Next look to the respiration noticing if the
breathing is labored after slight exertions, remember-
ing at the same time that even in healthy birds when
frightened, the respiration will be always quicker but
this does not necessarily indicate disease. Examine
the abdomen to see if there is any malformation or
injury i. e. a fallen egg or gizzard, the former will
most always be found on the left side while the lat-
ter generally in the middle slightly to the right and
low down. When an affection of this kind has be-
come established the skin over the abdomen will al-
ways have a shiny appearance, in fact it will often ap-
pear in other affections also, If the bird has any
trouble in flying, examine all the bones of the wings,
and see if there is any swelling of the joints or
wounds etc. also examining closely all parts of the
wing where the feathers are seen to be ruffed or un-
even. If a bird eats very heartily and does not seem
to thrive well look at the excrement very closely and
see if there are any worms adhering to it. If none
are found the first time look again.

8

CARE OF SICK BIRDS.

Pigeons when sickness takes hold of them, gen-
erally show it at once by their actions, and require
the best attention possible of the owner, as to their
feed, and water, for when at lhberty they can gather
such articles as nature required them to have, but
when housed up they of course must eat what is
given them.

It is here that many diseases originate, in the
negligence on the part of the fancier; either in the
use of poor or impure food, or in the management.
The daintiest and most nutritious diet such as hemp,
canary, caraway-seeds or stale bread (soaked) should
be put before them to tempt them to eat, if in any-
way possible, and give oat-meal water for their drink.

Occasionally one finds birds that care not to eat.
In such cases examine the crop and notice if any
stale or decomposed food still remains in it. If go
then remove as much as possible without injuring
the bird, for if this stale food should remain in the
crop and is allowed, to become putrefied the gases
and poisons thrown ont thereby, would cause an_ ir-
ritation or inflamation and a violent enteritis or diar-
rhoea, which might be the means of causing other di-
seases of a more serious nature. After removing con-
tents of the crop in a few hours time allow the bird
some soaked bread, then next day give the seeds etc.

Occasionally after the above operation the bird
is too weak to eat. Here many fanciers cause the
death of their birds, where if a little judgment and
precaution were used in the way of feeding, the bird
would oftimes have recovered. Many of these fan-

9

ciers stuff the crops of the already weakened bird
with corn, wheat and other varieties of heavy feed
which is only intended for healthy birds and will
thereby make their weak crops weaker still. A bird
knows when to eat, and will readily partake of the
heavier variety of grain when in the proper condition.

If a bird is exceedingly weak give about 20 or
30 pills, and make it doughy or work it up im an
easy digestible maner with fine cracker dust, or bread
crumbs. Above all in contagious diseases keep the
bird or birds in a separate compartment and use the
best judgment in treating. The necessary food for
the pigeon should be nothing but red wheat, peas,
cracked corn, with a small amount of hemp, millet, .
caraway, canary seeds, buckwheat etc and never use
oats or rye. The latter especially has caused the
death of many valuable birds from its tendency to
scour. Have a good supply of fresh grit or sand, old
plaster or lime in some way, oyster shells ground fine,
salt etc. always before them, and together with prop-
er management, keeping every part of the pigeon loft
in a good sanitary condition many of the diseases
will be prevented.

The diagnosis of a case is the main part and be
positive the true nature of the disease has been dis-
covered before commencing treatment. In administer-
ing medicines be sure to give the right dose and quan-
tity for a very delicate bird will require a stronger
dose than a more robust one. Hold the bird in the
left hand, open its mouth with the other and if the
medicine be a liquid pour down the throat using a
small syringe being the best way of administering it,
being careful to inject into the throat and not the

10

DISEASES.

Rovup is a name given to diseases of the mouth,
nose, and throat where the membranes become in-
flamed and the secretions somewhat thickened, There
is however, two different kinds of Roup namely: Wet
Roup and Dry Roup. Wet Roup is probably the
most common of the two and the most serious in na-
ture.

Cause: It is probably in the beginning caused by
poor ventilation of the loft which is at the same time
overcrowded, whereby the birds are compelled to in-
hale vitiated air. This disease seldom appears in lofts
well taken care of and when kept in a good sanitary
condition at all times. Another probable cause of
Roup is from a deficiency of salts in the food, and al-
so the feeding of too much carbonaceous and not suffi-
cient nitrogenous food thereby not providing enough
proper nutriment to the tissues of the body to supply
the want taken up by the amount consumed. Some
claim Roup is caused by a chill or the effect of a very
severe cold taken during damp weather but the author
thinks this is not the direct cause it only making the
membranes still more sensitive to the disease (which
has already taken hold to a certain extent upon the
bird) as tubercles have already formed for some time
prior to any symptons noticeable, the bird having prob-
ably taken cold after the high fever, which always ac-
companies this disease, had somewhat lowered which
leaving the pores more or less open, and the cold or
congestion following. This disease is exceedingly con-
tagious especially when it appears in the severest form,
all the birds in the same loft being liable to contract

13

it, and die off quickly and in large numbers. It is
a very peculiar disease and the same as in many others
the birds’ health must be in a certian condition to al-
low the germ to develop and the disease to take prop-
er hold, aithough it is very often inherited from the
parents and may run back for generations. Birds ap-
parently well may have Roup in a mild form and may
not suffer much, but their offspring never thrive and
generally die before a month or two of age.

The germ or bacillus is the same in all cases but
the severity of the symptons altogether depends upon
the condition upon which it was developed, i. e. deli-
cate birds and ones which catch cold very easily are
liable to contract it much sooner than stronger birds
although the latter when afflicted often die off quicker
than the former. Roup affects birds as well as poultry
in most all climates and countries the bacillus tuber-
cles being found wherever birds live. The germs after
taken into the system gradually develop, becoming
increased in numbers to such an extent that the bird
finally dies from true form of Tuberculosis.
Symptoms: High fever, offensive breath. The
breathing is somewhat constricted caused by the thick-
ening of secretions of the mucous membranes, there is
some sneezing and cough. From the nostrils there
comes an offensive discharge, bubbles appearing in the
mouth and sometimes at the corner of the eyes. The
membranes of the mouth have a very pale appearance
probably due to a deposit of tubercules being formed
after which ulcers put in their appearance. It may
however be only a sign of anaemia or deficiency of

the red corpuscles of the blood caused by the di-
sease.

14

Treatment: So long as the germ remains in the
system of the bird the disease will gradually become
advanced and cause the death of the bird sooner or
later. Tuberculous diseases in pigeons could under
favorable circumstances be checked and probably the
health fully restored for as many medical doctors now
claim that tuberculous diseases in man are curable why
could not it be likewise with the bird as well. If the
remedy given has the power and properties to fully
eliminate the disease germ, the bird will without doubt
become fully restored to health provided that none of
the special organs have become seriously affected or
impaired. There are however drugs that will kill the
germ outright but the trouble remains that as the drugs
must be exceedingly powerful, too often the life of
the bird itself is endangered.

The main point in treating this disease is to keep
up and restore the tone, and reinforce the power of
resistance of the tissues. The organisms must be
placed in a condition not only to provide for the daily
needs, and to resist the vicissitudes of temperature,
humidity, etc, but to enable it to resist the attack of
enemies in the form disease germs. This can only be
done by feeding the most nutritious foods and giving
what the author has found best in treating this disease
Hypophosphites of Lime and Soda which build up the
system and renders it more liable to fight the disease.
To prevent this terrible disease from spreading and to
aid in affecting a cure the use of the “Tonic” in the
drinking water described in the last chapter.

This consists of a number of salts acting as anti-
septics as it were. Creosote the best known tissue
builder and preserver, Iron the best oxidizing agent,

| 15

together with the simple bitter tonic Gentian forms a
prescription exceedingly valuable in the Prevention and
Treatment of Disease.

The mouth and nostrils of the bird must be washed
out several times a day and cleansed of the roupy mat-
ter. Use a lotion for this purpose made by dissolving
several grains of Pennanganate of Potassium in an
ounce of distilled water. In washing out the eyes
this solution must be further diluted.

Another most excellent remedy to use as a lotion
in washing the mouth etc. is Peroxide of Hybrogen
(Merchand’s. ) Take a small stick with a piece of cotton
on one end and dip into the bottle using it pure.
After this has been applied several times Aristol (a
brown powder) should be applied to the membranes,
to favor healing. Aristol is the best for this purpose
and by applying three times daily for a few days a
cure is generally affected.

DRY ROUr

This is a name given to another form of Roup
where there is no discharge from the nostrils. It is
less malignant than Wet Roup and is most always
milder. Its cause is similar to the other form, Wet
Roup.

Symptoms: The symptoms are in every respect
the same as in the wet form with the exceptions of
the discharge from the nostrils. There is fever, de-
posits of tubercules on the membranes of the mouth
which loses its natural color and becomes somewhat
paler. Treatment: Same as for Wet loup.

16

SCROFULA.

Scrofula is a tuberculous disease and one which
probably causes the most deaths of the birds. It af-
flicts them without showing any particular symptoms
in the start, The germ does its deadly work slowly
and it may never occur to the fancier that his bird
is afflicted until he finds the bird cold in death, which
may occur (after the disease is established) by any
slight cause such as a cold etc. The germ is the same
in every case and attacks various parts of the body and
making the disease appear in a variety of forms. As
in most diseases the severity altogether depends upon
the conditions allowing its development. It is a di-
sease most common among the fancy varieties such as
Carriers, Barbs, Antwerps, etc. which are fed upon the
richest foods in order to get them into their highest
state of perfection. The joints of the bird, mostly those
of the wings, is where the deposits mostly form. It
may however attack the lungs and liver which will surely
cause death. Unfortunately not much can be done for
a bird after this disease once takes hold of it, but by
using precautions in the way of feeding, giving only
plain food, allowing them plenty of exercise, this di-
sease will seldom appear.

BLIGHT.

An inflammatory disease affecting the eye and is
usually caused by a cold. The eye first has a watery
appearance, but the membranes surrounding the eye fi-
nally become very much inflamed. The secretions are
usually somewhat thickened and ofttimes causes the eye-
lids to stick together.

17

Treatment: Use a lotion a mild solution of Per-
oxide of Hydrogen. An excellent plan is to use a
small syringe and gently pour the lotion into the eye.
At the same time use the “Tonic” in the drinking
water. A solution of Copper Sulphate is considered
good also, but the best results will be obtained if the
Peroxide is used.

VERTIGO.

Cause: Vertigo in pigeons isa cerebral affection
caused probably by diseased membranes, disease of the
brain matter itself, or from a congested state of the
blood vessels caused by the injudicious feeding of too
much rich and heatening foods making the blood en-
tirely too thick. When the blood is in such a con-
dition, the slightest disturbance such as constipation
etc. will cause an attack, It is not an uncommon di-
sease and usually affects high bred birds fed upon hemp
seed and the like. Vertigo may however be a symp-
tom of a serious liver derangement.

Symptoms: The bird will not be very active.
Many cases they will remain in a corner for instance
holding its head against the wall. When trying to walk
it will turn around and around finally falling com-
pletely over. In other cases the head is held in an un-
natural position, the crown of the head sometimes being
pressed upon the floor. Generally in Vertigo the head
is terribly heated while the feet and legs are cold.

Treatment: This disease is almost always fatal and
unless it be caused by a liver affection, or unless the
bird afflicted is of especial value to the fancier, it
should be killed at once to end its sufferings, for if
the case is treated all the trouble might be for noth-

18

ing as only a small percentage of cases are curable.
The best medicines to administer are those having a
tendency to thin the blood and at the same time have
the tendency to improve the circulation. None will be
found better for all cases than Phosphate of Soda. It
acts as a mild aperient, removes the liver difficulty if
any exists and greatly improves the circulation. The
bird should be fed very sparingly, of wheat and the
milder grains, should be kept quiet, and the blood re-
moved from the head as much as possible by applying
cloths soaked in ice-water. Don’t disturb it any more
than is absolutely necessary. A slight fright might
bring on a severe attack also.

SWELLING OF NECK. (Emplysema.)

Cause: This is not a disease but only a condition
in which one or more air cells have been ruptured
under the skin allowing the extravasated air to pass
through the pores under the skin. It may be due to
a shot wound or an injury from a sharp pointed in-
strument.

Symptoms; It usually will be found in the neck
although there have been cases where other parts of the
body are afflicted. The accumulation of air under the
skin causes a swelling which gradually becomes en-
larged and may even attain the size of a Pouter’s crop,
and sometimes completely encircles the neck. This
condition does not however injure the health of the
bird, but it should be treated as it has a very un-
sightly appearance,

Treatment: Wash off well the skin where the
operation is to be performed aad take a sharp pointed
needle which has been previously dipped into some anti-

19

septic solution and gently puncture the skin in several
places. This will allow the air to escape, but will not
always affect a cure after the first operation, but this
should be practiced several times before a permanent
cure is affected.

GOUT.

A name given to a disease of a scrofulous nature
affecting as it were the feet and legs of a bird has been
termed the Gout. It is usually caused by tuberculer
infections and attacks of great severity of pain is caused
without doubt by an exposure to damp weather.

Symptoms: The joints become greatly swollen and
contain a great amount of heat caused by the inflamma-
tion. The hock joint is the one chiefly affected. After
the disease is allowed to run its course the lumps be-
come greatly enlarged caused by the formation of the
deposits.

Treatment: Paint the affected parts with Tincture
Iodine and remove the bird to dry and quiet quarters.
Feed only the plainer grains, no hemp-seed, and add
a few drops of Syrup Iodide of Iron to its drinking
water, Ofttimes the deposits can be removed consider-
ably by applying an oil such as sweet oil or castor oil
to the swellings for several days in succession,

FUNGOID.

Fungoid, a disease commonly termed Small Pox.
It is an exceedingly contagious disease and one of a
very malignant nature. The large wattled variety of
pigeons are the ones most subject to this malady. It
is usually found in lofts which are overcrowded, impure
and foul air accumulating thereby and the birds are
compelled to inhale it time and again. It is contracted

20

to other birds from the scales or flakes that peal off
the swellings from time to time, These flakes may be
taken in the food or drinking water and the disease
set up violently from the affects. One very important
part in treating diseases is to remove the aftlicted birds
to quarters by themselves, and it will be found best to
remove quite a distance from the breeding house or ioft,
as some ailments such as Diphtheria etc. are exceed-
ingly contagious and all the precautions possible should
be adhered to, to prevent the disease from spreading.
Fungoid may however originate in the start by the too
free use of Indian Corn and carbonaceous articles of
food, finally terminating into a regular tubercular di-
sease, the system being full of tubercles is evident from
the nature of the swelling. A bird when once afflicted
in a very severe form may be considered incureable
and it would be far better to kill it at once and pre-
vent it spreading to the others.

Symptoms: A small swelling having the appear-
ance of fungus appears first on some part of the wat-
tle and sometimes the growth may start in the orbit
of the eye itself. Wherever these swellings do appear
they finally develope into an ulcer out of which is dis-
charged an ugly yellowish fluid. These ulcers enlarge
greatly and spread very rapidly until finally the whole
head may become involved with them, and may have
swollen to twice its natural size. Most cases death
however relieves the bird of its suffering before reach-
ing this stage.

Treatment: In mild cases the swelling can be re-
duced somewhat and the discharges should be removed

as much as possible. The object is mainly to heal
21 ;

these ulcerations. Nothing will be found better to heal
than Iodoform or Aristol. The ulcers should be well
dusted with either of these powders, and Sweet Oil be-
ing used afterwards to encourage healing and have a
soothing effect.

BRONCHITIS.

A catarrhal affection of the bronchial tubes leading
to the lungs, caused by a severe cold or a sudden chill.
The tubes leading to the lungs may only be affected,
or the tubes of the lungs itself may be inflicted. This
disease is more common among pigeons about the moult-
ing period, at that time they being more susceptible
to acold. The blood vessels become more or less con-
tracted by a cold, throwing an undue amount of blood
into the internal organs. This superabundance of blood
in the lungs causes the blood vessels to becoine greatly
distended and in consequence the bronchial tubes be-
come almost entirely closed up. It is often the cause
of draughts in the loft, and may occur in young birds
which are exposed too much to all kinds of weather.

Symptoms: There will be a dry hacking cough,
the breathing will be somewhat constricted. There is
always a very high fever, the eyes being inflamed, some-
what bulged out, and the bird will appear to be en-
tirely unconscious of its surroundings in severe cases.
They generally care not to eat, and too often discard
their food for that of drink, this being due to the ex-
treme high fever. They will huddle up their feathers,
have a very miserable appearance in general, and a sort
of mucous may extrude from the mouth. This mucous

as the disease becomes advanced will change in color
to a yellowish, blood streaked matter, and rather
thick.

22

Treatment: The first thing to do is to remove the
bird to warm quarters and try to induce a free pers-
piration. Give Carbonate of Ammonia in _ one-half
grain doses three times daily and allow the bird only
the lightest kind of food such as soaked bread, ete.
Give for it to drink oat meal water and add a small
pinch of powered alum to this. After the disease is
checked the constitution of the bird will be greatly
weakened and the “Tonic” should be used in the drink-
ing water at all times for at least a month afterwards.

PNEUMONIA.

A disease resembling somewhat congestion of the
lungs termed Pneumonia, differs from it in the respect
that in the former there is congestion, where in Pneu-
monia there is:an inflammation of the lungs. The cause
however may both be attributed to the same cause, that
of taking a very severe cold, but this disease is usually
a complication of Influenza or Grip. This complication
with Grip although appearing to be very severe usually
terminates into the full recovery if proper means are
applied.

Symptoms: High fever, ruffed feathers, a dry,
husky cough, attended with a very constricted respir-
ation.

Treatment: Use the Carbonate of Ammonia in the
same doses as for Congestion, and after fever has sub-
sided, and the bird is convalescing the use of Hypo-
phosphites of Lime and Soda will be very beneficial in
restoring the strength, This should be given for several
weeks, and small doses of Quinine could be added if the

bird is extremely weakened.
23

APOPLEXY.

Apoplexy is almost always a fatal disease and is
caused from the overfeeding of too much rich and stim-
ulating articles of food especially when birds are con-
fined and do not get the proper amount of exercise.
Birds having their freedom seldom get apoplexy unless
it be from some organic brain trouble. This disease
is caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain
and most always originates in summer on the extremely
hot days. After an attack however any slight disturb-
ance such as a cold or liver difficulty, a fresh attack is
liable at any season of the year.

Symptoms: Apoplexy will often be confounded
with Vertigo, but there is considerable difference from
the fact that in Vertigo they appear dizzy and unable
to move, where in Apoplexy they fall completely over
and have severe convulsions and with twitching of the
muscles. Very often the bird will die in one of these
convulsions.

Treatment: Remove the bird at once to cooler
compartments, and quickly as possible apply cold rags
to the head, or dip the head in ice water at short in-
tervals. The bowels should be made to move freely to
encourage a better circulation of blood and to draw it
from the brain, a few drops of Castor Oil being about
the best of purgatives for this purpose. After improve-
ment takes place leave the bird by itself, keeping it

very quiet, and do not allow anything to eat for
several hours or half a day. When food is given,
use the soft food first such as soaked bread for a day
or two, then as the bird improves give regular food.
Above all, in this disease as well as in Vertigo,
never use Tonics, but what would be much _ better
are sedatives.

24

SUPPRESSION OF FEATHERS.

A diseased condition of the skin in which the
feather sacs are choked up, thereby preventing the
growth of the feathers, which in consequence curl up
under the skin forming a lump. Birds allowed a
bath when desired, and ones fed properly, seldom
get this complaint.

Symptoms: This is an affection of the skin, af-
fecting the bird at the moulting period, causing the
feathers to be suppressed. A lump forms on_ the
wing or near the vent generally, where if they be
opened will be found to contain the feather substance.

Treatment: Open the lumps with a sharp knife
and remove all the matter and gluey substance. Sew
up the wound with fine catgut, after which use an
ointment of Iodoform and cosmoline to favor healing.

SPOUTS.

A disease of the eye wattle, mostly found among
the larger wattied variety of pigeons such as Carriers,
etc. It is caused by an abnormal growth of the
wattle, which causes the lower eyelid to become
dragged down below the level of the lachrymal duct

Symptoms: The secretions of the eye instead of
passing down the lachrymal duct flow down over the
outside, causing an inflammation from the acrid nat-
ure of the secretions and form a sore. Birds some-
times lose their sight entirely from this disease.

Treatment: Remove as much of the growth as
possible with a sharp knife (care being taken not to
make too deep an incision) and apply a healing oil
or ointment occasionally, also washing out the in-
flamed portions with a mild solution of Peroxide ot
Hydrogen.

25

RHEUMATISM, (Wing Disease. )

An affection of the wing joints, especially the
elbow joint. It is the most exposed joint of the
wing and is the one mostly used by the bird. It
being the most exposed joint is probably the reason
it is chiefly afflicted, owing to its liability of becom-
ing chilled. It is a disease very common among the
Homers, they being compelled to endure many hard-
ships, and encounter all kinds of weather. A. bird
after arriving home is allowed to remain quiet, near
an open window or in a draught, is one cause of
this ailment.

Symptoms: The bird will not care much about
eating; the joints of the wing are stiff, swollen, hot
and feverish.

Treatment: Remove the bird to a pen by itself,
feed plain food, and to each pint of its drinking
water, add ten grains of salicylic acid. This will
have a tendency to carry off the impurities or to
neutralize the poisoning acids in the blood of birds
so afflicted. It will not be at all necessary to remove
any of the feathers around the swollen joint, for this
would make the inflammation worse than ever, but
all that need further be done is to paint the joint
or joints with Tincture Iodine.

ENTERITIS, (Inflammation of Bowels. )

The causes of this disease must be divided into
two distinct classes namely: Secondary and Primary.
The first class is that attributed to the sudden
changes of the temperature when the thermometors
fall from twenty to thirty degrees in a short time.
The bird is taken with a sudden chill and an inflam-
mation of the bowels follows. The Primary class

26

are those conditions of a catarrhal nature brought
about by the use of improper food, too much green
food, foods having an irritating nature such as rye,
etc. In some birds however, the decomposition of
certain grains in the intestines may excite the most
violent intestinal catarrh from the irritating acids
and gases formed by such decomposition, This in-
flammation of the bowels however, may be brought
about by other diseases or conditions from the use
of impure food or temperature changes. Circulatory
disturbances may cause a catarrhal enteritis, which
will usually run a chronic course. This is very
common in diseases of the liver, Worms is another
cause of Enteritis, they producing an irritation of
the intestines by their presence.

Symptoms: The excrement will be very watery,
and as the disease advances will contain mucous
streaked with blood. Sometimes there will be a
copious discharge of clear blood caused by a hem-
orrhage of a small blood vessel of the bowels. Where
the disease is of a catarrhal nature and became
chronic, the discharges will be mostly of mucous, or
mucous will be seen adhering to the sides or ends
of the excrement. In this chronic state there may
be periods where constipation and diarrhoea will
alternate.

Treatment: This altogether depends upon the
cause of the disease. If it be from temperature
changes, the food should be changed giving coarser
articles of grain, and the discharges checked with
small doses of Laudanum. If it is of a chronic nat-
ure of a catarrhal type, the bowels must be first
unloaded of all the mucous and undigested food-stufts.

27

e

Use the sulphate of Magnesia for this purpose or
Castor Oil, after which the best attention possible
must be given in the way of feeding, allowing the
bird nothing that has a tendency to scour. Rye is
often used as pigeon feed, and is one cause of so
much diarrhoea. When the cause is from a liver
complaint give the phosphate of soda. Enteritis
caused by worms will be described under Intestinal
Worms.
INFLUENZA, (or Catarrh.)

Influenza is an infectious disease characterized
by great prostration and a more or less catarrhal
condition of the mucous membranes, particularly those
of the throat and respiratory organs. The intestines
are also sometimes affected by the catarrh. Com-
plications such as Pneumonia may arise in this dis-
ease and the delicate birds are more subject to this
complication than the more robust. It 1s an exceed-
ingly contagious disease and may be contracted to
healthy birds from the sick ones. The bacillus ot
this disease are present in enormous numbers in the
head and throat of the afflicted birds. The period of
incubation is about from two to four days and un-
complicated cases usually recover, but delicate birds
and their young often die from the disease itself, or
from the extreme weakness following. Influenza is
caused by a peculiar miasma in the atmosphere and
is usually epidemic afflicting many birds in the whole
community at the same time.

Symptoms: Fever; eyes are swollen, watery and
inflamed. A gummy, sticky discharge will run from
the nostrils and from the mouth, collecting, as it
were, upon the sides of the mandible or bill. The

28

bird will be apparently off its feed, and have a
rather sickly appearance. It will prefer drink instead
of food owing to the high fever present,

Treatment: Remove as much of the gummy dis-
charge as possible that collects on the bill, and use
a small pinch of common alum in the drinking water.
Alum is the best remedy for Influenza, it being an
astringent removes and dries up the discharges.

EGG BOUND.

Young hens and ones laying their first eggs are
usually the ones subject to be egg bound. It may
however affect older birds as well, especially those
hens which have been overfed with too fattening
food and not getting sufficient exercise. In young
birds laying their first egg, which if it be too large
or the vent not having enough elasticity to allow the
expulsion of the egg, the hen becomes egg bound.
Another cause is where the muscular system is weak
and the hen not having the power to expel the egg.

Symptoms: The bird is seen to be very uneasy,
flying on and off the nest, raising itself up, then
squatting down in the nest and appearing to be
greatly excited. The egg can be readily felt above
the vent, and if it is not removed will set up an
inflammation and cause the bird’s death. If attention
is not at once paid to the hen, the egg ofttimes
breaks inside and a very fatal inflammation follows
from the irritation of the pieces of broken shell.

Treatment: Take a small syringe and inject into
the egg passage a little sweet oil. This is usually
all the treatment necessary for most cases, but when
this does not favor the expulsion of the egg, a pair
of small tweezers which have been dipped in sweet

29

°

oil may be used to stretch the vent, when the egg
will drop out easily. Care must be taken however
in this operation not to break the egg while still
inside. After the egg has been expelled always
grease the vent with sweet oil to heal and soothe.
CONGESTION OF LIVER.

Causes: Birds which are fed upon rich food or
overfed, and not being allowed enough proper exer-
cise quite frequently become subject to this disease.
Unsuitable food such as mouldy peas, cracked corn
or grains having undergone germination to a certain
extent will cause a congestion of liver, it fed for any
length of time. A weakness of the heart causing an
insufficiency of blood to flow into the very impor-
tant organ is another cause of liver trouble, but in
this case the liver will be pale and somewhat shrunk-
en, when from improper food or from feeding upon
one article of food too long, the liver becomes dark-
ish red and somewhat enlarged.

Symptoms: The bird has a very lazy appearance
eyes are dull, does not care to eat very much, and
prefers to lay around having the «appearance as
though unconcerned about anything. The appearance
and character of the excrement voided by such birds
is the only true means by which a diagnosis can be
made, and it is for that reason very easy to diagnose
properly. The droppings in these cases instead of
being brownish in color as in health, wili be rather
tarry looking, slightly looser than normal and at the
same time very offensive. Occasionally the droppings
will be very watery and black.

Treatment: Feed the bird upon the best food
obtainable, discarding any mouldy food probably

30

given before, and instead give only red wheat, breac.
crumbs, etc., until the character of the excrement
has a healthier appearance, which should be brown
in color. Administering phosphate of soda, either by
a capsule three times a day, or put a small quantity
in the drinking water, is the best remedy known for
this disease. In these cases the eyes of the bird will
be very dull, but the body does not emaciate like in
the other liver troubles.
ENLARGEMENT OF LIVER.

Cause: Feeding too much fattening food such
as Indian corn or hemp seed. Birds kept in con-
finement and those fed upon the richest articles of
diet, such as given the fancy varieties, are usually
the ones to suffer most from this complaint.

Symptoms: Bird is apparently drowsy at. all
times, but more so immediately after eating. As the
disease advances, they will gradually lose their ap-
petites and are off their feed.

Treatment: Feed light articles of diet, adminis-
ter a liver pill containing a small amount of mercury
or calomel, giving at intervals, or what is best every
morning, a dose of phosphate of soda. This treat-
ment has a tendency to stimulate the liver, relieve
the constipation often present, and cause a flow of
more healthy bile. After the bird is convalescing
use the tonic in the drinking water.

INFLAMMATION OF LIVER, ( Hepatitis.)

Causes: The cause of this disease is almost
identical with that of Congestion of Liver, but there
will be severer symptoms in this disease. In the
former the blood vessels of the liver are only con-
gested, causing a slight enlargement, but in the

31

inflammation of liver that organ will be even more
enlarged and more paintul.

Symptoms: The bird will apparently be’ dizzy,
off its feed, prefers drink to food, and will have a
very depressed look. Its wings will be hanging
down, eyes dull, often closed, head tucked in, the
bird looking as miserable as scould possibly be
described. Constipation will usually be present, and
the excrement will usually be hghter in color than
normal, due to the improper flow of healthy buiie.
The bird will be greatly emaciated.

Treatment: The intestines must first be cleansed
of all irritating matter, such as mucous, decomposed
food, etce., by administering good sized doses of
phosphate of soda. Next, pay strict attention to diet.
Do not feed the bird much at a time, but rather
often, and only such foods containing the least
fats. A bird with this disease should never be given
hemp seed to eat, but only plain grains such as
wheat, millet, etc. Adding a few drops of fresh
nitro-muriatic acid to the drinking water is all the
medicine required afterwards. This should be given
for weeks before a cure can be permanently made.

INFLAMMATION OF EGG PASSAGE.

Cause: This disease is without doubt caused by
the retention of part of broken shell of an egg, or
the breaking of a soft-shelled egg inward. Thus
causing an inflammation which usually, nine cases
out of every ten, proves fatal.

Symptoms: ‘ihe bird afflicted has a rather heapy
appearance, tail depressed, head tucked in, and looks
miserable in general. A slimy, whitish liquid resem-
bling egg substance is voided, the bird being com-

32

pelled-to strain violently at the same time, This is
the main symptom. Frequently birds so afflicted
become paralyzed in one or both legs.

Treatment: The only treatment 1s to relieve the
inflammation and arrest the discharge. To grease
the vent is good policy, and to inject a solution of
Gum Arabic will be found to encourage healing and
subdue the inflammation without further injuring the
bird.

GORGING.

A disease afflicting Pouters, those with well
developed crops, and is caused by a weakness or
atony of tne muscles of the crop, and the bird hav-
ing eaten too heartily or drank too much water. It
can be often cured by squeezing the crop gently
until all the fluid is removed, and by not feeding
anything more until the remaining food in the crop
is completely digested. A way much practised is to
suspend the bird in a stocking until the food is
digested.

SHIVERING.

Occasionally a fancier finds a bird standing
around shivering all the time. This indicates a weak-
ness from some cause, or from a liver affection where
the circulation is interfered with. If it is caused by
an insufficiency of blood, add Iron to the drinking
water; if the result of a cold, add Quinine; or if the
excrement is black and tarry caused by liver diffi-
culty, use the Phosphate of Soda in the drinking
water. The tonic should be used for all cases where
there is shivering. Hemp seed may be given ad
libitum where the droppings are not black or tarry.

33

ANAEMIA, (Poor Blood.)

The blood when it contains less than the ordinary
number of red corpuscles is a condition known as
Anaemia and is characterized by all the signs of
weakness. It may be caused by a hemorrhage from
a cut or other serious injury, from the feeding of
improper food, or the bird’s digestion being poor the
assimilation of food is not perfected. A long siege
of Enteritis, (inflammation of bowels) is another
cause of Anaemia. After a sudden loss of blood from
the bird, in consequence of a cut etc., the volume of
the circulation is quickly restored by the absorbtion
of a fluid, but the red corpuscles cannot be so readily
replaced. The poor watery blood circulating through
the body does not give it the proper nourishment,
therefore the bird’s weakness.

Symptoms: Extreme weakness, the bird being
scarcely able to get around, It may have diarrhoea
and sometimes constipation, or the grains eaten may
pass through the bowels undigested. The tongue and
membranes of the mouth will have an extremely pale
appearance, and the eye will be somewhat sunken
and glassy. When flying, the bird will be found to
breathe very hurriedly and upon the slightest exer-
tion the bird’s heart will be greatly quickened.

Treatment: Iron in some form must be given
the bird to increase the number of red _ corpuscles,
and besides good nutritious and easily digested foods
such as soaked bread, good wheat, hemp seed, and
oat meal water vo drink, nothing else need be done.
The tonic contains all the Iron required and should
be given in larger quantities than in most other
diseases.

34

GASTRITIS, (Acute inflammation of Crop. )

Cause: This disease is caused by the bird having
eaten some powerful poison, drank irritating water,
or eaten food containing poison. Another form of
Gastritis is caused by the feeding of oats, the sharp
points causing an irritation.

Symptoms: The bird will have a very wild look,
its wattle and tongue will be very red and inflamed.
It will try to vomit, and when this is accomplished
the vomited matter will be watery with some mu-
cous. It will not care to eat, preferring drink.

Treatment: Do not allow any food. Remove
the irritation by giving gum arabic water several
times a day with an occasional dose of Laudanum.
Before giving any food after the irritation is removed
give a few doses of Cod Liver Oil. The first article
of diet should be soaked bred. Never use oats unless
it is hulled, and be careful that the bird cannot
drink any water of a poisonous nature. This ailment
is frequently a cause of drinking water standing in
old paint pots.

CONGESTION OF LUNGS.

A disease afflicting birds about the moulting
period. It is caused by a chill, superinduced by
taking cold suddenly or from too thick blood. The
blood vessels in the lungs become distended and
congestion follows, otten the bird dying from asphyx-
ia caused from the closing of the air cells.

Symptoms: The breathing is very rapid and
constricted, the bird having a very drowsy, lazy
appearance, and at times not giving notice of its
surroundings. The disease is almost always fatal
and somewhat resembles bronchitis, but is a more

30

serious disease. Mucous will flow from the mouth,
and at times the mucous discharged will contain
streaks of blood.

Treatment: As this disease is quick with its
deadly work, treatment will be of little advantage.
Using the tonic in the drinking water, avoiding
draughts in the lofts, and guarding against exposure
are the best means of prevention,

DISEASE OF TILE CROP.

The crop, as all know, is where the food eaten
is first received. Here it becomes softened and mac-
erated by the secretions of that order. It then
passes into the second stomach, as it is called, and
then on into the gizzard. By the use of poor qual-
ity of food, etc., the crop is very often diseased. It
is a very fine piece of mechanism and fanciers should
all bear this in mind and give their birds nothing
but the best food obtainable. An inflammation of
the crop 1s often caused by the feeding of oats or
any other sharp pointed articles of food, These
points cause an irritation by their piercing, and often
penetrate into one of the larger blood vessels caus-
ing an inward hemorrhage and the death of the
bird. 4

Symptoms: The symptoms of diseases of the
crop, such as crop bound, sour crop, etc., are dis-
tention of the crop, caused by the accumulation of
gases and decomposed foods. The bird appears to
be all out of sorts, is lazy, and cares not for food
or drink. This disease is usually caused by the birds
having eaten too much by which the muscular part
of the crop is weakened, causing an atony. The
consequence is that the food instead of passing fur-

36

ther on, remains still and decomposing, throws off
irritating gases, poisons, etc., into the blood of the
bird. |

Treatment: The best treatment is to remove as
much of the undigested food as possible, after which
administer a dose of Castor Oil. This will carry the
remainder of the poisonous food downward and heal
the irritated mucous membrane as it goes.

MOPING.

Most pigeon lofts contain certain birds which
never seem to have their full spirit, but are always
moping about. This moping, as it is called, may be
due to some of the diseases mentioned in this book,
but if the excrement voided has its natural appear-
ance and consistency, their is no fever or indication
of disease. This moping can often be cured by pull-
ing out the tail feathers. Take hold of the tail and
with one sudden pull extract the whole tail. The
bird will usually begin to improve immediately
aiterward.

CANKER IN THROAT.

Canker is a disease of very common occurrence,
afflicting, as it were, all varieties of pigeons and is
one of the most dreaded diseases all fanciers must
contend with. It is an exceedingly contagious dis-
ease and often when one loft is infected with it,
others in the same neighborhood are likewise infect-
ed. It usually appears in an epidemic form and
many birds die each winter from this terrible disease.
It greatly resembles Diphtheria, and some authors
claim it is the same.

Symptoms: When canker begins to form in the
mouth, the mucous membranes soon begin to grow

37

paler each day, finally a substance resembling cheese
begins to form on either side of the throat gradually
growing in size until the bird can hardly breathe.
About this time, this cheesy matter, if not removed,
changes and minute ulcers torm which, if allowed to
run, destroy the membranes rapidly causing the
bird’s death. ‘These cankered spots or ulcers change
as the disease advances from a yellow to a brownish
color. Sometimes these ulcers form close to the
entrance of the windpipe. The bird will always
have a fever, the throat 1s swollen and the breath
very offensive.

Treatment: With a small pointed stick remove
as much of the cheesy matter as possibie without
causing blood to escape, and wash out the mouth
with a mild solution of salt water first; then take
a small pinch (very small at that) of burnt alum
and apply to the throat. This eats away all can-
kered matter and encourages healing. Or the throat
could be painted with a mild solution of Perman-
ganate of Potassium, using eight or ten grains to the
ounce of water. By the oxygen thrown out by this
solution and from its powerful absorbing affects, very
often the best of results can be obtained. The throat
should always be moistened also with a little sweet
oil or some mild healing oil at least once a day after
the operation.

CHOLERA.

Cholera is a disease of a malarial nature affect-
ing, as it were, birds which are kept in too small
a loft, or from overcrowding the lofts, at the same
time not keeping it in a proper sanitary condition.
This disease seldom appears in a well managed loft.

38

Another cause is the negligence on the part of the
owner in regard to the water given. Some give
water in wooden tubs and never change it but once
a day, i. e. every morning, If such receptacles are
used for water, in the summer the bottom and sides
will become thickly coated with a greenish slime,
and if the water is not. changed often, say two or
three times a day, in the hottest days of summer it
too will become green and stagnant. This is, I be-
lieve, the main cause of Cholera.

Symptoms: Diarrhoea of a more or less severe
type, excrement or discharges voided are greenish in
color, and the discharges contain much mucous. The
bird will be off its feed, gradually emaciate and
finally die if the proper attention is not at once given
it. |

Treatment: The best method is to prevent the
disease, using good feed, no corn in summer or very
little, if any, is used, keep the drinking vessels well
scrubbed out doing so every morning, occasionally
scalding them out, give fresh water soon, as the
other given them has become somewhat warm and
pay strict attention to the sanitary conditions of the
loft and its surroundings. If the disease has once
become established it will be best to remove the
afflicted birds to separate compartments so as not to
allow it to spread to the others. Discontinue any
food having a tendency to scour, foods such as rye,
etc. Give the tonic in the drinking water and also
add a little Laudanuin to allay the pain which usual-

ly accompanies this disease. Feed good grain and
that of an easily digested nature, such as canary,
caraway, millet seeds, etc., a little soaked bread, and
keep the bird as quiet as possible.

39

WORMS, (Intestinal. )

There is a class of pigeons who, though they
eat heartily, never seem to thrive but lay around
lazily and have no ambition. If no other disease
can be discovered that ails them, they undoubtedly
have Worms, Only one variety afflicts pigeons and
they are a parasite long and slender, averaging in
size from an eighth of an inch to several inches in
length. They infect the intestines only and seldom
migrate into the large bowel unless carried there by
the excrement, and will not remain there but be
expelled with the droppings. The presence of these
parasites set up an inflammation of the intestines
causing the worst form of Enteritis of a chronic
nature. The bird eats heartily but still emaciates
gradually, finally dying if assistance comes not. The
diagnosis can never be fully made without examining
the excrement, in fact it is the only means of mak-
ing a true diagnosis. If these Worms are not

discovered upon the first examination, look time and
again for they are voided only occasionally, and not

in very large numbers at one time often only one
can be found.

Treatment: Soon as these parasites have been
discovered, feed the bird very lightly giving only a
little light food such as soaked bread, and administer
one-fourth to one-half grain of Santonin once or
twice a day for several days. Then follow with a
brisk cathartic such as Castor Oil. They will usually
all be exterminated after the first treatment. I once
held a post mortem examination on one of my birds
immediately after death relieved it and was astonished
when I cut into the intestines. There were worms

40

several inches long, by the hundreds, and were full
of life, creeping around for some time upon the
platter I use for holding post mortems.

DIPHTHERIA.

Diphtheria is quite frequently called Canker,
and the latter is very often mistaken for the former,
but there is no question but that there is some
similarity as far as the symptoms are concerned.
Canker is a fungus growth afflicting, as it were, the
sides of the throat mostly, where in Diphtheria it
1. e. the growth, is confined to the membrane farther
down the throat and as the disease advances these
growths become enlarged and project on the sides of
the neck just below the entrance to the wind pipe.
‘It is however, mostly confined to the young squabs
at an age of two or three weeks and being the cause
of the death of many during the winter months, Old
birds may be subject to the disease as much as_ the
young, but they being so much stronger can endure
it a longer period of time, and it is probably trans-
mitted by them to their squabs. The parents may
be in apparent good health, there being no growth
in the throat visible upon an examination, but farther
down, the esophagus, contains the germ or bacillus
of Diphtheria, and the peculiar way by which nature
adopted the means of their feeding their young is
one reason why it is so easily transmitted. It is,
nevertheless, a very contagious disease, and the
afflicted birds should always be removed far from
the loft and placed in the “Hospital” by themselves,

Symptoms: Fever, a hard, red lump will be
seen projecting from the sides of the neck which
will be very much inflamed and contain a great

41

amount of heat. The bird will not care to eat and
incessantly gasps for breath. The breath will be
rather offensive, and care must be taken for it is
claimed it can be further transmitted to persons by
simply inhaling the bird’s breath. The disease some-
times appears in a very epidemic form and _ large
numbers die, it mostly occurring in the damp, cold
winter months. If the disease is not checked, the
bird finally dies of suffocation caused by the pressing
of this lump upon the windpipe.

Treatment: Remove as much of the cheesy
looking matter as possible without injuring the mem-

branes of the throat, and use as a lotion a solution
of Permanganate of Potassium (eight grains to the
ounce) to the throat, To paint the throat with
tincture Chloride Iron is also good. Feed only very
soft food while treating and add a small quantity of
powdered alum to the drinking water. When squabs
are afflicted with Diphtheria little can be done ex-
cept to prevent its spreading. It will be of little
use to commence operative treatment on so young
a bird, for the surgical operation of cutting out the
lump often causes the squab’s death owing to its
delicate constitution. However, if it is a valuable
bird it may be tried for the bird will undoubtedly
die anyhow, even if not operated upon. Make an
incision into the side of the neck taking care not to
cut an artery, and remove the lump. Stitch up again
with carbolized silk or fine catgut, and finally apply
a healing ointment containing [odoform or Aristol.
This operation must be quickly done, and for an
hour or two previous give the bird to be operated
upon a dose of quinine, otherwise the operation
42

would cause its death. The best means of preventing
this disease is to use a mild astringent in the drink-
ing water several times each week. Alum I have
found the best for this purpose, but it must be used.
very judiciously.

WING PARALYSIS.

Cause: No direct cause can be attributed to
this disease, but it is often seen associated with dis-
turbances of the Liver, especially that of congestion.
It can also be caused by lead poisoning, the bird
having drank water occasionally out of old paint
cans or of water standing a long time in leaden
vessels or pipes. Wing Paralysis or dropped wing
will often be found in the debilitating diseases where
there is extreme weakness. It may however, be
caused also by an internal disease of one of the other
vital organs, such as Congestion of the Lungs, ete.,
and is sometimes seen in birds suffering from severe
atony of the crop.

Symptoms: The wing or both wings appear
powerless and drag upon the ground. There is gen-
erally in true paralysis no swelling, stiffness, etc.,
but if anything, there will be a somewhat emaciated.
condition of the wing.

Treatment: As Paralysis of the Wing is merely
a symptom of some other disease, it is the main
pomt to make a true diagnosis, and treat the cause
rather than commence treatment upon the wing itself.
If it be the cause of liver troubles as above men-
tioned, then follow the treatment adopted for that
complaint, if from weakness from a. debilitating
disease use a tonic, or if from crop disease use that
treatment, but to make a permanent cure the cause

43

of the weakness of the wing must first be discovered
or all the trouble at treating will be of no avail
whatever.

GOING LIGHT.

Probably there is not a fancier or pigeon owner
but will with me agree that this disease is one of
the most common and the most dangerous that he
has to contend with in his pigeon loft, All birds
fare alike, it afflicting the fancy and the common
varieties in this respect the same. It is an exceed-
ingly contagious disease and often when it once ap-
pears whole lofts are completely wiped out in a
very short time. It is contracted to healthy birds
through the excrement, the bird having eaten food
containing the germs, or drinking water into which
some of the droppings of the sick bird had _ fallen.
It must always be considered a fatal disease in all
cases, but it can often be checked and cured if the
proper attention and treatment is given in time be-
fore the disease has advanced too far. It is said that
birds if they once recover from this disease will
never again contract it. This is however very doubt-
ful. It was heretofore understuod that this disease
was confined to highly bred birds and ones kept in
confinement, but I have quite frequently observed
birds having their freedom to become ill and die off
rapidly with this disease. Going Light is a name
applied to that disease of wasting away in which
diarrhoea is the prominent symptom, and it should
not be confounded with the wasting of lead poisoning
for in that there is obstinate constipation. Old birds
live quite a length of time sometimes when afticted,
but when it attacks their young they seldom live

44

long enough to waste away to mere skeletons as the
old ones do. When it attacks the young, the lungs
are generally affected first by an inflammation, and
although a bird may be apparently in health to-day,
it may be dead the next owing to this rapid inflam-
mation.

Symptoms: The disease usually starts with diar-
rhoea caused by an inflammation of the lining mem-
branes of the bowels. It will finally cause an
inflammation of the lungs which gradually waste
away as in Consumption. The afflicted bird lays
around with ruffed feathers and has a miserable
appearance in general. The discharges will be watery
containing considerable slime or mucous. Diarrhoea
is present throughout the whole course of the disease.
They care not for food, just eating enough for mere
existence and finally die, having wasted to a mere
skeleton.

Treatment: By far the best method to adopt is
that of prevention. Keep the loft in a good sanitary
condition, feed the best of food, (never rye) give
fresh water, use the tonic and this disease will sel-
dom appear. After a bird is once afhicted remove it
at once and feed it plenty of hemp seed, and en-
courage it to eat as much as possible. Cod Liver
Oil is about the best medicine or nourishment that
can be adopted for this disease. It keeps up the
strength and helps to supply nourishment to the
tissues which are rapidly being consumed. It should
be given in capsules containing from three to five
drops, three or four times each day, and at the same
time administer a dose of Hypophosphites of Lime
and Soda, one-fourth grain at each dose. If the

45

diarrhoea persists in a severe form Opium in some
form must be given, Laudanum in the right propor-
tions can be put in the drinking water. After the
bird is convalescing, the tonic should be given in
the water for some time to prevent the symptoms
from recurring.

CANKER IN EAR.

Another form of Canker affecting, as it were,
the ear instead of the throat. The cankered matter
will be about the same in appearance as that of the
throat. This is not considered a fatal disease but
will, if let advance, be very detrimental to the bird’s
hearing.

Treatment: Kemove as much cheesy matter as
possible without injuring the surrounding flesh, and
use as a wash a mild solution of Bichloride of Mer-
cury, or that of Peroxide of Hydrogen.

SOUR CROP.

A form of indigestion often produced by the
use of too much corn in connection with wheat. If
grains of the same nature such as wheat, buckwheat,
millet, canary, etc., are fed at one meal, this condi-
tion will seldom if ever arise. Most cases originate
in the injudicious use of corn, probably on account
of its cheapness.

Symptoms: The bird will have a rather lazy
look, and appear rather uncomfortable. The breath
will be rather offensive and have a sour smell. When
felt, the crop will be mushy and is somewhat dis-
tended. When the bird has eaten very heartily the
crop may be greatly distended from the accumulation
of gases produced by the decomposition of the food.

46

This is frequently followed with a violent diarrhoea.
Treatment: If possible remove some of the con-
tents of the crop, but it is not of so much importance
in this condition as in Crop Bound to remove the
contents. Remove the bird so it cannot get anything
more to eat and administer a capsule containing five
drops of Castor Oil, enough to purge and carry away
all undigested food. After a good discharge of the
bowels has been effected, soaked bread can then be
given. Next day the usual feed can be allowed.

CROP BOUND.

Crop Bound is a condition whereby the crop
has been overloaded with food and water, and _ that
organ losing its power of contraction or in other
words termed Atony of the Crop. The muscular
coating is partially paralyzed and in consequence the
crop remains in a dormant state not allowing the
food to pass further down into the second stomach.
This condition is something similar to Sour Crop,
but it is of a much more serious nature. The crop
is greatly weakened in this condition, where in the
former it is merely a fault of the food. The crop in
these cases will be much harder than that of Sour
Crop.

Treatment: The first thing to be done is to re-
move as much of the contents of the crop as can be
done without injuring the bird. After this has been
done remove the bird to quarters by itself and
administer a good sized dose of Castor Oil (5 drops)
and leave the bird quiet until the oil operates, after
which give about thirty pills of food, made by mix-
ing a medium hard boiled egg with cracker dust or
bread crumbs. As the crop in these cases is weak-

47

ened, that organ must be properly toned up before
the bird will be able to digest the harder grains. To
strengthen the crop and improve the appetite nothing
will be found better than to use Gentian Root in
the drinking water. <After the bird has fully re-
covered strength it can then be placed in the loft
again.
LEG WEAKNESS.

This is an ailment often afflicting squabs after
leaving the nests. It is probably due to their rapid
growth and being cramped up in the nests or nest
pans. I have never seen a case of leg weakness
where nests were used without the pans, whether
this is the cause of the weakness I would not lke
to say, but I do not fancy these pans myself and
never use them. I use. boxes a foot square for nests
and never have birds suffering from this weakness.
It is frequently the symptom of some other constitu-
tional disease when found in old birds, and those
diseases of a debilitating nature.

Treatment: Remove the cause if it can be
ascertained. Remove the bird and place it in a box
with the bottom covered an inch or two with hay.
Rub the legs morning and night well with a mixture
of turpentine, vinegar and white of an egg. Add
the tonic to the drinking water.

PROLAPSUS ANAL, (Disease of Vent.)

A disease afflicting the hen bird. It is usually
the cause of great weakness and generally is confined
to young hens, free breeders. An inflammation,
displacement, of some of the inward organs, or the
presence of a tumour may be another cause of Pro-
lapsus.

48

Symptoms: The vent will have the appearance
of being enlarged or too much opened, through
which protrudes the mucous membrane of the cloaca.
The part of the protrusion exposed to view soon
becomes inflamed from the action of the atmosphere
and becomes swollen. In bad cases the bowels are
exposed to view by this enlargement.

Treatment: Removing the inflammation is the
main object. Wash off the vent with a solution of
alum several timcs a day, keeping the bird very
quiet all the while treatment is being made. In two
days’ time discontinue the alum, when the inflam-
mation will usually have subsided somewhat, and use
_a lotion of Peroxide of Hydrogen three times daily,
for a week or more. The final treatment should be
a mild healing oil such as Sweet Oil or an ointment
of Iodoform. Use the tonic in the drinking water
for several months, and do not allow the hen afitlict-
ed to breed for some time, but give her a good rest,

TUMOURS.

These are small growths or swellings probably
due to some impurity of the biood or system, or the
result of an injury. They may appear on any part
of the body. It is sometimes seen under the eye,
and frequently near the vent. If these tumours are
treated daily with Tincture of Iodine until the skin
appears inflamed, then discontinue, they will usually
disappear, but when they are located at any tender
spot, for instance the eye, this tincture should not
be used for it may be the means of fatally injuring
the sight if any should get into that organ’s ducts.
When the tumour is on or near the eye I would
advise the use of a mild solution of sugar lead. Oc-

49

casionally tne above methods of treatment will be of
no avail, and when such is the case, surgical opera-
tions must be resorted to, to effect a cure. Use a
sharp knife, make an incision, care being taken not
to allow a flow of blood, and remove as much of
the tumours contents as possible. The wound should
then be stitched up, and an ointment of Jodoform
applied several times daily for a week until properly
healed up. ;
BROKEN BONES.

Fortunately the fancier seldom has a case of
broken bones, but sometimes they do occur, so a few
remarks here will be of some benefit in case of an
emergency. When a bone is broken, remove the
bird to another place and make a thorough examina-
tion, noticing if the fracture is in more than one
place or not, frequently the bone will be fractured
in several places. Procure small, narrow bandages
and dust them well with Plaster Paris, laying the
bandage open and dusting the plaster over it. Roll
these up and then soak in warm, salt water for five
or ten minutes. While these are soaking place the
broken parts of bone together, remembering that the
setting of the break is the main point of considera-
tion. Do not remove any cf the feathers; these may
aid in supporting the limb and keeping it in the
right position, Next take the bandages and carefully
wind them around the break very tightly, making
the Plaster Paris smooth upon the outside as it is
cooling.

This is the best method known, better than use
of splints, the plaster becoming as hard as cement,
especially when salt is added. Leave the Plaster

50

Paris bandage on for at least four weeks, when it
can be removed with careful cutting. Above all
keep the bird quiet during the whole course, and
after removing the bandages, keep in a small box
(so as not to get too much exercise or be able to
fly) for several weeks more, otherwise the bone
might be easily broken over again, and the second
break is not worth the treatment.

WOUNDS.

In case of a wound, gunshot wound for instance,
it will be necessary to first locate the shot if pos-
sible and extract it. This will encourage healing
more rapidly, Cleanse the wound with a lotion of
carbolic acid made by taking 300 parts of distilled
water to one part carbolic acid. This acid must be
the best refined and not the crude kind used for
disinfecting. Take a small syringe and inject this
lotion into the wound once a day for a few days,
then stitch up and use the Jodoform Ointment men-
tioned heretofore. In treating these wounds, or
wounds of different nature, the greatest care must
be taken to remove all dirt in the wound and that
adhering to the edges, for often blood poisoning will
be produced if any foreign substance is left in.

MOULTING PERIOD.

When birds are moulting they are more subject
to disease than at any other period. Care should be
taken of the birds more at this time than any other.
Do not allow a draught to go through the loft. Feed
them hemp seed occasionally, and peas, beans ard
the other foods rich in nitrogen. If salad can be
had it may be given them, and they will eat heartily
of it; likewise chickweed.

51

BARRENNESS.

Quite frequently a fancier will find a hen is
barren, or at least he thinks so. It is a very un-
common occurrence and when a hen does appear so,
nine out of ten times a rest of a few months will
fully restore her system to its proper healthy con-
dition. Again a hen is often condemned because of
laying. infertile eggs. Sometimes it is the fault of
the hen, she being weak, run down or the lke, but
in the majority of cases the fault hes with the cock,
Try the plan of giving the hen a new mate; this
often tells the tale.

COLDS.

When a bird takes a cold the symptoms will be
sneezing, slight discharge from nostrils, ete. A little
alum in the drinking water is sufficient treatment.

SOFT SHELLED EGGS.

Occasionally a hen will lay a soft shelled egg,
which is frequently due to an insufficiency of hme
material in the loft. _ Birds must have lime in some
form, either oyster shells, lime grit, plaster, etc. This
is not a disease, but it can also be the cause of
giving the bird overstimulating and fat forming foods
clogging the internal organs with fat and producing
weakness of the muscles.

Treatment: Feed plain food, not much if any
hemp, give plenty of oyster shells (ground) and the
other materials containing lime, with lime water for
drink.

A FEW POINTERS.

Learn how to quickly recognize a disease and to
try and check its course if possible. Arrest the
52

disease at an early period and one half the trouble
is over. In using the tonic described in different
places in this book, always use wooden vessels, metal
vessels may cause a chemical change and be injuri-
ous to the bird.

Remove all birds afflicted with contagious dis-
eases, having a separate pen or box as a “Hospital”
always ready. Always bury the bodies of dead birds,
for often diseases can be contracted from them even
after death, or burn them and avoid contagion.
Above all bear in mind that an ounce of Prevention
is worth a pound of Cure apples to our pets (the
pigeon) as well as to’ ourselves.

Keep the loft in a healthy condition, at all times
avoiding draughts and dampness. Have plenty of
windows in the lofts, for sunlight is nature’s disin-
fectant. Dark lofts and disease are companions.
Prevent lice from forming by whitewashing nests
and all the interior of the building, and use tobacco
stems for their material to nest with. A handtul of
slacked lime in a nest before it 1s occupied is a good
plan to further prevent the formation of lice. Allow
the birds a bath when they feel so inclined at least
-twice each week. Remove the droppings once each

week.

THE TONIC,

The Tonic mentioned in this book in several
places is the best I have found for the pigeon, for
general purposes. It is composed of only the best
medicines, not an injurious. combination, but will be
found very beneficial in Preventing and Treating
many of the Diseases of Pigeons. It is an excellent
antiseptic, laxative, and at the same time a good
Saline Tonic.

53

It is made by taking Copperas one-half ounce,
Sulphate of Soda four ounces, Gentian Root (pow’d)
one-half ounce, Phosphate of Soda two ounces, and
pure Creosote (Beechwood) one dram. The Creosote
must first be rubbed well (in a mortar) with about
forty grains of Calcined Magnesia, (otherwise it
would not mix with water.) Add two quarts of
warm water and follow with the other ingredients.
Set away in a cool place, and use a tablespoonful to
a gallon ot the bird or birds’ drinking water.

54

Pigeon Fanciers ae Se
Subscribe

FOR THE....

‘ \,

OR

The Best “

?xclusive ¢
rime - Pigeon

Pigeon Paper (

in i
» News

the World. (.
RZ ean FES ARS HM

. j

16 to 20 Pages, Hlustrated,
Semi-Monthly.

> Only $1.00 per Year. {
? Two Months on Trial for 25 cents.
) Sample Copy Free. )

C. E. TWOMBLY, Publisher,

SienPe- ses F use tas tens kgs ten

BOSTON, MASS,

NEW BOOK on PIGEONS

ENTITLED

PIGEONS

AND
ALI. ABOUT THEM.

By F. M. GILBERT.

This is the most complete PIGEON BOOK
ever published at the price, it contains full
description of every known variety, tells all
about how to manage your birds in_ sick-
ness and in health, and is the

LATEST PIGEON STANDARD.

Profusely illustrated with half-tone repro-
ductions of the most up-to-date drawings.
The work contains 264 pages, is handsome-
ly bound and every fancier should read it.

$1.00 PER COPY BY MAIL.

Published and For Sale By

C. E. TWOMBLY,
32 HAWLEY ST., BOSTON, MASS.

...FOR FANCY AND

Pedigree Boo HOMING PIGEONS.

hhh hhh hhh, hh hhh hhh hhh hh hh hhh, hhh, hhh hh hhh bbdie

The Pigeon Fanciers’
Loft Register.

Something to keep a litetime, and the most practical and
complete book of the kind ever published. Registers the
young from 100 pair and keeps correct pedigree of every bird
in the loft. Hundreds of fanciers now using this Loft Reg-
ister would not be without one.

Read What Two Well Known Fanciers Say Of It.

‘‘T have received a copy of THE PIGEON FANCIERS’ REGISTER
published by C. E. Twomstiy. It is gotten up in such good
shape that it explains itself, and I cheerfully recommend it
to all pigeon fanciers.”’ F. M. Gilbert, Evansville, Ind,

“T have used the Pigeon FANncTERS’ Lorr REGISTER, and
think it is the best book of the kind I have everseen. It is
gotten up in such a way as to enable me to register all my
young birds, and gives me more pleasure than trouble to keep
it. Every one keeping Fancy Pigeons should have one.

Joseph Gavin, Malden, Mass.

PRICE 00 CTS. POST PAID.

PUBLISHED BY

C. E. TWOMBLY, Boston, Mass.

PIGEON: (Ua

.»-FOR PRINTING PURPOSES...

I have the largest and best line of up-to-date stock
cuts of Pigeons to be found in any office in the World.

J£ you wish to have
your printing done at
home, I can supply
electrotypes of almost
every variety of fancy
pigeons, in three sizes
as follows.

1 inch size suitable
for cards, envelopes,
tags, etc.. .60c. each.

2 inch size suitable
for bill heads, letter
heads, etc., $1.00 ea.

3 inch size for cir-
culars, $2.00 each.

Sample 2 Inch Size.

Special half-tone cuts made to order
from photographs of fanciers or their
birds, size not exceeding ten square
inches, price $3.00 each. Larger cuts
a matter of correspondence.

All cuts sent Post Paid
on receipt of price.

1 Inch Size.

Estimates furnished on all kinds of Job Printing for
Fanciers. Good work and fair prices guaranteed.

Cc. E. TWOTrIBLY,
Publisher and Commercial Printer,
BOSTON, MASS.

Fultons—=

a aS a oS a Ae

HIS is the grand- B K of

Af est Book on (0
Pigeons ever

published, and every ‘
fancier wishing to be- Pigeons
come thoroughly ;
posted on all kinds of
pigeons should have ope
one. This is the only
work in the world that REVISED EDITION
tells absolutely every- BY
thing about how to
select, mate, feed, etc. Rev. W. i" LUMLY.
This book will save
intending purchasers ope
of fancy pigeons many
times the price of it. PRICE $5.00.
Large 4to size, illus- If By Mail .50 Extra.
trated with full page

engravings. FOR SALE BY

En ia in hae Ri Hiatal oe RG a ce

C..E. PW ame Ly, cublisher,
BOSTON, MASS.

SATS Sp SIS I TG ST ec cea
PIGEON anv

Poultry Supplies.

BARTHEN NEST PANS "xe moses rane

Made of red clay,
measures about nine
inches across the top,
with heavy bottom,
therefore not easily
upset.

OSE Se SSeS Si Se SS

These are the Only Practical Pigeon Nests on the Market. 3
Price .15 each, 2 for .25, 6 for 50, 12 for $1.00.

LEG BANDS, Seamless Aluminum and German Silver
for all breeds of Pigeons.

Message Holders and Blanks for Homers.

Dr. WENDEL’S PILLS for Going Light, Canker,
etc., 25 cents per box, post paid.

BANNER EGG FOOD and TONIC is the best Condi-
tion Powder for Chickens. It keeps the flock
healthy, and greatly increases the egg vield, price
1 lb Can 25c., by mail 40c., 5 Cans $1.00, on board
express in N. Y.

Our Immense Illustrated Catalogue, describing over
1000 different articles, Free. Send for one.

JXCELSIOR WIRE AND POULTRY SUPPLY (0,

MM RUSL: 28 Vesey St., N. Y. City.
iS SSIS aS aS aS SSS SS ISS

?

D9 USS aS aS aS aS US aS aS aS SSS aS aS OS aS OS SS ES ISS IS a ISOS

\

5 aS aS US aS aS aS ASS aS aS a OS aS AS aS

seek