The first occur rather frequently in parrots. Causes; Wrong or over rich food. In consequence of catarrh in the intestines, the opening which conducts the gall into the smaller intestines becomes closed, from which results stoppage, and the gall becomes absorbed in the blood and causes jaundice. Treatment : Glauber's salt (23) as a purgative, and an infusion of calamus root (38), in doses of one teaspoonful; for the rest, a light and sparing diet and green food.

Other diseases of the liver are difficult to recognise in parrots; indeed, only two can really occur - the formation of tubercles in the liver, already mentioned on page 56, and fatty liver, or obesity in general. Symptoms of the latter : Laboured breathing, panting, difficulty in moving, hard or thickish excretions. On closer examination the body is found to be completely laden with fat, flaccid inactive skin, full of folds, and probably also large places destitute of feathers. Preventative measures: It is best to take the parrot from the cage every day, and let it fly several times about the room; otherwise procure a more roomy cage, with an arrangement for climbing; always give wood to gnaw, and now and then a scanty diet. Treatment: The above measures should be used, green food given; if the bird suffer from costiveness, castor oil (72); much movement, yet without the parrot being frightened, and bathing, but very cautiously.

I do not know whether inflammation of the spleen really occurs in parrots; its occurrence among barndoor fowl has been really proved. Causes: Often bacteria. Symptoms: Sudden illness, trembling of the muscles, the feathers much bristled, evil-smelling, blood-streaked excrement, blood and foam from the mouth and nostrils, convulsive twitching; when in a lesser degree and of slower progress, a bluish colour is seen on the mucous membrane, staggering, formation of swellings or lumps from the size of a pea to a hazel nut, which are hot and painful, and which, when opened, are found to contain a sticky, yellowish, brown, gall-like matter, or a thin, watery humour; there are also reddish-blue blisters on the tongue. Preventative measures: The strictest isolation. Treatment: A solution of carbolic acid (44), one teaspoonful, at intervals of half-an-hour, give eight or ten times, and brush the tumours over with a solution of carbolic acid (46). The bird is nearly always lost.

Heart Diseases are naturally difficult to recognise in birds, whereas they occur much more frequently than is supposed. Zurn speaks of inflammation of the sac of the heart, and gives as the symptoms, weakness, unsteady use of the feet, laboured breathing, and, above all things, very perceptible and rapid beating of the heart. The sick birds are mournful, sit apart, seek dark corners, tremble, and lie. Death soon takes place. Treatment: Experimentally, tincture of digitalis (18), two or three times daily. Besides this there are tubercles or ulcers in the heart, which I have often found myself; fatty heart, and the contrary, atrophy of that organ, then dropsy of the heart; also ossification of vascular tissues, or contraction of the cavity of the aorta; finally, inflammation of the muscles or valves of the heart, produced by parasitical animalculae (see page 54, "Inflammation of the Lungs"). Remedies can scarcely be applied in any of these diseases. Zurn gives no further information on the subject.

Diseases of the Brain frequently occur in parrots. If the brain (as well as the heart and the lungs) after death appear filled with blood, either all over or in parts, then we may know that congestion of the brain, or a condition called in man apoplexy, has arisen. Cause: Great excitement, terror, anxiety, etc.; too great heat, too much hemp seed in warm weather, and sudden and violent flow of blood. Symptoms : Strange manner of holding the head on one side, turning the eyes about, staggering or going backwards, twirling round, a rapid death in convulsions. Preventative measures: Averting the above-mentioned influences; hydrochloric acid (78) in the drinking water; scanty diet, and much green food. Treatment: Cold water over the head, either with a douche or by laying on it a wet sponge; as a purgative, castor oil (72).

Convulsions, Epileptic Fits, etc, are also the result of disorder in the brain, or other important organs. The parrot suddenly shrinks together, with violent twitching, beating of the wings, or twirling round; or it begins to tremble, totters, rolls the eyes and then the head, falls down, and writhes violently. Causes: The same as above; also from being kept in too small a cage; too great heat either from the fire or the sun; seclusion from mate, etc. Preventative measures: As above. Remedies: Change of food, much green food, and fruit; coolness, fresh air, change of place, and, for the rest, those suggested above. When the attack comes on, take the parrot in the hand and hold it upright, so that it may not bruise and injure itself severely, but may find relief. In doing this, however, one must guard against its bites. I strongly deprecate the customary barbarous remedy of cutting off a toe, or otherwise letting blood. If convulsions only occur once, they are not of great importance; only when they recur should remedies be applied, and, before all things, endeavours made to discover the cause. Not unfrequently the smaller, nimbler parrots injure the skull or spine on some sharp edge by flying up in sudden fright. Symptoms : Staggering, falling down, convulsions, and violent convulsive writhings. Cure is mostly impossible. Alleviate by holding the bird in the hand, or laying it in a basket and covering it with a cloth. Staggers arise either from turning round constantly (as a very active parrot in a very small round cage may do), from injury, striking on a sharp corner, or from living parasites in the brain. Symptoms : Holding the head on one side., bending backwards, twisting round, staggering, tumbling backwards, and convulsions. Treatment: In the first case use a larger, square cage; in other cases cure is scarcely possible.