The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04
coNvIcTs AT WORK.
tute the entire medical and nursing staff
of the hospital

tute the entire medical and nursing staff
of the hospital
Finding by personal observation that the
diseases of birds were for the most part
exactly the same as those that afflicted hui
manity. DR.. Cross studied medicine suf-
flciently to become familiar with the nature
and application of the more common drugs
Since the establishment of his own unique
institution, the good doctors fame has
spread abroad, until now invalid birds are
sent to him from all over the country,
a beautiful parrot for which his owner
had refused $500 having been sent to the
hospital all the way from Denver. AS with
individuals, a large proportion of the dis
eases from which birds suffer is the result
of colds and improper diet.
DIR. Cross Patients.
There is no bird that can stand draft"
said Mr. Cross, land yet people who seem
to adore their pets constantly leave them
near open windows and doors. This is par
ticuarly dangerous during the period of
noting"
AS l walked through the wards I was
frequently addressed by the interesting
conValescents. "IIalloa, how do you do?'
sang out beautiful old gray fellow, who
however, hadn't a feather on his breast.
He proved to be the victim of high living
His over-indulgent master has allowed him
to eat potato, meat and all sorts of greasy
food from the table, and now he was pay
ing up for his good times by living on a
very strict diet, taking a good blood puri-
fer and being sprinkled every day with
Indian cookie to keep him from plucking
out his plumage.
Next to him was another bon viveur who
was suffering from govt, a disease 10
which birds of the upper tendon are par
ticularly liable. Their toes swell in the
regulation manner, and sometimes indeed,
have to be amputated. OF course at the
hospital they have to come down to plain
living and high thinking.
Poor Polly" from a cage nearby, next
attracted my attention, and there Lfound
bird of brilliant plumage who, however,
showed an ugly tumor on her right wing.
She had already had one removed from
her left, and was undergoing the same pro-
cess for the one in view. The doctors
method for dealing with this trouble-by
no means an uncommon one-is to take
silk thread previously soaked in an anti
septic or a silver cord, and bind it tightly
around the eXcTescence; every day he
tightens the cord a little, until the trouble
disappears, of course treating the general
system meanwhile.
No sound came from the adjoining cage,
in which, however, L caught sight of a
pretty seedy-looking bird. Poor old fell
low! He was suffering from a bad case
of tonsilitis, and his throat had that day
been operated upon He was, however, be-
ing braced up on a decoction of whisky,
quinine, iron and water, and was bound
10 pull through. The little invalids In
stinctively recognize Mr.. Cross as their
friend and allow him to handle them with
the utmost freedom. His method Of ad-
miuistering medicine is to hold the bird
quietly in one hand, while with the other
he drops the remedy with medicine drop
per on the side of the face, close to the
bill Enough is sure to get into the mouth
by this process, while if the mouth is fore
ed upon and the remedy dropped imme-
diateiy in, it is very likely to strange the
delicate little creature. During my visit to
the hospital woman called to consult the
doctor In regard to her canary, which
seemed to be troubled with sore throat and
hoarseness. The good old-fashioned rene
DIV of onion sirup was prescribed, TO be
given in the manner indicated.
some Diseases and Their Treatments
Catarrh, pneumonia, bronchitis, diph-
iberia and indigestion are among the most
frequent ailments, and birds, especially
parrots, are almost always affected by
any epideulc during a petlou OF lhIlueh-
"a. for instance, the doctor had at one
time 1856 parrots on his hands for treat
ment.
Mr.. Cross is entirely modern-which per-
haps means scientific-in his treatment,
and has just exploded many an cd tradi-
ton. just as there was once PATHOLOGY
cal law to the effect that water must not
be given a fever patient, so in birddom.
there Is still the statute that you must
HIM % talk. and many a bird fancier even
to-day tells hopeful purchaser not TO al
low poor polly any water for three months
This. Mr.. Cross says is as absurd as II is
cruel Equally ridiculous Is the notion
that sat will XIII a bird. Quite 90 the
contrary. Mr.. Cross treatment for lndi-
gestion Is to place a cup of warm salt