Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-23
HOSPITAL FOR BIRDS.
TREATING THE ILLS OF SMALL
FEATHERED PATIENTS.
Asylum Established by q Woman Who
Has Made Birds Q
Study.

Although New York has many shops 1oE
the sale of birds, their belongings and re-
quirements. only recently has It possessed
q hospital for the reception OF feathereo
sufferers. So far as Is known, also, tnia
Is the only institution OF the KIND IN exist
ence anywhere. Miss Virginia Pope, the
proprietress and head physician is an en-
thusiastic lover OF birds She has made
their anatomy. nature, habits, 1d1osyncra-
sizes and ailments the study OF her life. even
going to the Black Forest and remaining
there for considerable period in order
thoroughly to acquaint herself with cana
ries She not only goes out to visit sick
birds professionally at their owners resi-
dences but maintains this hospital and
sanitarium. where she receives feathered
patients and ministers to their woes with
the gentle and skilled attention OF trained
enthusiast, and she also takes In as board
through absence from the city or some
other reason, to part with them tempo
rarily.
Where the Birds Live.
The establishment consists OF several
rooms. The largest is that allotted to the
boarders of the bird community. 1t is
triangular shaped one OF considerable size,
the base of the triangle facing the street
and being almost all window, with south
ern exposure. The bright sunshine came
pouring in and then the floods of melody
issuing from more than 100 f1u1y little
threats made 1t seem a very happy place
when the reporter called day or so ago.
All along the walls hung cages with small
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, thrushes, orioles, etc
generally one in each cage, Near the win
dows stood an aviary containing a happy
family OF about q dozen birds OF different
species-godfinche buiffinches, linnets and
Java sparrows-all living in amity.
There were also several paroquets, a
splendid pair Of cardinals. an inuuisitive-
looking robin and a soft-voiced parrot. AL
though this was the boarders' room, some
Of the birds in 1t were former patients that,
having recovered from the ailment or OPP
Grafton which necessitate their sojourn
with the doctor, were now advanced con-
valescents, soon to be restored to their
rejoicing owners. In the inner rooms were
the little bipeds under medical treatment.
Birds are subject to many Of the ailments
to which human flesh is heir. They have
according to the doctor. rheumatism. dys-
pepsia, asthma, consumption, palpft ton
OF the heart. fevers, paralysis and even
corns. Some OF the patients were in bed
The bed is a little pasteboard box: the mat
tresses are made of soft old linen dam
ask, and the bird is tucked in carefully and
comfortably only his little round head
and bright eyes being visible Asthma is
the form of disease to which birds are
most liable, and most of the patients here
suffer from this trouble. Asthmatic pa
TENTS are treated by having hot water
bag placed on top Of their cages and a
flannel cloth thrown over ALA small
space being left for breathing air to enter
Sometimes. too. the bird is made to lie on
fannsl-sWathed hot water bag.
Treatment Of the Pets.
Heat is the most important factor in
the medical treatment Of birds. The para
phernaiia in evidence here for the allevia-
tion Of bird illness is quite formidable
one. Besides the hot water bags and ther-
mometers. oandages, rubber gloves, bird
sprinhers, medicated cotton and bottles
Of all kinds Of medicine and cocaine are
visible. All these enter into the healing
processes carried on at the sanitarium
Both allopathic and homeopathic remedies
are resorted to, according to the nature
be very beneficial in some cases of bird
trouble
A very powerful microscope was at hand
AN instrument frequently used In the ex-
animation of patients. Not only sufferers
from disease are treated I1ere-yictims IF
accident also are often brought and sue
cessfully treated by the adoct or who is a
skilled bird surgeon. A bird with a broken
leg has it set and bandaged, after which
1t Is put in the bandage swing formed of
strap or strong linen with two Sits cut
IN IT. The birds legs are inserted in the
Sits and he Is left to swing until his re-
coVery. Mites are a pest to which canaries
are at times liable. They are tiny red in
sects which prey upon the little victim until
ms life Is Slapped away unless something is
done to relieve him. If flannel cloth he
placed at night on the cage the mites will
pc round In the morning to have left the
bird for the warm wool. If this is re-
peated night after night and the cage thor
oughiy cleansed-kerosene is valuable for
this-in time the bird will be rid of the
pests. ~