Sea water, 1 part to 5 parts of fresh water, makes the best salt solution. If this is unavailable, use rock salt, 2 heaping teaspoons to 1 gallon of water. Table salt can be used, in the same proportion, but use a pure brand that has no cornstarch or other inert matter added to prevent caking. Change the salt water daily during the treatment. A common procedure is to increase the strength of the solution daily, over a period of three to four days, until it is twice as strong as it was originally.

After two days, or when the fish show improvement, begin weakening the solution and taper it down gradually to the original strength before returning the fish to pool or aquarium. Remove fish from the solution immediately if they show signs of exhaustion by rolling over. One treatment suffices for most ills.

There is a quicker salt treatment used by some fanciers. They double the strength of the solution at the beginning-l part of sea water to 21/2 of fresh water, or 4 heaping teaspoons of dry salt to 1 gallon. They put ailing fish into the strong solution for a minute or more, or until they appear exhausted. Such treatment does cure fish, but I don't think it cures them as thoroughly as the milder, longer treatment. The harsher treatment also involves the risk of killing the fish by shock.

We treat whole ponds of goldfish with potassium permanganate, allowing 22 grains (by weight from the druggist) to 100 gallons of water. For a smaller volume of water, allow approximate1y 1/4 grain to 1 gallon. This is on the strong side, but when we treat huge ponds of fish, we take into consideration the great amount of algae and other plant growth on which the chemical will expend part of its strength.

From 1/8 to 1/4 grain per gallon is a good solution strength for treatment of fish in smaller receptacles. Leave them in the solution for two days, or until they show signs of exhaustion.

You can drop the potassium permanganate directly into pond or aquarium, if you like, for it will act as a tonic to aquatic plants and other goldfish there. Be sure to remove snails, for the solution may kill them. Also remember that potassium permanganate will kill 0ff most of the algae.

Some ailments require repeated treatments with potassium permanganate, but such treatments should not be given more often than every ten days. The water need not be changed between treatments, for the chemical expends its energy in two to three days, and the strength is not cumulative.

Ask the druggist for the “fines” potassium permanganate, for it dissolves much more quickly than the crystals. Keep the chemical dry until ready for use; it weakens in solution.

The effects of an ammonia solution-10 drops of household ammonia to 1 gallon of water-are sometimes beneficial. Leave the ailing fish in the solution 5 minutes, or until there are signs of distress. I have not personally experimented with this solution. Until I do, I would not advise it except as a last resort to rid fish of some extremely stubborn parasite.