52 



TRotes on Iboueing anD 1bv>aieue. 



By W. Geo. Creswei.i<, M.D. Durh., L.R.C.P., F.Z.S. 

 {Continued from page ^7). 



0F course most people will wonder greatl}" at 

 what I have just said about the bronchitic 

 Canaries recovering from their ailment in the 

 open air. The large majority of fanciers are 

 so imbued with the idea that Canaries need warmth, 

 because they originally came from a warmer climate 

 than ours, that one can hardly pick up any book or 

 paper treating of these birds without finding the 

 most elaborate directions as to temperature and heat- 

 ing apparatus. If we go into any average birdroom, 

 we shall find the owner perhaps very conscientious as 

 to the regularity of his cleaning operations and quite 

 of the opinion that he has done nearly all that is 

 necessary to his birds' welfare if only he keeps their 

 cages neat and well sanded. When in addition to this 

 he has stopped up every crevice through which fresh 

 air can enter the room, and has installed some form 

 of heating apparatus with a series of thermometers 

 hanging to the walls in various places, he then con- 

 gratulates himself that now at last all is right. But 

 he has forgotten that oxygen is the most important 

 constituent of the air breathed by all animals, 

 and that carbonic acid is absolutely poisonous when 

 constantly present in any considerable proportion 

 over the normal 3 parts in 10,000. He recks not that 

 every time a breath is taken the expired air has lost 

 five per cent, of its oxygen and has gained five per 

 cent, of carbonic acid owing to the changes that 

 have taken place in the lungs. While he would 

 fastidiously shrink from making his tea or even 

 washing his face with dirty water, he scruples not to 

 compel his helpless "pets" to breathe air reeking 

 with poisonous foulness, and is perfectly content to 



