98 CANARIES 



the bath, and about once a week a little magnesia should 

 be placed in the drinking water. Some fanciers of my 

 acquaintance prefer Epsom salts to magnesia ; if they are 

 used, the quantity must be about as much as will lie 

 on a threepenny piece. 



Asthma. 



This disease is one of the most prevalent amongst cage 

 birds ; in fact, did one say that no disease was more 

 prevalent they would not be far from the truth. The 

 tendency of highly bred stock to contract this disease 

 is much more noticeable now than it was a few years 

 back. This is doubtless due to breeding from affected 

 stock. I have seen birds paired up that have been 

 suffering from this disease in its most acute and chronic 

 form. Is it expected that such birds will breed healthy 

 stock ? Common sense answers " No ! " I am quite 

 aware that if a man is the fortunate possessor of, say, a 

 grand crested bird, one that can hck creation, it is very 

 hard to put that bird by and say, " I will not breed with 

 it." Yet it is only by some such drastic remedy that a 

 man can stay the hand of the destroyer. I have heard 

 breeders say, upon being remonstrated with for pairing 

 birds suffering from this complaint, " Well, I want to 

 get one nest from them, just to keep the strain." Better, 

 far better, refrain from such conduct. 



This disease is often mistaken for bronchitis, but the 

 symptoms are very different in each of these diseases. 

 In asthma there is much tightness at the chest, shown 

 by the gasping for breath during the continuance of the 

 periodical fits of coughing to which the bird is subject. 

 Asthma is easily cured if taken in hand at once. Some 

 say it is impossible to cure it once it reaches the chronic 

 stage. I cannot agree with this, having cured several 

 cases in which the disease had been of long standing. 



When a bird becomes affected it will be seized with 

 periodical attacks of coughing, accompanied by expec- 

 toration. These attacks are more frequent and severe 

 at night than at any other time. When the attack is 

 past the poor little sufferer looks miserably weak and 

 helpless. 



In the treatment of asthma much attention should be 



