Correspondence



115



suffering from the deficiency accordingly. This belief is strengthened

by the fact that some of the birds recovered in captivity.


In the case of those described where the eye receded, this is, in my

opinion, a different disease altogether, for whereas I have effected a cure

in the first-mentioned, in the latter I have been unable to, even with

a balanced diet containing the three essential Vitamins A, B, and C.

I have in my possession now a Canary from a well-known breeder with

this complaint. There is certainly a slight improvement in the eye,

but I am rather doubtful if it can be cured by feeding. Time will tell,

as I am still treating the bird, although I have had it about four weeks.


Regarding the query of W. L. English in the March issue as to

whether we can improve the health of delicate Softbills by feeding

Mealworms with Vitamin-rich substances : we could of course improve

the feeding value of these by vitamin feeding, but the result would be

in the minority as it were. Mealworms do not form the staple diet of

Softbills in captivity, therefore the extra food value in them would not

be of much use to the birds. What must be done is that the staple diet

must be balanced with the essential vitamin substances, then success

would be obtained. It may be of interest to Softbill keepers to know

that if they use a dry stock mixture, or a mixture that has to be

moistened with water, that they are supplying their birds with a food

that fails to supply the essential vitamin substances necessary for

health and longevity, because it is practically impossible for a dry

mixture to contain them.


Whilst on this subject, I have just received a letter from a prominent

doctor member of ours, explaining that he has had many birds with

the eye disease, and in the case of young Blue Robins he has been

troubled with Avian Polyneuritis. For the benefit of any fanciers

who have been troubled with the latter disease, it may interest them

to know that it is due to a deficiency of Vitamin B, or water soluble B,

which is a most essential substance because, unlike the fat soluble

substances it cannot be stored in the body tissues, therefore it is more

quickly apparent and death, incidentally, quicker.



P. H. Hastings.



