18 
INTRODUCTION. 
during winter, it is plain that there is much to injure the 
delicate lungs of the birds. 
A moist and refreshing regimen and some aperients, more or 
less often, according to the violence of the disease, appears the 
most appropriate remedy. A favorite linnet and goldfinch, 
mentioned by Dr. Bechstein, when attacked with very bad 
asthma, were relieved and preserved for several years by the 
following method:— 
The first thing was to leave off hemp seed entirely, confining 
them solely to rape seed; but giving them at the same time an 
abundance of bread, soaked in pure water, and then pressed; 
lettuce, endive, or water cresses, according to the season, twice 
a-week, giving them bread boiled in milk, about the size of a 
nutmeg. This is made by throwing a piece of the crumb of 
white bread, about the size of a nut, into a teacupful of milk, 
boiling it, and stirring it all the time with a wooden spoon till 
it is of the consistency of pap. It must be quite cold before it 
is given to the birds, and must always be made fresh, for if 
sour, it will prove injurious. 
This paste, which they are very fond of, purges them suffi¬ 
ciently, and sensibly relieves them. In very violent attacks, 
nothing but this paste ought to be given for two or three days 
following, and this will soon give the desired relief. 
When the disease is slight, or only begun, it is sufficient to 
give the bread and milk once in three or four days. When 
employed under similar circumstances, this treatment has 
cured several very valuable birds. It may not be useless 
here to renew the advice of always giving the birds an 
opportunity of bathing every day, by putting in their way 
a saucer, or any other small shallow bath, filled with 
water, which should never be too cold, and in winter always 
milkwarm. 
One thing which is very injurious to the lungs of birds, and 
which too often occurs, is the fright occasioned by tormenting 
them, or by seizing them too suddenly; for the poor little 
things often rupture a blood vessel in the breast while beating 
themselves about. A drop of blood in the beak is the sign, and a 
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