This is a very common disease among house birds. Those attacked with it
have their breath short, often open their beaks as if to gasp for more
air, and, when agitated or frightened, keep them open for a long time.
The cause of this disease may doubtless be found in the mode of life
which these birds lead. Their food is generally too dry and heating,
being principally hemp-seed, which is very injurious, but liked by all;
and is the more hurtful, as it inclines them to eat too much. If to this
be added the unchanged air of the rooms, particularly those which have
stoves instead of chimneys, and the great heat which is kept up during
winter, it is plain that there is much to injure the delicate lungs of
these 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 favourite linnet and goldfinch, 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 abundance of
bread, soaked in pure water, and then pressed; lettuce, endive, or
water-cresses, according to the seasons, twice a week, giving them
boiled bread and 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 sufficiently, 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 milk-warm.
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 speedy death is the general
consequence. If this do not happen, the breathing is not the less
difficult and painful; and recovery is rare, at least without the
greatest care and attention.
Birds which eat insects and worms, occasionally, by accident, swallow
some extraneous substance, which, sticking in their throat, stops their
respiration, and stifles them. The only remedy is to extract the foreign
body, which requires much skill and dexterity.
When asthma is brought on by eating seeds which are too old, spoiled, or
rancid, Dr. Handel recommends some drops of oxymel to be swallowed for
eight days following. But the best way is to change the seed, and be
sure there is none but good seed in the trough.