This is a disease with which house birds are very often attacked. What I
have found to be most useful in this case is to plunge the sick birds
every now and then into very cold water, letting them fall suddenly into
it, and cutting their claws, or at least one or two, short enough for
the blood to run.
From bleeding giving so much relief one would think that this disease is
a kind of apoplexy, occasioned by want of exercise and too much food.
Bullfinches and thrushes are more subject to it than any other birds,
and bleeding always cures them. I have seen this done with great success
in the following manner, but much delicacy and skill are required, as
there would be great danger of laming the bird:--a very small hole is
made on the surface of the claw, with a lancet or very sharp penknife;
it is then plunged in lukewarm water, and if the operation be well done
the blood runs like a thread of red silk; when removed from the water
the bleeding stops: no bandage or dressing is required.