Maf/ 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 399 



centre. A piece 2 inches wide will, in most instances, be sufficiently large, but such 

 cutting is only to be recommended wlien a fowl has a very much-distended crop. When 

 the crop is open it is best to pass a finger (greased) into the passage to feel the outlet, in 

 case of there being some obstruction ; also to put into the crop a small piece of lard. 

 Close the opening in the ci'op by sewing it, and when that is done rub the stitches with 

 plain healing ointment, then sew up the outer skin. This is the part of the operation 

 tliat reipiires the most care. The crop is ipiite distinct from the outer skin, and if the 

 ■operator is nervous, or the fowl fidgety, it sometimes happens that tlie two are sewn up 

 together. It is a fatal mistake. The outer suture should Ije sewn closely, and then 

 rubbed with pure grease or ointment, so that every opening is filled. Let each stitch be 

 independent of tlie other by knotting the ends, and be careful that the lips of the wound 

 Ave drawn closely together. About four stitches in the crop and three in the outer skin 

 will be sufficient. Horsehair or fine catgut, rubbed with glycerine, may Ije used. After 

 the opei-ation the bird should be put in a quiet and dark place, and fed only on gruel for 

 a few days, allowing a few hours rest before food is given. If the patient goes on well, 

 <'i cure w ill generally be effected in ten days, or, at most, a fortnight. Let your flock of 

 fowls bj constantly supplied with sharp Hint grit, feed them at regular intervals, and see 

 that they have clean drinking water. A pinch or two of table salt occasionally mixed 

 with the meat is very beneficial, as it helps to aid assimilation and prevents sour crop. 



The other troubles are soft crop, and inflammation of the crop. Mr. E. 



Brown, an English authority on poultry diseases, says : — 



It is not easy to exactly determine the causes of soft crop, but in many cases it is due 

 undoubtedly to very acute indigestion ; sometimes it is owing to water or air in the crop. 

 I have upon several occasions known soft crop to occur after a case of crop bound. If 

 thn crop is felt it will be found to be soft, resembling a half-filled balloon. The disease 

 can sometimes be cured by holding the bird upside tiownand S(pieezing the crop between 

 the hands, which expels the air or water, as the case may be. If this is ineffectual, it is 

 necessary to make an incision with a sharp knife or needle. The greatest care must 1 e 

 <ixercised in the feeding, and little or no drinldng water should be supplied. It is 

 iidvisable to keep the bir-d by itself, wdiere it can procure no food, as carelessness in 

 feeding may have very serious consequences. Tlie bird should never be allowed to eat 

 to repletion. If any drinking water is sujjplied it should only be given after each meal, 

 <ind to it a few drops of nitric acid should Ije added. 



Inflammation of ths Crop. 



A bad case of inflammation nearly always ends fatally, and it is only during the early 

 stages that a cure is at all likely to prove successful. The caiise of this complaint is the 

 presence of an irritant poison, and the symptoms are di.lxult breathing, a mopish and 

 dull appearance, and constant vomiting. Mr. W. Hill, an authority on the diseases 

 which affect poultry, recommends the following treatment : — Mucilaginous or albuminous 

 fluids, such as barley-water, milk, and isinglass, or a thin solution of gum, should be 

 freely administered after first evacuating the crop. Should phosphorus have been 

 taken, magnesia may be given, followed by turpentine mixed in cream. Oil must not he 

 administered. Lead is often a cause of poultry-jjoisoning when paints are about. In 

 this case the crop should be immediately evacuated, and half a teaspoonful of sulphate of 

 magnesia and 5 minims of sulphuric acid, mixed in a wineglassful of water, be adminis- 

 tered without delay. In a couple of hours 5 grains of iodide of potassium may be given 

 in a teaspoonful of water. Afterwards feed on mucilaginous liquids. If purging 

 commences, give a teaspoonful of castor-oil, with a grain of opium. Crude or unslaked 

 lime is an irritant ijoisoa to fowls, producing inflammation of the throat, crop, gullet, 

 gizzard, and intestines. In this case oil should be at once administered, followed by full 

 .and frequent doses of mucilaginous or albuminous fluids. 



{To be continued.) 



