648 Affricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Aug. 3, 1908. 



consoqiicntly, the first efforts should be directetl towards removing the offending matter. 

 For this purpose the simj)k'st thing to use is a small half teas])oonful of Epsom salts to 

 eaeh bird; this can he dissolved in the water which is used to mix the food. The food 

 should be light and iiourisliinix. and welt cookcMJ, and if the diarrhiea is jx^rsistent, from 

 four to six drops of cldorodync will be found an luifailing cure; tlie same may be snid 

 of a few drops of spirits of camphor, about four dro[)s for a snieiU hen; but, i)ersonally, 

 we {jrefer chlorodyne to anything else for the purjxjse. It may be observed that camphor 

 is commonly used in the drinking water of young checks as a ])ieventive of " gapes," 

 and, being an astringent, often gives rise to c;onsti])ation and general upset of the digestive 

 system. 



The indiscriminate use of hard-boilcf! egg as food for young chickens and turkeys is 

 responsible for many eases of this ailment. The long-continued use of egg in this form 

 always leads to constipation, followed by diarrhcca; hence many peoj)le condemn egg 

 food for young birds, when it is the method of using it that is entirely to blame. Even 

 the much ai)used " hard-boiled " egg may be safely fed, jjrovided it is so linely cho])ped 

 that the chicks cannot easily se])arate the pieces of egg from the crumbs or oatmeal or 

 biscuit-meal with wliich ii is mixed. 



A frecpient cause of diarrhoea with young birds is allowing them to drink sun-warmed 

 water. If the water is supplied in a shallow vessel, which allows of the chickens standing 

 in it, and so ]iolluting it with their droj)pings, the soiled water soon goes putrid, and is 

 almost poi.sonous to the chicks. In very hot weather the water vessel should l)e emptied 

 and refilled twice daily; careful rearers give fresh water at each time of feeding, but such 

 extreme care is not necessary if shade can be contrived for the water. 



Where green food is given at irregular intervals, or where it is fed in quantity after 

 it has been withheld for some time, or where meat is similarly used, bowel troubles may 

 always be expected; when meat has caused the trouble, the droppings are often st/eaked 

 with blood. For simple diarrhoea in chickens and turkey jioults, the best food to use is 

 rice boiled in milk until it is dry; this will often effect a cuie without further treatment. 

 In severe eases a coujjle of drops of chlorodyne in a small quantity of milk, oi on a. bolus of 

 bread and milk, may be given to each bird. In every instance the cause of the attack 

 must be sought for and removed, or remedies will jirove of little avail. 



AVe have so far been dealing with simiile diarrha^a, and to many people it may appear 

 waste of time to notice such a trifling ailment. It is, however, well to point out that it may 

 be just a passing derangement of the system due to any of the above-named causes; but, 

 on the other hand, it may be a symptom of far more serious and deadly diseases, such as 

 tuberculous liver or cholera. Hence the need for care and vigilance, as instead of being 

 harmless the discharge from the bird may be a source of infection and a menace to the 

 health of the entire f!.)ch. 



In a well-managed poultry yartl simple diarrha^a will rarely be found, excejit in 

 occasional isolated cases; its presence is more frequently observed in yards where the 

 feeding is irregular, and where the birds have to a great extent to look after them.selves. 

 The owners of such birds need not look for much jirolit, and will usually be found asking 

 " does poultry-keeping pay? " 



Dysentery is a more aggravated form of diarrhoea, and the odds are usually 

 against the bird. 



The risky dose of 10 drops of chhjrodyne lias, however, been reputed the 

 means of saving some lives. 



THpMheria is a highly contagious disease, and is feared by every poultry- 

 man, being most contagious, and in many cases proving fatal. The symptoms 

 are a discharge of an ill-smelling sticky liquid from the eyes, nostrils, and 

 the corners of the mouth. In a day or two there is a growth in the mouth 

 and throat of white cheesy-like matter. This deposit sometimes increasing 

 in a day to the extent of closing up the larnyx passage, the fowl dying from 

 want of breath. 



The treatment of fowls affected witli this disease is anything but pleasant^ 

 and as cured ones are most hable to again contract the disease, the majority 

 of poultrymeu kill the affected ones on the discovery of the disease, and burn 

 the carcases. 



