Juff. S, 190S.'\ Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 653 



enlargement is frequently minus feathers, looks shiny, it feels soft, and is 

 movable. The accumulation is of a thin watery nature, and is sometimes 

 colourless, or it may be straw coloured. The causes are varied. Several 

 scientists who have studied the disease have disagreed as to its cause ; the 

 majority, however, think it arises from an escape of water from the blood 

 vessels into the tissues or into some cavity, as the abdomen. 



This form of dropsy can be reheved by a puncture with a surgeon's hollow 

 needle, when most of the liquid will run out, but it must be remembered that 

 this is only a temporary relief, there being always a tendency to further 

 accumulation of the fluid. Further, birds that are dropsical have no right 

 in the breeding yard ; while even if of otherwise exhibition quality, the 

 enlargement warrants the fowl being disqualified from securing a prize. 



Bronchitis. — Bronchitis is an inflamed condition of the bronchial tubes, 

 or air passages, and mostly occurs in connection with roup (which see). 

 Indeed, it rarely exists as a .separate disease in a fowl. There is usually a 

 quantity of mucus in the throat, quick breathing, discharge from the nostrils, 

 and, at times, one or both eyes become inflamed ; there is dulness and loss 

 of appetite. There are many causes for this trouble. Draughty, or even 

 too close houses have been responsible for attacks, while foul air and filthy 

 conditions sometimes bring it on. Prize fowls sent by rail to shows or private 

 customers frequently develop the disease, or when being carted from a hot 

 show-room to the railway or other destination, get cold, which quickly 

 develops into bronchitis. A difficulty in breathing, and noise or rattle in 

 the throat, and coughing, are sure signs of the disease. Sometimes the noise 

 becomes chronic, and I have known instances where fowls were apparently 

 healthy, with the exception of this noise. The simplest effective treatment 

 is, 2 or 3 drops of spirits of camphor in a teaspoonful of glycerine, two nights 

 in succession, which should be followed with about 10 drops of sulphuric 

 acid in a pint of the fowls' drinking water. Should the fowls refuse to drink 

 the mixture, a spoonful of sugar may be added. In more severe cases, 

 3 drops of chlorodyne in a teaspoonful of sweet or salad oil should be given, 

 which usually effects a cure. 



Bowels, Inflammation of. — The bowels may be the seat of an attack of 

 inflammation, which may arise from exposure to cold or damp, blows or 

 wounds, irritant poisons, or long- continued diarrhoea. Thirst, and a great 

 heat on the under parts of the body, are the usual marked signs of the 

 disease. 



The patient should be given a teaspoonful of castor oil along with 4 drops 

 of laudanum. This should be followed by half a teaspoonful of the following 

 mixture every three hours: — 



Hemlock juice 2 drachms. 



Belladonna juice ... 

 Syrup of chloral hydrate 

 Syrup of poppies ... 

 Water 



12 drops. 



1 drachm. 



2 drachms. 

 1 ounce. 



