442 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



vitality in the breeding stock. It is not, as a rule, so bad in early- 

 hatched chicks. There is no positive cure for the disease, but the 

 use of boiled milk instead of water is recommended. J. C. Needels, 

 a Missouri poultryman, writes, "My chief drawback in raising 

 chickens is what is called 'white diarrhea,' which attacks the chicks 

 when they are very young. I have found no remedy, but the use of 

 dry prepared chick feeds has lessened the trouble, and sometimes 

 helped to avoid it." 



Bumblefoot — Bumblefoot is a bruise on the fowl's foot, usually 

 caused by the bird flying from a high perch and alighting on a hard 

 substance. Bandage the foot and apply tincture of iodine. In ag- 

 gravated cases it may be necessary to lance the abscess or cut out 

 the corn. Wash the wound with a solution made of one part car- 

 bolic acid and 50 parts water, then follow with some healing lotion, 

 such as carbolic salve. 



Scaly Leg — This disease is caused by a small parasite which 

 burrows under the scales on the fowl's legs. It is contagious in 

 the sense that lousiness is contagious. Cleanse the bird's legs with 

 soapsuds, then dry thoroughly and apply vaseline. Some recom- 

 mend immersing the bird's feet and legs in a solution made of 

 equal parts coal oil and zenoleum. 



Chicken Pox or Sore-Head — This is a contagious disease, which 

 appears as an eruption of yellow nodules about the beak, nostrils, 

 eyes and other parts of the head. After the nodules reach full 

 development they emit a watery discharge, changing later to a 

 thick yellowish matter. Wash all affected parts with carbolized 

 soap, then apply vaseline or glycerine. Sores may also be bathed 

 with soap and water or sponged with solution of copper sulphate, 

 I ounce to 1 quart water. Tincture of iodine, sparingly used, may 

 bring about a cure in severe cases. 



Apoplexy — This is a disease of the brain caused by a rupture 

 of the blood vessel, and the fowls are usually dead when found. 

 If the bird is still alive pierce the underside of the wing and let 

 it bleed freely. 



Leg Weakness — Leg weakness is often hereditary, but may 

 result from improper feeding, especially over-feeding. It is most 

 common in the heavier or long-legged breeds. To prevent it, feed 

 bone-forming substance, such as barley, ground raw bones and 

 meat. A remedy recommended consists of pills composed of phos- 

 phate of lime, 5 grains ; sulphate of iron, 1 grain ; sulphate of qui- 

 nine, ^ grain; strychnine, 1-15 grain. Of this make a dozen pills 

 and give one each day. 



