THE QArES IN FOWLS. — THE BUCKWIIEAT-TREE, 



THE GAPES IN FOWLS. 



J. J. Smith, Esq. — Pear Sir: Belicviiij:^ it a duty to ninkc public aiiytliiii.s: 

 that may be advaiitaj^cous to others, I submit the followiiiG^ iuialliblu remedy for 

 the gapes or c:aps in young chickens. It is well known that a sjx-cies of entozoa, 

 called the red-worm, infests the trachea of fowls, obstruc^ng the air-passage, or 

 windpipe — the cause of this distressing malady. 



In answer to a letter, in wliich I briefly stated my experience, Prof. S. S. 

 ITaldiman informed me tliat P. J. Brown describes the worm, and gives various 

 remedies in his American Ponhri/- V<ird (p. 2G4) [this I have not seen], adding 

 that my method was new to him ; it may be so to others — I have, at least, never 

 seen it published. 



Take a hair from a horse's tail ; double it once or twice, if need be, to Btifl'en 

 it; twist the doubled hair between your thumb and finger, so as to leave but a 

 small loop at the other end ( -^=-««««««,c:> ). Now seize the tip, of the tongue 

 of the afflicted fowl, and extend it out and downwards, which will enable you to 

 introduce the doubled horse-hair as far down the windpipe as necessary ; let the 

 hair untwist, or assist a rotmry motion with your thumb and finger, which will 

 entangle the slimy worm, and it will be found on the hair on withdrawing it. 



Sometimes two or more are brought away at one operation, much to the relief 

 of the suflerer, and, when skilfully performed, effects a perfect cure, to which I can 



testify. The following 

 drawing represents 

 this parasite consider- 

 ably enlarged. Tlie 

 head is cup-shaped, 

 open, the larger being 

 the female ; the male is 

 smaller, and soldered 

 on, centrally, at some 

 distance behind the 

 head of the female, the 

 body of which is con- 

 torted, and watered by 

 thread-like bodies, of 

 various shades of co- 

 lors, curiously i)laited 

 and twisted within, 

 and distinctly visible 

 through the transparent cuticle. Those may prove to consist of species of ento- 

 phyta, or vegetable parasites, found within the animal parasite, many of which 

 are beautifully illustrated, and the accounts published, by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tute,, the discovery and research of your fellow-citizen, Joseph Leidy, M. D. 



Very respectfully yours, Jacob Stauffer. 



Mount Joy, Pa. 



Entozoa from the trachea of a young chicken. 



THE BUCKWHEAT-TREE. 



Cliftonia mylocorium. 



This curious production has excited very little attention among us. 

 native ; and, no doubt, partially hardy, if not entirely so, in this latitude 



