FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 749 



.SCALY I,EG. JIANUE OF THE LEG. 



This condition is caused by a mite of another species from that which 

 causes mange of the body. It affects fowls, turkeys, pheasants, and cage 

 birds. While usually it does not affect the general health of the birds, 

 it gives them a very unsightly appearance and is an indication of neg- 

 lect and bad management on the part of the owner. The disease occurs 

 only by contagion from other birds; it spreads very slowly, and many 

 individuas escape it entirely, although constantly exposed to it. 



Symptoms. — The disease is easily recognized by the enlargement of 

 the feet and legs and the rough appearance of the surface caused by the 

 loosening and raising of the scales on the legs and the upper surface 

 of the feet. This parasite begins its attack in the clefts between the 

 toes and gradually spreads forward and upward until the whole of the 

 foot and shank becomes affected. The two legs are usually attacked at 

 the same time and about to the same degree. At first there is seen 

 only a slight roughening of the surface, but the continued irritation by 

 the mite causes the formation of a spongy or powdery substance beneath 

 the scales which raises them more and more, until they are nearly per- 

 pendicular with the surface and are easily detached. In the most severe 

 cases the joints become inflamed, the birds are lame and scarcely able 

 to walk, a joint or an entire toe may be lost, and the birds, unable to 

 search for food, lose flesh and die from hunger and exhaustion. 



Treatvicnt. — Wash and brush the legs with soap and warm water, re- 

 moving the loose scales that come off without causing bleeding. Dry 

 the legs and apply a coating of balsam of Peru or an ointment contain- 

 ing 2 per cent of carbolic acid. A remedy highly recommended is made 

 by mixing 1 part of oil of caraway with 5 parts of vaseline. When 

 large numbers of fowls are to be treated, some poultrymen make a mix- 

 ture of one-half pint kerosene and 1 pint raw linseed oil in a quart can, 

 take this to the poultry house at night, and dip both legs of each affected 

 bird into the mixture, allowing them to drip into the can for a minute 

 after removal, and then replacing on the roost. The feathers of the leg 

 must not be wet, as this causes irritation and sometimes burns the 

 skin. The treatment should be repeated in three or four days. 



CROP BOUND, IJIPACTED CROP. 



This is an overdistended and paralyzed condition of the crop, generally 

 caused by overeating or by swallowing coarse and indigestible substances, 

 such as feathers. In cholera the crop is paralyzed as a result of the 

 disease. 



Symptoms. — The first symptom is a loss of appetite or an effort of 

 the bird to swallow without being able to do so. The crop is seen to 

 be very large and much distended with contents which are more or 

 less firmly packed together. If permitted to continue, the condition be- 

 comes aggravated, the breathing difficult, and death may result. 



Treatment. — The contents of the crop may sometimes be removed by 

 forcing the bird to swallow a teaspoonful or more of sweet oil, then 

 massaging the lower part of the gullet, if it contains food, or, if not, 

 the part of the crop nearest to the gullet, until a part of the contents 



