PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



the parts mainly implicated, and a peculiar feature is the 

 tendency towards fracture of the bones at their extremities, 

 which not uncommonly occurs in advanced stages of the 

 disease. Both the bone-skin "periosteum," and the interior 

 of the bone, show evidence of pathological change, which is 

 revealed by microscopic examination. If cramp is due to the 

 entrance of micro-organisms into the system, one would 

 naturally expect that all the young birds in the same coop as an 

 infected one would suffer in a similar manner ; but this is 

 not the case as a rule, as cohabitation of the diseased with 

 the healthy commonly give negative results, yet many game- 

 rearers certainly look upon cramp as an infectious malady. 

 Whenever this trouble makes its appearance, the game-rearer 

 should remove his coops to high and dry ground, as this con- 

 stitutes the most practical method of handling or rather 

 dealing with a complaint of this kind. Treatment individu- 

 ally is of very little use — in fact, it is better to destroy the 

 affected birds, as this will prove the most economical in the 

 long run. 



Gamekeepers have not always an opportunity for changing 

 their birds to fresh rearing ground, therefore some alternative 

 method must be adopted in cases where cramp makes its ap- 

 pearance amongst the young birds. Some agent, capable of 

 absorbing the excessive moisture in the ground, is indicated. 

 Moss-litter will prove the best. A few bales of German 

 peat moss-litter should be procured, well broken up, and the 

 coops placed on this, as the absorbent and antiseptic pro- 

 perties of the moss-litter render it specially suitable for such 

 purposes. 



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