8 July, 1907.] Chicken Pox. 389 



habit of stacking in the same truck several lots of fruit intended for con- 

 signment by different boats. When it is considered that often some of these 

 boats are not yet in port when the fruit arrives at the pier the necessity 

 for the removal of the fruit into a place of safety is apparent. To sum 

 up ; stack all pears immediately in front of the doors of the trucks and do 

 not mix lots for different steamers in the same truck. 



Another point to which I have referred in previous articles is that, 

 when possible, " louvre " trucks should alwavs be used. This truck is 

 known to railwav men as a " U " truck. Failing these an " H " truck 

 should be used, but on no account should fruit be stacked in open trucks 

 (usually covered with tarpaulins) except in cool weather, as the tarpaulin 

 draws the heat of the sun and converts the truck intoi a veritable hot-air 

 chamber. It was also noticed that through the tarpaulins being damaged 

 or worn through, some of the fruit was wet when examined. 



The use of the word " sound " on cases containing fruit which landed 

 in London in a rotten condition has occasioned a good deal of comment. 

 Unless the fruit is being shipped under the Export Permit beforementioned 

 there is no necessity to apply the word "sound." As the wdiole of last 

 season's shipments was examined, certified, and stamped by the ofiicials 

 it is safe to assume that next year's procedure will be the same ; if so, 

 growers need not stamp their cases with the word above referred to. 



CHICKEN POX. 



H. V. Hawkins, Poultry Expert. 



Numerous inquiries are reaching me concerning a disease not uncommon 

 at this time of year — Poultry Favus — or what is usually known amongst 

 poultry keepers as Chicken Pox. As the outbreak this year is apparentlv 

 so widespread, it would appear opportune to briefly describe the symptoms 

 and methods of treatment, as by neglecting the disease in its early stages 

 the birds become emaciated and fail to respond to treatment. 



One of the principal causes of this complaint is that of over-crowding 

 in damp or filthy runs and houses. The disease usually attacks young 

 birds, especially those hatched late. It rarely affects adult birds ; and 

 the breeds which are most subject to it are: — The Cochin, Brahma, 

 Orpington and Wyandotte, and very often those breeds which carry heavv 

 combs, such as the Leghorn, Minorca, and Dorking. Many fine specimens 

 of the latter breeds lose the tip of the spike, especially if the affected 

 birds are not hobbled. The disease is one that greatly irritates, and the 

 more the birds scratch the parts affected, the more rapidly do the spores 

 spread, until the birds become a mass of sores, or, what appears to the 

 casual observer, warts. The first symptoms which every amateur may 

 detect are loss of appetite and a great thirst. The birds should at once be 

 isolated and allowed no water for two days at least, and be given onlv 

 soft food (pollard and bran moistened with skim milk) and plentv of 

 finely cut raw onion. 



Minute, pale yellowish spots, cup like but irregular in form, appear 

 on the comb, often on the wattles and at times on the eyelids. The 

 latter are the most troublesome to^ deal with, and it is absolutely necessarv 

 that the birds should be hobbled. This can be done by tying a piece of 

 rape around the ankle — the joint just above the foot, and below the fourth 



