Diseases. 151 



The feathers should be picked off the crop in a straight line down the 

 middle. Generally speaking, the crop will be found full of grass or hay, 

 that has formed a ball or some inconveniently-shaped substance. (I once 

 took a piece of carrot three inches long out of a crop.) When the offence 

 has been removed, the crop should be washed otit with warm water. It 

 should then be sewn up with coarse thread, and the suture rubbed with 

 grease. Afterwards the outer skin should be served the same. The crop 

 and skin must not be sewed together. For three or four days the patient 

 should have only gruel; no hard food for a fortnight." The slit should be 

 made in the upper part of the crop, and just large enough to admit a blunt 

 instrument, with which you must gently remove the hardened mass. 



DiARRHCEA is causcd by exposure to much cold and wet, reaction after 

 constijDation from having had too little green food, unwholesome food, and 

 dirt. Feed on w^arm barleymeal, or oatmeal mashed with a little warm 

 ale, and some but not very much green food, and give five grains of pow- 

 dered chalk, one grain of opium, and one grain of powdered ipecacuanha 

 twice a day till the looseness is checked. Boiled rice, with a little chalk 

 and cayenne pepper mixed, will also check the complaint. When the evacu- 

 ations are coloured with blood, the diarrhcea has become dysentery, and 

 cure is very doubtful. 



Gapes, a frequent yawning or gaping, is caused by worms in the wind- 

 pipe, which may be removed by introducing a feather, stripjied to within an 

 inch of the point, into the windpipe, turning it round quickly, and then 

 drawing it out, when the parasites will be found adhering with slime upon 

 it ; but if this be not quickly and skilfully done, and with some knowledge 

 of the anatomy of the parts touched, the bird may be killed instead of 

 cui'ed. Another remedy is to put the fowl into a box, placing in it at the 

 same time a sponge dipped in spirits of turpentine on a hot water plate filled 

 with boiling water, and repeating this for three or four days. Some persons 

 recommend, as a certain cure in a few days, half a teaspoonful of spirits of 

 turpentine mixed with a handful of grain, giving that quantity to two dozen 

 of chickens each day. A pinch of salt put as far back into the mouth as pos- 

 sible is also said to be effectual. 



Leg Weakness, shown by the bird resting on the first joint, is generally 

 caused by the size and weight of the body being too great for the strength 

 of the legs ; and this being entirely the result of weakness, the remedy is to 

 give strength by tonics and more nourishing food. The quality should be 

 improved, but the quantity must not be increased, as the disease has been 

 caused by over-feeding having produced too much weight for the strength 

 of the legs. Frequent bathing in cold water is very beneficial. This is 

 best effected by tying a towel round the fowl, and suspending it over a pail 

 of water, with the legs only immersed. 



Loss OF Feathers is almost always caused by want of green food, or dust- 

 heap for cleansing. Let the fowls have both, and remove them to a grass 

 run if possible. But nothing will restore the feathers till the next moult. 

 Fowls, when too closely housed or not well supplied with green food and 

 lime, sometimes eat each other's feathers, destroying the plumage till the 

 next moult. In such cases green food and mortar rubbish should be sujd- 

 plied, exercise allowed, the injured fowl should be removed to a separate 

 place, and the pecked parts rubbed over with sulphur ointment. Cut or 

 broken feathers should be pulled out at once. 



