62 Diseases of Poultry 



material. Two grains of subnitrate of bismuth and 2 

 grain of bicarbonate of soda in a teaspoonful of water will 

 relieve the irritation and correct the acidity. Salicylic 

 acid, 1 grain to an ounce of water, is also recommended. 

 The dose is 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls. The feeding of mucilagi- 

 nous fluids such as barley-water, thin solution of gum, etc., is 

 recommended. If the inflammation is due to eating poisons 

 antidotes as given farther on (Chapter VI) should be used. 

 If inflammation of the crop is at all general throughout 

 the flock an effort should be made to remove the cause. It 

 is well to change the feed and give the birds more exercise. 

 The addition of fine charcoal (small chick size) to the mash 

 will often be of service, as the birds eat more of it in this 

 way than when the charcoal is in a box by itself. 



Enlarged Crop 



One sometimes finds a bird with a very much enlarged, 

 pendulous crop. This loose baggy condition is usually 

 permanent, but in the majority of cases it does not cause the 

 bird any serious inconvenience. 



The cause of this enlarged or slack crop is usually said 

 to be overfeeding at irregular intervals. It is probable 

 that overloading of the crop alone is not the only cause. 

 Overloading accompanied by indigestion or some general 

 disturbance of the digestive organs may result in a sort of 

 paralysis of the crop muscles. It is not improbable that 

 many birds showing enlarged crop have suffered with a 

 mild case of impaction and have finally recovered without 

 assistance. 



An enlarged crop and an enlarged "baggy" abdomen are 

 frequently associated in the same bird. These are usually 

 said to be due to too heavy feeding without sufficient inter- 

 vals between meals and without sufficient exercise. 



