26 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



Causes. Sore mouth is often associated with 

 catarrh and roup, but it is very frequently a local 

 trouble caused by the bird tekirg some irritant, or by 

 exposure to dampness and f.lth; especially is gas aris- 

 ing from decomposed hen manure in an illy-ventilated 

 hen-house a fruitful cause. Injuries, suffcient to pro- 

 duce inflammation, may be mentioned as another cause. 



Symptoms: These consist of the beak being held 

 open and a false membrane or horny substance accu- 

 mulating on the tongue and in the corners of the 

 mouth; there may be a cough of a croupy nature: the 

 fowl occasionally jerks its head and may emit a shrill 

 sound. 



Treatment: The false membrane should be re- 

 moved, if this can be done without causing too much 

 pain, and the parts washed with a solution of borax, 

 Dne dram to four ounces of water; or a five per cent 

 solution of chlorate of potash, or if removing the 

 membrane is very difficult and painful, apply with a 

 brush a solution made by dissolving a little hyposul' 

 phite of soda in glycerine. 



OBSTRUCTION IN THE THROAT. 



This is a condition that occasionally happens when 



the bird attempts to swallow some large or irregular 



substance, such as a large bolus of food or a piece of 

 green bone. 

 The trouble is characterized by the fowl attempting 



to rid itself of it, and if the substance is at all hard 



or firm it can be felt by placing the finger and thumb 

 along each side of the throat. 



