CHAPTER 1. 



Introduction. 



Causes of Diseases — Germs and Disinfectants — Require- 

 ments Essential to health — Hospital. 



IT is said, "If we had a perfect knowledge of the 

 laws of life and applied this knowledge in a per- 

 ^fect system of hygienic rules, disease would be impos- 

 sible." In order to apply this to fowls it is very nec- 

 essary to have some conception of the cause and 

 nature of the several diseases, as well as of the best 

 methods of assisting nature in overcoming them. The 

 condition of the fowl in its natural state should be 

 considered, and the food should be of such a variety, as 

 to imitate nature as much as possible; this is especially 



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