72 LEAMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



prominent are softening of the bones, which is shown 

 by the legs becoming crooked, the beak appearing soft 

 and often turning sideways; either the lower or upper 

 beak, more commonly the lower, may become enlarged 

 and drawn out of shape so that the chick will not be able 

 to pick food. 



Causes: This trouble can usually be attributed to 

 improper feeding, bringing on digestive disorder, or to 

 feeding food that does not supply the proper nourish- 

 ment. It is also quite frequently found among chicks 

 that are kept indoors exclusively, and do not have 

 access to any food containing lime or earthy material. 



Treatment: Give the chicks good hygienic sur- 

 roundings; feed a variety of good food; and mix a tea- 

 spoonful of phosphate of lime in soft feed once a day 

 for every thirty chicks; give lime water to drink, 

 once a day, to which add sufficient tincture gentian so 

 that each chick will get several drops. 



DROPSY OF THE FEET. 



Occasionally we find a condition where the feet seem 

 to swell as in dropsy. 



Causes: It can usually be attributed to over-feed- 

 ing and insufficient exercise. 



Treatment: Remove the cause and feed light food, 

 such as bran mash and give the fowl a drop or two of 

 tincture digitalis and a few grains of acetate of potash 

 three times a day. 



