188 Enlargement of the Liver 



over a tub or pan to prevent waste. Sulphur ointment made of 1 part 

 of flowers of sulphur and 4 parts of lard or vaseline is good for most skin 

 diseases. 



ENLARGEMENT OF THE LIVER 



(Congestion) 



CAUSE 



This is quite a common disease of chickens. In my opinion a ra- 

 tion composed largely of corn for many months is a more common cause 

 of this trouble than all the other reasons combined. Mouldy feeds and 

 tankage have been blamed for congestion of the liver. The former more 

 frequently causes poisoning while the tankage may be fed in too large 

 quantities. Tankage should not make more than 1 per cent of the ration 

 of chickens. 



SYMPTOMS 



The chickens die very suddenly with this disease, the bowel passages 

 are normal except where it is associated with so called poultry cholera. 

 In that case the bowel passages are whitish or bright yellow. The liver 

 is enlarged and very easily torn. Blood is usually found inside the 

 body cavity. 



TREATMENT 



Reduce and change the ration of the entire flock to less fattening 

 feeds as bran and middlings as a mash and feed oats or wheat in straw 

 litter and make them exercise by scratching ick it. 



The course of this disease is so rapid that treatment is rarely suc- 

 cessful. However, I believe 2 teaspoonsful of castor oil given- by the 

 mouth is as good a treatment as one can give. This should be repeated 

 daily in 1 teaspoonful doses for a few days. 



Some prefer from i/^ to 1 teaspoonful of epsom salts. 



