592 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



wise in good health. Neuralgic affections are similar to the rheumatic, and these are terms 

 used synonymously among technical poultry men. The nerves rather than the limbs are 

 affected by this disease. It is not a common complaint, however, and little is known of, or 

 about it. 



Deformities such as hump-back, knock-knees, wry-tail, imperfect comb or wattles (of 

 their kind) twisted wing-joints or turned wing-coverts, crooked toes or feet, etc., are generally 

 hereditary incidents in poultry breeding. Sometimes these defects come from careless 

 mating, sitting on perches that are higher at one end than the other, or through breeding 

 in-and-in too long; that is, from the same family of stock upon its descendants, or with its 

 progenitors. The only remedy for these &quot;accidents&quot; is to avoid the use of such deformed 

 birds for purposes of reproduction of the species. A boiled or roasted cock is not likely to 

 transmit his imperfections to posterity, if this is the only (and best) use that can be made 

 of his carcass. 



Eggs are sometimes, when ready to be laid, accidentally broken in the abdomen of hens. 

 If the fowl be strong, and in good condition at such a time, the disaster may be repaired. 

 A teaspoonful of castor-oil, by injection, will work the wreck away in a single night. But 

 this misfortune frequently proves fatal nevertheless. Other hens, especially fat old Cochins 

 and Brahmas, will &quot;break down behind&quot; occasionally from this same cause, or on account of 

 their gross adipose condition, oftenest. They will then waddle about upon their haunches 

 and stern, with their bodies erect, like that of a Penguin, naturally. But they rarely recover 

 from this condition to be useful afterwards. 



Frozen combs, feet, or frosted wattles, and white or black comb (so designated from its 

 different colors at times) are, as a general thing, occasioned by exposure in the night to severe 

 chilly winter air. With the class of birds wearing thin upright high combs, this trouble is 

 common in New England and the North, in our sharp cold winters. In these instances of 

 &quot; frost-bites &quot; the wound may be cured by placing the comb or wattles_ in cold water, or by 

 bathing the affected parts thoroughly, first with fresh clean snow, then by washing thoroughly 

 in camphorated spirit. After this, bathe in sweet oil, and press the latter into the pores 

 of the comb or gills, over and around the frost-marks. Except in very severe cases, this 

 treatment will effect a cure. In any instance, the saving of a goodly portion of the comb 

 and wattles may be assured. This remedy should be repeated two or three days, successively, 

 for frost-bites. 



Feather-eating and egg-eating by fowls are bad habits, but are not a &quot; disease.&quot; For 

 the first complaint the birds should be kept occupied, when cooped in confinement and com 

 pelled to huddle together closely, for lack of spacious home quarters. Strew the house-floor 

 thickly with dry leaves, or short-cut straw; and into this scatter their daily allowance of dry 

 grain-food oats, barley, broken corn, etc. They will scratch for it to the last kernel; and 

 thus have no leisure to pluck the feathers from the necks and sides of their otherwise listless 

 companions. To prevent egg-eating, give them dark nests to lay in, in secluded corners or 

 passages, where they cannot see their eggs, when dropped. They will soon forget this 

 destructive kind of trick. 



Wounds occasioned by frost, from fighting, or other accidental causes, may be healed 

 up speedily with a wash of carbolic, or castile soap-suds, and then with rum or whisky, 

 alternately, for a few days. Olive oil as a final ointment for cuts and flesh contusions, is very 

 healing and effective, and for ordinary inflamed eyes and head, a wash of weak white vitriol, 

 or alum water, or alum and camphor combined, is excellent. &quot;Bumble-foot,&quot; tumors upon 

 the thighs, abscesses, and unnatural enlargement of the tendons or limb-muscles, are all local 

 and accidental difficulties. Bumble-foot is caused by bruising the sole; and occurs with 

 heavy fowls that roost too high up, and come clumsily to the hard floor or earth, in descend 

 ing from their perches. It may be dissipated, if discovered in season, by active friction and 



