PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 153 



crop contents with the fingers, from the outside. If the 

 mass does not move' down the digestive tube try sus- 

 pending the fowl -by the legs and work the contents of 

 the crop back to and out of the mouth. After emptying 

 the crop give no food for thirty-six hours but allow tne 

 fowl to drink a little water containing twenty grains 

 bicarbonate soda to the quart. Then feed sparingly on 

 bread softened with milk. 



If a surgical operation becomes necessary in order to 

 empty the crop, rnt the outer skin near the upper part 

 of the crop. An inch incision is large enough. Next cut 

 through the wall of the crop. Empty the crop by using 

 the forefinger. Wash out the interior with one per cent 

 solution of carbolic acid. 



Sew up the cuts with white silk, letting the thread 

 ends hang outside. In a week if the wound is healed 

 draw out the threads. Give for a day or two only water 

 containing one or two drops of salicylic acid per quart, 

 then feed for several days on bread soaked in milk. 



Depraved Appetite Unnatural craving may cause a 

 fowl to gorge itself with food or to swallow substances 

 unsuited to the digestive tract. This is liable to cause 

 digestive disorders. Lack of grit may result in ob- 

 struction of the gizzard. Keep the fowls active on turf 

 ranges in summer and supply straw litter in their runs 

 during winter. Encourage exercise and supply abound- 

 ant green food. Balance the rations. Keep granulated 

 charcoal and grit within reach of the flocks. 



If stoppage, indigestion or diarrhea result from a 

 fowl seeking to satisfy a depraved appetite give it a 

 dose of Epsom salts, twenty grains in a tablespoonful of 

 water. Put twenty grains of bicarbonate soda in each 

 quart of the drinking water. 



Diarrhea. Looseness of the bowels may be caused 

 by digestive disorders or by a sudden chill. Diarrhea is 

 liable to result from a sudden change of diet especially 

 if animal food is given in excess. It may follow the 

 overloading of the digestive system with green food, 

 fermented food, damaged grain, filthy water or failure 



