PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 157 



especially the phosphates of lime for bone building may 

 produce these results. 



Forced feeding of young chicks even with balanced 

 rations may cause too rapid growth. 



Excessive dryness of the brooder floor, in the case of 

 growing chicks, especially if there is much artificial 

 heating beneath the floor, may conduce to leg weakness. 



Correct the unfavorable conditions of feeding and 

 surroundings, making them as natural as possible in 

 order to avoid abnormal growth. 



Pasting Up Little chicks in brooders sometimes be- 

 come plastered about the vent with dried excrement. 

 This may be due to weakness of the muscles which expel 

 the droppings. Such weakness may be owing to lack of 

 stamina in the parent stock or to faults in incubation. 



Soften the pasted mass with warm water or olive oil 

 and after removal smear the parts with carbolated vase- 

 line. To clear the bowels give the chicks each one-half 

 teaspoonful of olive oil. If not effective add to the next 

 dose a few drops of castor oil. 



Peritonitis The delicate lining of the abdomen be- 

 comes suddenly inflamed. There is loss of appetite, list- 

 lessness, painful attempts to pass droppings, rapid loss 

 of strength until the fowl falls exhausted. The abdom- 

 inal walls feel hot and tense to the hand. Such cases 

 are usually hopeless. 



Pip A dry scale forms on the tongue due to breath- 

 ing through the mouth when the nostrils are stopped, 

 to deranged digestion or poor blood circulation. 



Cure the cold or digestive "disorder. Soften the scale 

 with glycerine diluted with an equal quantity of water. 

 Do not attempt to tear off the scale. 



Pneumonia There is acute inflammation of the air 

 cells of the lungs due to sudden exposure to damp, chil- 

 ling conditions. If one's ear is placed against the bird's 

 chest a crackling sound in the lungs is heard. The fowl 

 stands with drooping wings and pants for breath. There 

 is high fever. 



Give one drop doses of tincture of aconite every two 



