THE POULTRY DOCTOR. 57 



is to remove the scale or skin from the tongue with 

 a knife, and at the same time put a little chlorate of 

 potash into the mouth. But this heroic treatment is 

 now generally abandoned, and is both troublesome and, 

 far too often, totally ineffective. The homeopathic 

 treatment, on the other hand, involves no more trouble 

 than mixing the pellets in the water of the fowls and 

 arranging that they drink it. 



The disease seems really to be a species of sore throat 

 or diphtheria, brought on by sudden change in the 

 weather, or catching cold in some way. The hens are 

 listless, sit with open mouth, nostrils are clogged, comb 

 looks unhealthy, and the crop is mostly empty, prob- 

 ably on account of the difficulty in swallowing. As 

 with roup, to which it is akin, Spongia meets most 

 cases, though Mercurius viv. is also indicated. In 

 many instances one dose of the former remedy com- 

 pletely cures. If, after several days, no improvement 

 sets in, change to Mercurius viv. If the complaint is 

 very prevalent, give the remedy to the entire flock in 

 their water or food; if confined to a few, isolate them. 

 Dose : from a dozen up to four or five dozen pellets, 

 owing to size of flock. In this, as in all other diseases, 

 there is not the slightest danger in giving too many 



