MOLDS, SMUTS, AND BACTERIA 121 



stuffs. The bright, clean appearance of first-class 

 ground products soon appeals to the eye. The nose 

 may also help the eye ; even the "feel" of these prod- 

 ucts is something to be learned, as having a bearing 

 on the question of quality and adaptability of feeds. 

 When moist mash is used, it makes much difference to 

 the birds whether or not it is of a certain consistency. 

 Many mill products will give only a union of grain and 

 water, from which the water tends to separate continu- 

 ally. Others, added, may change it into a soft, smooth, 

 attractive foodstuff which the fowls welcome eagerly. 

 And these things make a difference with growth and 

 egg yield. 



Many of the symptoms of paralysis, nervous contor- 

 tion, etc., mentioned above may go with bacterial affec- 

 tions. Such trouble may come from allowing the birds to 

 drink barnyard seepage ; even a drinking vessel, allowed 

 to grow slimy in hot weather, may be the source of these or 

 kindred troubles. Foul" ground, foul houses, foul water, 

 or foul feed may lead to "mysterious" disease, under 

 some of the heads which we are now considering. 



In the summer time, bran, corn meal, and meat meal 

 need to be closely examined. The grains may heat and 

 mold ; the meat meal may be of such quality as to be 

 entirely unfit for young chickens, even though the older 

 birds were able to use it without becoming sick. Good 

 scrap is bright in color, and it is usually thought best to 

 buy that which is not too fine, lest it contain fertilizer 

 refuse. 



Milk is a well-known carrier of bacteria ; milk that 

 shows less than 100,000 such germs to the cubic inch 

 being passed as very good by some Health Boards. 



