THE NATIONAL BIRD 333 



is the chief hope. Prevention by disinfectants is good, 

 when there is nothing better ; but resistance through 

 robust condition is better. Disinfection means killing 

 the germs ; there is another way of killing the germs ; 

 that is, to kill the animal attacked by them. It is a 

 fair question, Which is cheaper, to disinfect houses, 

 runs, feed, water, etc., and try to save all the sick, 

 or to destroy all the sick, without loss of time, and 

 depend on keeping the rest well ? Many poultrymen 

 are so convinced that the latter method is cheaper in 

 the long run, as well as better, that they recommend 

 " the ax " for every sickness in the poultry yards. If 

 this is thought to be going too far, at least a " hospital," 

 where every case of incipient disease may be segre- 

 gated, is only the sensible protection of the rest. 



Mrs. Mollie MacClaughry Allen, an Institute lecturer 

 located in New York State, and therefore within one 

 of the blackhead " zones," has had experience with the 

 genuine disease. At the time of the first attacks, some 

 years ago (as she states), the Stations, while making 

 exact diagnosis of it, had no remedies or suggestions 

 to offer. At the present time, hyposulphite of soda 

 is recommended as a preventive, to be given in the 

 food as soon as the first symptoms appear. Mrs. Allen 

 disinfected the runs as far as practicable, and destroyed 

 every bird that showed the disease. She says, " It is 

 never safe to keep a bird that has once been affected 

 with the disease." Also, that the older and stronger 

 birds were never affected. The second year, she had 

 few losses, but separated, killed, and burned every 

 bird that showed " the fatal yellow " in the droppings. 

 By disinfection, clean feed, "and special attention to 



