240 THE HANDBOOK FOR PEACTICAL FARMERS 



Tuberculosis, rather common, general dmiipishness, with in- 

 creasing thinness, a bright eye and ravenous appetite. Pale 

 yellow, hard, small bunches on spleen, liver and intestines are 

 post-mortem indications. Cause, specific germ. Is contagious 

 and strenuous measures must be taken to eradicate it. Kill sick 

 individuals. Raise new flock on new ground. Disinfect houses 

 and yards. Never let old birds come in contact with young. 



Diarrhoea, white or any color, usually from chilling or bad 

 feeding. Treafme^if: Get after causes. I3oiled rice, mild physic. 

 Sour skim milk is good preventative. 



Bacillary white diarrhoea, many deaths in first six days, diar- 

 rhoea not unlike ordinary. Cause, a specific germ laid in the egg 

 by mother hen. Treatment: No cure. Never breed from flock 

 in which this disease has been discovered. Use strenuous pre- 

 ventive measures. If in small flock, get rid of it and disinfect. 



Coccidiosis, similar to bacillary white diarrhoea. Cause: A 

 specific germ. Is more apt to attack chicks later in life than is 

 bacillary diarrhoea. Treatment: 'No cure. Isolate, disinfect and 

 raise other chicks on new ground. 



Gapes, Y-shaped worms in windpipe. Treatment: Remove 

 with two horse hairs tied at the ends in a knot. Isolate and raise 

 new chicks on new ground. 



Aspergilosis, chicks sleepy, breathing rapid, diarrhoea. Cause : 

 Mold growth in lungs of chicks from moldy litter. Post mortem, 

 find small yellow bunches in lungs or lungs inflamed. Treat- 

 7nent: No cure. Isolate, remove cause, bury dead chicks. 



Note. — Material for diseases freely drawn from Maine Station BuUeton No. 398- 

 12-10. 



VERMIN 

 Lice. — Rub into the skin of the birds just beneath the vent and 



under the wings ointment as large 

 as a pea made from equal parts of 

 blue ointment and vaseline. This 

 is effective for six months. It is 

 poisonous. 



Mites are about one-fourth to 

 one-half as large as lice (see illus- 

 tration). They live in cracks dur- 

 ing the day and breed in filth. 

 Mites go on the hens at night and, 

 unlike lice, are blood-suckers. ' The 

 B presence of mites is quickly de- 



A, Louse ; B, red mite, tected by the presence of gray mat- 



