DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 17 



the skin should then be sutured, and the bird al- 

 lowed only soft food for a week. 



TThere the obstruction is due to a weakened con- 

 dition of the walls of the proventiculus, its con- 

 tents may sometimes be forced back through the 

 gullet and out of the mouth by careful manipula- 

 tion with the hands. 



Tympany of the Crop (Gaseous Crop) 



This is due to a gas-forming germ, which sets 

 up putrefaction of the contents of the crop. It is 

 usually accompanied by an inflammation (catarrh) 

 of the crop which interferes with its normal func- 

 tion. Birds have been noted to have at times 

 enormously distended crops, which, upon exam- 

 ination, proved to be filled with gas. Usually 

 these crops contain very little feed. This condi- 

 tion often affects young chicks as well as older 

 birds. 



Treatment. — Give intestinal antiseptics, such as 

 one part of carbolic acid to two hundred parts of 

 water, or murcuric chloride (corrosive sublimate), 

 one part to ten thousand parts of water, or sul- 

 phocarbolates compound. 



Immediate temporary relief may be given by 

 liberating the gas through an aspirating needle 

 or a small canula. The crop may then be irri- 

 gated, through the canula, with a mild antiseptic 

 solution. Follow with two teaspoonfuls of castor 

 oil and feed sparingly on easily digested food. 



Enlarged Crop 



The crop may sometimes liecome very much en- 

 larged, slack and pendulous. This condition is 

 mainly due to injudicious feeding. ' 



Pendulant crop causes little inconvenience to 



