SECTION XII 



Diseases of the Legs and 



Feet 



Leg-Weakness 



This is a condition in which the birds cannot 

 bear their own weight, or have difficulty in doing 

 so. It occurs in young as well as in old birds. 

 Knowledge as to the causes of leg weakness, 

 so common at times in certain localities, is im- 

 perfect. The conditions are being investigated, ^ 

 however, in several laboratories. 



Causes. — Improperly heated brooders, too much 

 bottom heat, damp and badly ventilated houses, 

 heavy cockerels, kept constantly on wooden floors, 

 are among the conditions which bring about leg 

 weakness. In some cases it is probably a rheu- 

 matic condition, and there are some forms which 

 no doubt are due to a lack of lime salts in the 

 bones and other tissues. 



Symptoms. — At times this disease appears sud- 

 denly, at other times it develops slowly. It may 

 atfect only one, or at most, a few birds, or it may 

 aifect many. There is unsteadiness in walking, 

 and in badlv affected cases the bird sits around 

 nmch of the time. Finallv it is unable to rise, and 

 may even lie on its side. 



Treatment. — Give one sixth-grain doses of strych- 

 nine sulphate, dissolved in water, three times a 

 dav: also two-grain doses of salicvlate of soda in 

 the same manner. Give one tablespoonful of cas- 

 tor oil in severe cases in adult chickens. 



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