POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. II9 



Btiology. — The cause is pressure on the brain, due to heat, 

 but the blood vessels are not ruptured as in apoplexy. 



Treatment. — Mild cases may be treated by applying cold 

 water to the head and keeping the bird in a cool, quiet place. 



Prognosis. — Mild cases may recover. Others usually result 

 fatally in a short time. As a preventative avoid overcrowding 

 in hot weather. If the range is not provided with natural shade, 

 supply artificially shaded places in which the birds may find 

 protection from the hot sun during the middle of the day. 



Congestion of the Brain {Vertigo, Cerebral Hypercemia). 



A number of abnormal physiological conditions may lead to 

 a congestion of blood in the brain. This is usually associated 

 with a diseased condition of other organs, and hence often 

 occurs as a complication with other diseases. It is sometimes 

 due to injury of the head. 



Diagnosis. — Pearson (Diseases of Poultry) gives the follow- 

 ing diagnosis of this disease : "It is characterized by staggering, 

 stupor, unusual movements such as walking backward or walk- 

 ing in a circle, unusual and irregular movements with the wings 

 and feet and twisting the head backward or to the side. Some- 

 times the bird will fall on its side and make peculiar movements 

 with its feet and wings as though attempting to run or fly." 



Etiology. — The congestion of the brain is sometimes due to 

 blows on the head or to fright or other intense excitement. 

 Often it is associated with acute indigestion or with the presence 

 of parasitic intestinal worms. 



Treatment. — Apply cold water to the head. Administer a lax- 

 ative (2 teaspoorsful of castor oil, or 30 grains of Epsom salts 

 given in water or i)^ grains of calomel). Kcc]) tlie fowl in a 

 cool, quiet place. If this treatment is not efticient Salmon 

 recommends i to 5 grains of bromide of potassium dissolved in 

 I tablespoonful of water 3 times a day. If intestinal worms 

 are fcnnirl in the droppings after tlie laxative, treat for tlic re- 

 moval of these parasites (p. 79). 



Prognosis. — The bird may recover if the cause is removed. 



Epilepsy. 



This somewhat rare (li>ease is cliaracterized b_\- occasional fits. 

 Between these the birds appear normal. 



