HINDRANCES AND DISEASES. 95 



number of germs thrown off and the greater their power. 

 Living surfaces having healthy secretions are poor soils 

 for germs, while abnormal secretions may enable them to 

 thrive. Filth and decaying matter nourish certain germs, 

 Healthy organs resist and may destroy a certain quan- 

 tity of disease germs, but may be overcome by a much 

 greater number. 



"Purchasing birds here and there in making up a flock, 

 may bring all sorts of diseases and parasites together, thus 

 infecting a place at the start to such an extent that it is 

 hard to get rid of them. Each new bird should be thor- 

 oughly examined for disease of any kind and treated for 

 lice before being allowed to run with others. A few days' 

 quarantine is very desirable. Do not buy birds showing 

 the slightest trace of disease. Avoid all that are suspi- 

 cious, for a mild case of disease may introduce a serious 

 trouble. Keep your flocks away from those of your neigh- 

 bors, as a single infected fowl or turkey may infect a 

 dozen or more different flocks, if allowed to run with them 

 on common ground. Isolate your own stock from that of 

 others as completely as possible. Do not feed uncooked of- 

 fal. Entrails of animals are liable to contain parasites and 

 germs of disease that will affect fowls, therefore should be 

 long and well cooked before being fed to any living thing. 

 Do not feed milk from cows that are suspected of having 

 tuberculosis. Do not allow persons having consumption to 

 expectorate where they are. Every fowl which dies from 

 any cause should be subjected to post-mortem examina- 

 tion. Persons making such examination should make sure 

 that the skin of their hands is not cut or abraded. This 

 would make them liable to receive infectious matter that 

 might result in blood poisoning. All instruments used in 

 post-mortem examinations should, as well as the hands, be 

 afterwards cleansed in a solution of some antiseptic, like 

 carbolic acid. By such examinations a disease may be 

 discovered before it becomes very prevalent. It is best 



