HINDRANCES AND DISEASES. 107 



changes in the liver and bowel are so pronounced when it 

 causes death that turkey raisers may in many instances 

 learn whether their own turkeys are affected by examin- 

 ing those that die. Blackhead is a hitherto undetermined 

 disease, and is caused by a minute organism, which places 

 the malady among the infectious diseases. It is now 

 demonstrated that turkeys Contract the disease from the 

 droppings of diseased birds. Hence sick birds must not 

 remain with the breeding birds, nor should stock be ob- 

 tained from infected sections. Broods of young turkeys 

 should be kept away from buildings where turkeys have 

 passed the winter, and be kept on ground uncontaminated 

 by the droppings of diseased turkeys or suspicious breeding 

 stock. The droppings from all roosting places should be 

 frequently and thoroughly collected, and the place well 

 dusted with air-slaked lime. If the disease is known to 

 exist in the flock, sprinkle the premises liberally with a 

 mixture of crude carbolic acid one-half gallon and crude 

 sulphuric acid one-half gallon, to which twenty gallons of 

 water are added. The droppings collected may be dusted 

 thoroughly with air-slaked lime, and mixed with several 

 times their bulk of muck or loam, to absorb the ammonia 

 that would otherwise escape, and thus become a valuable 

 fertilizer. Turkeys should not be fed on the same spot of 

 ground day after day, but as far as possible in a new place 

 every day, that the danger of infection through the food 

 and droppings may be lessened. Dr. Moore's circular 

 suggests that those who have recently had this disease in 

 their flocks should dispose of their old turkeys and begin 

 new by hatching turkey eggs under hens, or with turkeys 

 obtained from non-infected districts, "preferably from the 

 South, as this disease is not known to exist there." 



