336 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



Treatment. Put three grains of copperas to one quart of water, or fifteen 

 grains of catechu to one gallon water and give the birds to drink. This has 

 been a very successful remedy. They should also be given a dose of calomel 

 (three-fourths to one grain) or two to three teaspoonfuls of castor oil occasion- 

 ally. 



Give doses of castor oil containing 5 to 10 drops of turpentine with each 

 dose. Disinfect the premises thoroughly with a 10 percent solution of cresol. 

 Burn the bodies of all birds that die. 



Crop Bound. 



Crop bound is caused by food swelling and forming a hard mass in the 

 crop. Fowls deprived of the necessary vegetable diet often eat the litter, 

 bringing on this condition. The absence of grit in the food has the same result. 

 Sometimes a quantity of green leaves or grass is eaten by the fowl and be- 

 comes packed in the crop, making the passage of food impossible. 



Treatment. In some cases an operation is necessary. However, the 

 following treatment is recommended: Sweet oil, olive oil, or fresh melted 

 lard should be poured down the throat; from one-fourth to one-half ounce 

 of any one of above remedies. With the hand, work the contents of the crop 

 so as to break up the hard mass. Then give the bird warm water to drink and 

 soft, easily digested food for a few days. 



Diarrhea. 



Indigestion caused by food which is too laxative or food which may be 

 partly decomposed. A cold may also be a cause. 



Symptoms. Looseness of bowels and staining of feathers around the 

 anus with excreta. 



Treatment. Give Epsom salts, 20 to 50 grains in food or warm water. 



Give a teaspoonful of castor oil. Change diet if food is suspected. Often 

 no treatment is necessary but it is not wise to neglect a mild case for fear of 

 the development of "Severe Diarrhea or Epidemic." 



Diphtheria. 



In diphtheria we find some of the symptoms of roup or contagious. catarrh, 

 but it differs from these by raised patches of whitish or yellow skin which in- 

 vades the throat and mouth, and sometimes appears like sores or ulcers on the 

 face, comb, nostrils and eyes. 



Diphtheria of fowls is strictly contagious and probably never develops as 

 the result of cold or dampness. The contagion is spread through mucus which 

 escapes from the nostrils or that which is forced out by sneezing or coughing. 

 When the disease is present, the feeding troughs, drinking pans, etc., are 

 quickly infected and thus the disease is conveyed to the well birds. 



Symptoms. The symptoms first show themselves by irritation or inflam- 

 mation of the surface of the throat, mouth, nostrils or eyes, sometimes ex- 



