DISEASES OF CHICKENS TREATMENT 349 



put enough of this solution in the drinking water to make the water quite 

 purple. Continue this latter medicine for a week and it will take the disease 

 out of the flock. It is only the worst cases that will need the bin-iod of 

 mercury. 



Scaly Leg. 



Scaly leg is caused by a parasite and is decidedly contagious. This para- 

 site works its way in between the scales of shanks or toes. It may come from 

 another fowl or from an infected house or brooder. The scales are irritated, 

 pushed apart and filth begins to accumulate. This filth together with the 

 parasite working produces a disgusting appearance of the legs. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are enlargement of the feet and legs. At 

 first there is seen only a slight roughness but the continued irritation of the 

 mite causes a spongy substance which raises the scales until they are nearly 

 perpendicular. In severe cases the joints become inflamed and the birds walk 

 with difficulty. 



Treatment. Wash and brush the legs with warm soapy water, removing 

 all scales that come off easily. Dry the legs and apply a coating of balsam of 

 Peru or an ointment containing two percent carbolic acid. 



A remedy highly recommended is oil of caraway 1 part and 5 parts of 

 vaseline. 



When a large number of fowls are to be treated, make a mixture of one- 

 half pint kerosene and one pint raw linseed oil in a quart can. Take this to 

 the poultry house at night and dip both legs of each affected bird into the mix- 

 ture and replace them on the roost. The feathers -must not be wet as this 

 causes the skin to blister. Repeat this in three days. 



A good ointment to kill the parasite is made of one ounce of sulphur and 

 ten tablespoonfuls of lard or vaseline. Rub this into the rough parts every 

 other night for a week and give one application in about three weeks. 



Another good method is to fill a common wooden pail nearly full of water, 

 adding one gill of kerosene carefully so it will float on the surface. Take each 

 fowl and dip both legs down through the oil, holding for half a minute. Repeat 

 this in four or five days. If the shanks are feathered, care should be taken 

 to dry the feathers as they will hold the oil, producing much discomfort by 

 irritating the skin. 



Tuberculosis. 



This disease is a chronic, contagious disease. Its development is caused 

 by germs called tubercles in various organs of the body, but more often in 

 the liver, spleen and intestines. The germ differs somewhat from the germ 

 which causes tuberculosis in man. 



If tuberculosis exists in a neighboring flock, it may be carried by birds 

 or animals going from one yard to another or from fowls purchased from 

 infected flocks. The eggs of diseased birds often contain the baccilli and 

 chickens hatched from such eggs are diseased when they leave the shell and 

 ready to infect the poultry with which they run. Pigs, cats, rats etc., may 



