POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR REMEDIES. 1129 



Cramps in the legs of chicks are caused by tramping 

 around in the grass when it is wet with dew or rain. Bathe 

 the feet and legs with coal-oil, or with strong mustard water, 

 give cayenne pepper in the food, and keep the patients in a 

 warm, dry place till quite well. 



Scaly L/egs are caused by the presence of minute insects, 

 which burrow under the scales and thus cause the legs to as- 

 sume a rough, bunchy, unsightly appearance. Coal-oil will cure 

 every time. Pour a sufficient quantity in any old tin and dip 

 the fowls' feet and legs in up to the feathers; hold them there 

 a few minutes until the oil has time to penetrate beneath the 

 scales and kill the insects. Repeat this treatment every other 

 day until the scales begin to loosen and fall off; then rub on 

 fresh lard or sweet oil every day until the legs present a smooth, 

 healthy appearance. Usually three applications of the coal-oil 

 will be sufficient. 



Leg Weakness. Sometimes chicks of the rapidly growing 

 breeds "outgrow their strength," and fail up in the legs when 

 from three to five months of age. Sometimes this is caused by 

 lack of constitutional vigor, but oftener from lack of bone-form- 

 ing material in the food. In the latter case the remedy is 

 obvious ; in the former there is no help. 



Rheumatism is generally confined to old fowls, and is 

 usually caused by damp houses and cold, swampy yards. The 

 symptoms are lameness and stiffness of the joints of the legs. 

 Put the feet and legs in mustard water (an even teaspoonful 

 of pure ground mustard to a quart of water) as hot as they 

 can bear for ten minutes; then wipe dry and rub with "Magic" 

 oil, coal oil, or any good stimulating liniment. Give ginger and 

 pepper in the food and Douglass mixture in the drink. Con- 

 tinue the treatment daily until the fowl shows signs of improve- 

 ment; then every other day or every third day until they are 

 cured. Keep in a dry place. 



Canker in fowls should not be neglected, for it is often a 

 forerunner of roup in its worst forms. Chlorate of potash will 

 always cure if used in season. Dust the canker spots with the 

 dry powder twice a day. Keep fowls that have canker apart 



