TUE CAllE AND TREATMENT OF SICK FOWLS. I'iOU 



portion, the membrane is misshapen, or incomplete; if the H^hole pas- 

 sage is inflamed, the yolk is passed out without any covering. 



The laying of soft shelled eggs is not evidence of inflammation. It 

 may be the effects of being driven about, or of a want of lime material m 

 the system to form the shell. In inflammation there will be fever, and 

 the feathers, especially over the back, will be rufiled. The hen will be 

 moping, and at times will strain to discharge the contents of the passage. 



What to do. — The proper remedy is to give the following ; 



No. 7. 1 Grain calomel, 



1-12 Grain tartar emetic. 



To be given in a little gelatine. 



Keep the hen afterwards, for some time, on nourishing but not stimula- 

 ting food. As a rule the cheapest way, unless in the case of a valuable 

 fowl, is, if the difficulty returns, to kill the fowl. 



XIV. Leg Weakness. 



This is a disease of young fowls and more generally of young males, 

 rather than of pullets. The bird seems unable to support its weight, and 

 constantly sinks down. The large Asiatic fowls are most suoject to it. 

 The remedy is nourishing diet, with a due proportion of insect or animal 

 food. The grain should be cracked wheat, coarse oat-meal or barley 

 meal, and if from three to eight grains of citrate of iron be daily given, 

 it will greatly assist as a tonic. 



XV. Rheumatism. 



Causes. — This is a disease arising from cold, damp quarters, or those 

 badly ventilated. Another cause is the chickens running in the dew or 

 wet in the early season. Cramp is produced by the same causes. Little 

 can be done, once they are affected. 



Prevention. — The prevention is obvious. Good, clean, well ventilated 

 quarters, and plenty of nutritious and varied food. 



XVI. Poultry Lousiness. 



There would seem to be little need for the appearance of this nuisance, 

 if care were taken, and if new fowls introduced were first examined with 

 a lens ; for the jiarasites are very minute. The common hen louse, is 

 larger than the "hen spider" so called, which is almost microscpic. 



What to do. — The first may be destroyed by sprinkling the breeders 

 and nests with Scotch snuff or flowers of sulphur, at intervals of two or 

 three days. 



Tlie hen spider is more difficult to exterminate. When hens have been 

 al 3wed to roost in a horse stable, we have known the horses and every 



