SUMMARY OF DISEASES OF POULTRY. 1213 



growths that come away easily. This disease is very contagious, and any 

 birds suffering from it should be removed from the tlock and the premises 

 disinfected. 



Roup, or contagious catarrh. — The first symptoms of this disease are 

 similar to those of simple catarrh, but as the disease advances there is 

 often swelling of the sides of the head and the nostrils become closed with 

 thick mucus, causing the bird to breathe through the mouth. If the 

 swellings contain pus, they should be opened \\iih. a sharp instrument, the 

 contents removed, and the wound treated with a mild antiseptic, such as a 

 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid. The application of kerosene mixed 

 with an equal part of olive oil has given good results in many cases. 

 When a fowl has a bad case of roup, it is usually better to kill it, unless 

 especially valuable. 



Pi'p, — This is a condition of the tongue caused by some such ailment 

 as a cold, which compels the bird to breathe through the mouth. The 

 continual passing of air over the tongue causes it to become dry, hard, and 

 scaly, especially about the tip. The best remedy is to remove the cause, 

 also wet the tongue two or three times a day with a mixture of glycerin 

 and water, equal parts. 



Bumble foot. — This is caused by bruises on the bottom of the foot, and 

 is often due to the fowls having to fly from rather high perches and alight- 

 ing on hard and uneven surfaces. Remove the cause by lowering the 

 perches. If the foot is swollen and the swelling is filled with pus, it should 

 be lanced and the pus permitted to escape. The wound should then be 

 washed out with a 2 per cent carbolic-acid solution, greased with vaseline, 

 and wrapped with a piece of cloth. 



Cholera. — This is a contagious disease caused by bacteria, and is usu- 

 ally brought in by the introduction of infected birds or by water or feed 

 contaminated by the excrement of sick birds. It is also possible for fowls 

 to be infected through wounds or even by the inhalation of germs in the 

 form of dust. The symptoms include great thii-st and the voiding of 

 feces of which the part normally white is yellow. This is not a sure indi- 

 cation of the disease, for the same thing may occur as the result of other 

 disorders. Diarrhea is generally a prominent symptom, the droppings 

 being thin and voided frequently, and in the later stages the yellow por- 

 tion may change to green; the fowl becomes depressed, the feathers be- 

 come ruffled, the comb becomes pale or very dark, and the bird has a poor 

 appetite. Sometimes the disease runs rapidly through a flock, destroying 

 the greater part of the birds in a week, or it may assume a more chronic 

 form, extend slowly, and remain on the premises for several weeks or 

 months. Fowls affected with this disease usually die within thirty-six 

 hours. Most so-called cases of cholera are simply diarrhea. 



In most cases medical treatment for cholera has proved unsatisfactory. 

 The best method of combating this disease is to carry out strict sanitary 



