588 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



given so that each would have from 5 to 20 drops at a time, ac- 

 cording to age. (Agr. Dep. F. B. 200.) 



Apoplexy. This is a disease of the brain caused by the rup- 

 ture of one of the blood vessels. The bird is attacked suddenly and 

 falls down, apparently dead or nearly so. The usual cause is too 

 high feeding, but it may also be due to some other provocation, 

 such as sudden fright, violent exertion, or straining in laying eggs. 

 Fowls are sometimes found dead on the nest or under the perches. 

 There is usually no previous warning, and so in most cases treat- 

 ment is impossible, as the bird usually dies almost immediately. 

 When, however, the sufferer is still alive pierce a vein on the under- 

 side of the wing and let it 'bleed freely. This will reduce the pres- 

 sure on the brain and often result in a cure. The bird should then 

 be kept on a limited diet for some time in order to reduce the sur- 

 plus fat. As preventive measures, regulate the diet and give plenty 

 of exercise. 



Vertigo. This is also a disease of the brain and may be re- 

 garded as a minor kind of apoplexy. The bird shows giddiness, 

 throwing its head upward, backward, or to one side. The gait is 

 uncertain and staggering, the sufferer often running around in 

 a circle. Sometimes the bird falls to the ground, fluttering and 

 making convulsive movements with the legs. The bird can often 

 be revived by holding its head under a stream of cold water. After 

 this keep the bird in a cool and shady place for some time and regu- 

 late the diet. 



Bronchitis. Bronchitis is a cold accompanied by a rattle in 

 the throat or by a cough, and may be caused by exposure to damp- 

 ness or cold temperature or by drafts of air. In the majority of 

 cases the removal of the cause and good care will result in a cure. 

 Inhalation of steam or vapor from boiling water has been found 

 beneficial. Giving a teaspoonful of equal parts of cider vinegar 

 and water has proven successful in some cases. 



Catarrh. Catarrh is a form of cold that is quite common 

 among fowls, and may be caused by dampness, drafts of air, or 

 exposure to cold. It is indicated by a watery discharge at the nos- 

 trils, which later becomes more viscid. Remove the cause, keep 

 the birds fairly warm, and give them plentj 7 of easily digested feed. 

 The injection of kerosene into the nostrils is also beneficial. This 

 may be done with a small syringe, a medicine dropper, or a small 

 oil can. If catarrh has become confirmed, the nostrils and throat 

 should be cleansed with hydrogen peroxide and equal parts of 

 water several times daily, and the nostrils greased with vaseline. 



Diphtheria. The marked symptom is the appearance of a 

 diseased growth in the throat and inside of the mouth, resembling 

 raised patches of whitish or pale-yellowish skin, which may invade 

 the entire throat and mouth, often also appearing like ulcers or 

 sores on the face, comb, and about the eyes. Make a swab of cotton 

 tied on the end of a stick and swab out the mouth with hydrogen 

 peroxide. Remove any of the growths that come away easily. 



