HEALTH AND DISEASE OF POULTRY 593 



to the affected parts twice a day. The sores may also be bathed 

 with soap and water to loosen the crusts and subsequently sponged 

 with a solution of copper sulphate (one-half ounce to 1 quart of 

 water). When other treatments are unavailing, tincture of iodine 

 may be sparingly used. 



Egg-bound. Irritation of the oviduct, causing the membrane 

 to become dry and deficient in its normal lubrication, an abnor- 

 mally large egg, or a too fat condition of the hen may cause dif- 

 ficulty in expelling an egg from the body and produce the condi- 

 tion known as egg-bounoT If the egg remains in the oviduct for 

 a considerable length of time inflammation is produced, which 

 finally develops into decomposition of the tissues and results in 

 death. Fowls when egg-bound are restless, going frequently on 

 the nest, showing a desire to lay and, in general giving evidence of 

 being in distress. Later they become dull and listless, remaining 

 in this condition until death if not relieved. The egg can usually 

 be felt in the posterior portion of the abdomen. If the trouble is 

 early discovered, inject a small quantity of oil into the vent, and 

 gently try to work the egg out. If this treatment is unsuccessful, 

 hold the lower part of the body in warm water for half an hour, or 

 until the parts are relaxed; then treat as above. It may be neces- 

 sary to break the egg, allow the contents to escape, and remove the 

 shell in pieces. After removal of the egg give soft cooling feed. 



Occasionally difficulty in laying an egg causes prolapsus or 

 eversion of the oviduct. When this occurs the oviduct is partially 

 turned inside out and protrudes from the vent. If the egg causing 

 the trouble has not been expelled, remove it, wash the exposed por- 

 tion of the oviduct with warm water, apply carbolated vaseline or 

 lard, and return to its normal position by gentle pressure. In 

 addition it is well to give the fowl 3 to 5 drops of fluid extract of 

 ergot. 



Intestinal Worms. Worms are frequently present in the in- 

 testines and ceca of chickens, particularly young chicks, often caus- 

 ing considerable loss. Practically the only way to determine that 

 worms are present is to examine the ceca and intestines of dead 

 chicks. The worms are small and hairlike. Occasionally flat tape 

 worms are found, but these are not very common. Chicks infested 

 with worms go off feed and become thin and sickly looking. 



In combating worms care should be taken to keep clean the 

 soil over which the chicks run, and to move the runs each year or 

 two if possible. Cleanliness in the house must also be observed. 

 In treating affected birds, powdered areca nut (20 to 40 grains per 

 fowl), administered either in mash or mixed with butter and made 

 into pills, is an effective remedy. Powdered male fern (30 grains 

 to 1 dram), or oil of turpentine (1 to 3 teaspoon fuls), alone or di- 

 luted with an equal bulk of olive oil, is also very good. It is well 

 to follow any of these remedies with a dose of castor oil (1 to 3 

 teaspoon fuls). 



Limber Neck. This disease, as its name indicates, is charac- 

 terized by the limp condition of the neck, the fowl practically los- 



