598 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



after the salt has been thoroughly mixed with it, should be suffici- 

 ently moistened with water to dissolve the salt. Let the mash be 

 carefully proportioned to the appetites of the birds and fed on a 

 dry, hard, clean floor, so that the whole may be eaten quickly. 

 Epsom salt should not be wasted by putting it in the drinking 

 water; the birds can not in that way take enough to secure the 

 desired results. 



The dose of Epsom salt may be estimated at one-third of a 

 teaspoonful to an adult bird. Extra large fowls might receive a 

 half teaspoonful, smaller or young birds less. One teaspoonful 

 for three fowls, or for six to eight half-grown chickens, or for 

 twelve to twenty chicks, according to age, size, and previous thrifti- 

 ness is usually prescribed. 



Immediately upon the appearance of disease in the flock, 

 without waiting to determine whether the sickness is infectious or 

 not, all birds, sick and well alike, should receive a dose of Epsom 

 salt by the method above outlined. If the disease proves to be in- 

 fectious, flock treatment with Epsom salt should be maintained 

 once a week during the prevalence of the epizootic. All sick birds, 

 which should be isolated at once from the well, may be given 

 Epsom salt from one to three times weekly, according to the na- 

 ture of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. 



The best method of administering Epsom salt (as well as other 

 fluid medicines), although practicable where only a few birds re- 

 quire treatment, is by means of a small funnel and a piece of rub- 

 ber tubing (three-sixteenths inch internal diameter). The funnel 

 is inserted into one end of the tubing, while the other end, lubri- 

 .cated with lard or vaseline, is passed into the mouth, back over 

 the opening of the windpipe at the base of the tongue, and down 

 through the gullet into the crop. One or two ounces of water in 

 which has been dissolved one-third teaspoonful of Epsom salt can 

 now be poured into the funnel and the tubing gently withdrawn. 

 Since Epsom salt acts best when well diluted, this method may be 

 considered ideal. If slender tubing is used and one is ordinarily 

 careful in passing the tubing over the opening of the windpipe 

 there is absolutely no danger attached to this method. Moreover, 

 there is the satisfaction of knowing that the entire dose has been 

 received by the bird. 



Clean Up. Do this by spreading powdered, air-slaked lime 

 over runs (and range, if possible), floors of houses, and on the drop- 

 pings boards. Emphasis must be laid on the two qualifications 

 here given to the lime; it must be powdered and it must be air- 

 slaked. Lime that is not powdered, even if the lumps be very 

 small, must be regarded with suspicion as not being slaked and 

 therefore more or less irritant. As soon as the birds begin to scratch 

 where the lime has been spread, thus raising a dust, the irritating 

 particles of the unslaked lime are inhaled, and, reaching the lungs, 

 set up inflammation. In this way one might have an outbreak of 

 pneumonia in his flock and be unable to explain its origin. 



