HEALTH AND DISEASE OF POULTRY 599 



Clean the Water Supply. There are three methods of accom- 

 plishing this, each being so easy of application that it may be sub- 

 stituted with entire satisfaction for either of the other two. The 

 writer's usual prescription is to add to the drinking water perman- 

 ganate of potash in sufficient amount to give the water a claret-red 

 color. For ordinary waters, comparatively free from organic mate- 

 rial, the amount of the permanganate of potash necessary should 

 be as much as can be dipped up on a silver 10-cent piece for each 

 gallon of water. If more than four times this amount of potash 

 is required to color the water, it is well to assume that the water 

 contains too much organic matter to admit of satisfactory disinfec- 

 tion by permanganate of potash. 



In such a case the poulterer may employ the second method, 

 that of adding sulphate of iron, commonly known as copperas. 

 To 1 gallon of drinking water add 15 grains of copperas, which 

 is approximately the amount that can be dipped up on a 5-cent 

 piece. This proportion may be regarded as mildly antiseptic, but 

 is as strong as should be used for any long period in view of its 

 astringent action and drying effects on the lining of the digestive 

 tract. 



The third drug which has 'been found equally effective in the 

 cleansing of drinking water is pure carbolic acid, in the proportion 

 of one teaspoonful of carbolic acid to 1 gallon of water. The car- 

 bolic acid here recommended is of full strength. The poulterer 

 who keeps on hand the acid in crystals may prepare the drinking 

 water in the following manner: Place the unstoppered container 

 in a pan of water; heat gradually until the crystals are melted. 

 One teaspoonful of the melted crystals may then be added to a gal- 

 lon of drinking water. If one desires to keep on hand a stock solu- 

 tion of the strong carbolic acids he can purchase any desired 

 amount of liquefied phenol (phenol is the official name of carbolic 

 acid) and add 1 teaspoonful of liquefied phenol to 1 gallon of 

 drinking water. Or trie liquefied phenol can be prepared by the 

 poultryman himself by melting the crystals of carbolic acid as de- 

 scribed above and to every 9 parts by weight of the carbolic, acid 

 adding 1 part by weight of water. 



Clean Feed. Purchase clean feed at the outset, and preserve 

 in a clean, dry place protected from birds or other animals that 

 might contaminate it with infective droppings. If through acci- 

 dent mold has crept in, and it is necessary because of insurmountable 

 circumstances to feed this material, apply strong heat. 



Clean Eggs. Dip all eggs, just prior to incubation, in grain 

 alcohol. That is, without doubt, the simplest and quickest method 

 of disinfecting the shells of eggs intended for incubation. Vari- 

 ous dilutions, from 70 per cent alcohol to the 95 per cent usually 

 sold in the shops have been tried, and all are equally effective. 

 Another method of egg-shell disinfection, simple but not as quick 

 as the alcohol method, is to wipe all eggs just prior to placing them 

 in the egg tray with a cloth saturated with a 3 per cent solution of 

 compound solution of cresol (liquor cresolis compositus) or cresol 



