DOGS, CATS AND POULTRY 583 



As a last resort, if there is still failure, puncture the 

 egg, allowing the contents to come away and take the shell 

 away in pieces. To allay inflammation of the passage give 

 an injection after this of a little raw linseed or olive oil 

 containing a little of the white lotion. 



3. Soft Shelled Eggs. 



Causes. — The laying of soft shelled eggs is the result of 

 improper diet. 



Treatment. — Allow the hens more exercise if possible. 

 Feed more lime and vegetables. A few shovelfuls of old 

 plaster in a box where they can get to it easily is an excel- 

 lent thing for this defect. Sand is also good, as also are 

 oyster shells and grit, but old plaster is better still. 



4. Leg Weakness, Rheumatism. 



Causes. — Exposure to cold and dampness accompanied 

 by improper feeding is sometimes the cause. 



The principal cause of leg weakness, in most strain of 

 fowls, arises from inbreeding or breeding the same strain of 

 fowls for too long a period. It is also caused by overfeed- 

 ing, which increases the weight of the body out of propor- 

 tion to the muscular strength of the limbs and usually occurs 

 in the larger breeds. 



Symptoms. — The first symptoms is lameness, soon fol- 

 lowed by greater weakness of the legs, the fowl going but 

 a short distance and then sitting down. As the disease pro- 

 gresses the patient gets "off its feet" altogether. 



Treatment. — Do all possible to avoid exposure to cold and 

 dampness. Feed less food and no corn or other fat-forming 

 products. In the first stages, give : 



Sulphate of Iron Va pound. 



Sulphate of Lime Va pound. 



Mix and give the fowl about the size of two peas of the 

 mixture on its tongue twice a day. If, however, the bird is 

 unable to walk chances are against it. 



5. Egg Eating. 



This habit, when once formed, is hard to get rid of. 



Causes. — It may have its origin in having had access to 

 broken eggs. It more frequently, however, has its cause in 

 improper diet — insufficiency of animal food. 



