OF THE f 



UNIVERSITY 



THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



sort of white ulcerous substance, and continues to form and spread over 

 the entire tongue and mouth, occasionally causing the fowl to cough, raise its 

 head, and open its mouth to breathe. The smell from it is very offensive, 

 and unless the bird is relieved it pines away and dies. The best cure for 

 this disease that we have heard of being used with any degree of success is 

 nitrate of silver and powdered borax. Remove the ulcers as much as 

 possible, and apply the nitrate of silver with a feather. Powdered borax 

 can be applied in the same manner by wetting the feather, dipping it in the 

 powder, and swal5bing the throat. A little chloride of potassium dissolved 

 in the water which is given the fowls to drink, may possibly avert the 

 disease say one-quarter ounce to a half gallon of water. 



Dust Baths. Fowls in confinement need a dust bath, i. 6., a box of mixed 

 ashes and earth to wallow in. An ordinary soap box will do, filled two- 

 thirds full of dry earth and wood or coal ashes. Wood ashes is preferable 

 when it can be obtained. There is no better preventive of lice than this ; 

 and the fowls enjoy it hugely. 



Dysentery in Fowls. Fowls attacked with this disease should be given 

 chalk, mixed with boiled rice and milk; a little alum dissolved in their water, 

 so as to make it a little rough, will be useful. The food should be dry grain ; 

 no food of a laxative tendency should be given them. 



Egg-Bound. To relieve a hen that is egg-bound, take a common tail 

 feather of the hen and strip it until near the tip, and then dip it in sweet 

 oil, and let it remain until it becomes thoroughly saturated, then pass the 

 feather up the egg-passage till it meets the egg, which you will find will 

 relieve the hen at once, and enable her to proceed with her duties ; if she 

 experience any further difficulty, repeat the operation, getting the feather 

 well filled with oil whenever you make an application. Do not attempt to 

 help nature, in the way of pressure, for in that case the egg may become 

 broken and prove fatal to the hen. After you have made the application, 

 as directed, let nature take its course, and all will be right. 



Enlargement of Liver and Gall. This frequently occurs in over-fed 

 fowls, or in consequence of feeding unnatural or over-stimulating food. For 

 a remedy, feed soft cooked food, so as to make as little call upon the di- 

 gestive organs as possible ; give a grain of calomel every other day for a few 

 days, and remove the bird to dry, warm quarters. 



Fowls Eating their Feathers. To prevent fowls eating their feathers 

 give them animal food, such as fresh meat, two or three times a week, burnt 

 bones, oyster shells, charcoal, together with good clean water and hennery. 

 If this does not produce the desired effect, wring their necks, for nothing 

 else will prove a cure. 



Frost-Bitten Combs. Frost-bitten combs can be cured by making a 

 thorough appplication of glycerine three times a day. 



