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Gapes in Fowls Is no new disease, but one with which every poultry 

 breeder and fancier should make himself as familiar with as " household 

 words ;" for all domestic birds are liable to it, more particularly all young- 

 fowls, if not properly guarded against. This disease is most destructive in 

 the excessively warm weather of July and August. It is caused by ill- 

 ventilated and unclean coops, together with the unwholesome, sour food and 

 putrid or impure water, too often given to young fowls ; more particularly 

 is this the case with young turkeys. It should be borne in mind, also, that 

 the " gapes " is an epidemic disease, and when it once make its appearance in 

 a flock of young fowls, those affected with it should at once be removed from 

 the coop ; for it is well understood that " an ounce of prevention is better 

 than a pound of cure." The gapes is said to be caused by a sort of internal 

 worm infesting the wind pipe ; in some instances it has been so observed, but 

 it is by no means a sure criterion with all the disorders accompanied with the 

 gaping of fowls. The general symptoms of the disease, and those most 

 noticeable, are the continual gaping, coughing, dullness, inactivity, loss of 

 appetite and sneezing of the fowls attacked. Mr. MOWBBAY, an eminent 

 English breeder, says the " disease first shows itself when the chicken or 

 turkey is between three and four months old, and not often after." On the 

 contrary, we have seen the disease in its worst form show itself in young 

 turkeys and chicks from four weeks to six months of age; therefore, there is 

 no more certainty of fowls being rid of the disease at four weeks old than 

 they are at six months old. There are several modes for the treatment of 

 turkeys for this disease ; the one which has proved the most successful in 

 cases which we have treated, is as follows : Take a small quill feather, 

 stripping the vane, except half an inch from the extremity, of the feathers ; 

 this should be dipped in spirits of turpentine, and the diseased turkey or 

 chicken, as the case may be, being held, the feather so prepared, is passed 

 down through the small opening of the wind-pipe, which is readily seen at 

 the base of the tongue, and giving it one or two turns, will generally bring 

 up and destroy the worms. The turpentine at once kills the worms, and its 

 application excites a fit of coughing, during which those that are not drawn 

 out by the feather are expelled by the coughing. After this process being 

 used, the young turkeys should be kept for several days in a dry coop, and 

 not be allowed to wander in damp, swampy places, or wet grass. Their feed 

 should be either cooked corn meal or cracked wheat, which is better, soaked 

 in turpentine, given every morning, and the remainder of the day they 

 should be fed with boiled whey or sour milk, well sprinkled with black 

 pepper ; they should also have plenty of clean, fresh water in the coop. 

 Crushed corn soaked in alum water is also said to be a good remedy for gapes. 

 BEMENT, in the American Poulterer's Companion, recommends shutting 

 up the turkeys or chickens in a box, with some shavings dipped in spirits of 

 turpentine, when the vapor arising from the extended surface, produces, in 

 most cases, a cure. He also recommends creosote, used in the same manner, 

 which will produce a like result. We know nothing of the efficacy of these 



