THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL, POULTRY BOOK. 103 



be mistaken for a sprinkling of meal or other white powder. It seems to be 

 of a scorbutic or leprous nature. The disease spreads itself down the neck 

 of the fowl, both in front and back, and takes off all the feathers as far as it 

 goes, leaving only the stumps. TEGETMEIER recommends stimulating, whole- 

 some food, say oatmeal and water, with a supply of green vegetables, and 

 the administration of some alterative medicine, as flour of sulphur, ten grains, 

 and calomel, one grain, given every other night ; and anoint the comb with 

 fresh lard. It can be successfully cured by using cocoa-nut oil, powdered 

 turmeric and sulphur, made into an ointment, and anointing the part affected 

 three or four times a day, and an occasional dose of six grains of jalap. The 

 proportions are about a quarter of an ounce turmeric powder to one ounce 

 of cocoa-nut oil, and a third of an ounce sulphur. 



Tonic for Poultry. Mr. MILLS, an apothecary of considerable note in 

 Bourges, France, in the Journal tf Agriculture Pratique, recommends the 

 following prescription one which he avers he has used successfully as an 

 invaluable tonic for debilitated birds, especially in the mortality which is apt 

 to prevail when " shooting the red." He says : " Take cassia bark in fine 

 powder, three parts; ginger, ten parts; gentian, one part; anise seed, one 

 part ; carbonate of iron, five parts. Mix thoroughly by sifting. A teaspoon- 

 ful of the powder should be mingled with the dough for twenty young tur- 

 keys each morning and evening. It is of the greatest importance to begin 

 the treatment a fortnight before the appearance of the red, and to continue 

 it two or three weeks after." 



Molting Fowls should have a few nails placed in the water furnished for 

 their use. The rust occasioned by nails renders fowls less liable to disease. 



Tansy is almost a certain preventive of lice upon setting hens. Gather 

 it green, and line the nest, at the time of setting the hens. 



FRACTURES OF THE BONES. 



In regard to this matter TEGETMEIER says, that " fractures of the bones 

 of the body are less likely to occur in birds than in other animals, inasmuch 

 as the framework is more completely united together, and is protected from 

 injury by the feathers. In cases where fracture of the ribs or other bones 

 may be suspected, there would be great difficulty in determining the nature 

 of the injury, and I do not think anything more could be done than keeping 

 the bird quiet until recovery. In cases of broken wings, the quill feathers 

 would prevent any recourse being had to the ordinary method of bandaging. 

 The plan I have pursued is, to tie, carefully, the ends of some of the quills 

 together in their natural position, with the wing closed ; this prevents motion 

 of the broken ends of the bones ; and by keeping the bird in an empty place, 

 where there are no perches for it to attempt to fly upon, every chance of 

 recovery is afforded. Fracture of the fleshy part of the leg would be less 

 manageable, and I can hardly recommend any bandaging that Avould be 



