206 SECOND THOUSAND QUESTIONS IN AGRICULTURE 



Your fowls have been eating 1 the deadly night-shade Atropia 

 Belladonna a small plant with reddish, bell-shaped flowers, and shin- 

 ing black berries; it grows in just such places as you describe. The 

 flowers somewhat resemble the bloom of potato plants. 



The trouble may be avoided by either searching out and destroy- 

 ing the plants or by serving the fowls a proper supply of wholesome 

 green stuff. The fowls eat the poisonous plant only when other 

 greens are scarce. In the vicinity of San Francisco, Oakland, and 

 the adjacent foothills, the poultry keepers have frequent unpleasant 

 experiences with this plant. 



Blindness of Sitting Hen. 



One of our hens set for about two weeks and then went blind. She is 

 free from lice and was setting in a cool place free from draughts. Her eyes 

 are as clear as ever. 



Your hen's blindness is due to nervous trouble which is some- 

 times caused by change in blood pressure from long changes in 

 attitude. Give her nourishing food and wash the eyes and head daily 

 with a saturated boric acid solution. As to whether she recovers will 

 depend on how badly the nerves have been damaged and this will take 

 time. 



Fowls Die of Catarrh. 



My half-grown chickens have a watery discharge at the mouth and one 

 or both eyes seem closed; the chicken gets very thin, and dies in about ten 

 days. Is it called roup, and what is the cause of my trouble? How can I 

 cure them? 



The symptoms indicate that these fowls are suffering from catarrh 

 which is caused by dampness, draughts caused by cracks in roosting 

 house, unventilated houses causing sweating at night and chill through 

 exposure to cold, rain, or fog when leaving house in the morning, or 

 vermin. Fowls that have been underfed or supplied with a too starchy 

 ration are most liable to contract this ailment. It so nearly resembles 

 roup that it is usually mistaken for that disease. For treatment, bathe 

 or dip the head of the fowls twice daily in a solution of one-half 

 ounce boric acid in a pint of tepid water; and give coarse, moist mash 

 seasoned with ground ginger. A rich sticky mash should be avoided. 

 A disinfection of the house will also help greatly even though it may 

 be clean and free from vermin. 



Swell-Head Which Is Not Roup. 

 Is "swell-head" always roup? 



There are cases of swell-head which are not roup. "Swell-head" 

 proper is easily told from roup. The head gets very hot, the eyes 

 swell and close and the whole head feels soft and hot. This is some- 

 times from the bird being exposed to a draft of air and other causes. 

 A dose of cooling medicine such as epsom salts or sulphur and a little 



