12 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



catarrh in the human species. The disease arises from exposure to uneven and un- 

 ■wholesome temperatures, especially as luaiutaincd iu the fowl-houses. Dampness here, 

 want of lii^ht and ventilation, draughts of air, &c., are fruitful causes of its api)ear- 

 ance and favorable to its perpetuatiou. The symptoms of an attack are, first, a thin, 

 clear, mucous discharge from one or both nostrils, sneezing, and froth in the corners of 

 the eyes. This froth can be seen to bubble when the fowl breathes. As the disease 

 progresses (which it will certainly do if neglected), the discharge becomes more pro- 

 fuse, and changes in color and consistency, becoming decidedly yellow and thick, and 

 eventually i)utrid — offensive to the sight and to the smell. The whole head becomes 

 involved; the parts swell and become iullamed; the eyes close, and the ])atient, con- 

 stantly falling olf in condition, becomes helpless and unable to supply its wants, and 

 finally dies. The disease may result fatally in two weeks, and may continue three 

 months. I have cured two obstinate cases ; in one of these, however, one eye was 

 entirely lost. I once checked the disease that had attacked at least twenty of my fowls 

 at one time by the timely use of vigorous sanitary measures alone — a thorough clean- 

 ing ; fumigating (for like cholera it is contagions) ; changing of feed, &c. ; .the use of 

 the Douglass mixture in the drinking-water, and a thorough cleansing of the parts 

 aifected in this disease — eyes, nostrils, mouth, and face — with " Lavrabaque's solu- 

 tion" of chlorinated soda (to be had of any druggist), diluted with an equal part of 

 tepid water, ai)plied with a small piece of sponge. In the instance referred to one 

 application sufficed. In cases more advanced two applications per day, morning and 

 evening, should be made until improvement follows. Warm water and vinegar, in 

 equal parts, are useful cleansing agents instead of the solution mentioned. I have no 

 confidence in the use of internal medicines in this or other diseases affecting poultry, 

 except the "tonic" before mentioned. Change in the fowls' living-quarters, extreme 

 cleanliness, disinfection and fumigation, are the general agencies that are to be em- 

 ployed in disease, so far as my observation goes. 



As to the " plague " alluded to in the beginning of my letter (that of lice), in the lan- 

 guage of a brother poultryman, " they are simply a disgrace," and perhaps after all, 

 ■when allowed through neglect to multiply ad libitum, become the greatest of all ob- 

 stacles in the waj' of successful poultry -raising. It may be set down as a rule that 

 fotvh are never thrifty when infested tvith lice. They are out of condition, and therefore 

 especially liable to any of the diseases which infect their species. Prevention in this, 

 as in the case of disease, is better than cure. Clean premises, dust-baths to wallow 

 in ; flowers of sulphur in the litter composing the nests ; saturation of roosting-poles, 

 or perches, with coal-oil ; fumigation ; application of hot whitewash to ail parts of the 

 fowl-houses, are effectual preventives of this scourge. 



If the vermin have already obtaibed a lodgment upon fowls and in henneries, the 

 same measures much more vigorously employed, in addition to those suggesting them- 

 selves as serviceable in improving the general condition of the flock, with the use of 

 flowers of sulphur (a tablespoouful to a quart), in all the soft feed giyen them for a 

 few days, will banish and destroy the nuisance. 



This pest, of which I have definite knowledge, is of two varieties; a large kind, a 

 sixteenth of an inch and over in length, quite in appearance like the genus that at- 

 tacks squalid and untidy children, not verj' numerous on a single fowl, but leaving old 

 fowls to prey upon young ones as fast as they appear. This kind is very damaging to 

 little chicks, usually fastening upon the poll, and around the vent, and under the wings. 

 Grease will kill them. 



The other variety is far more troublesome in a general way, by reason of their great 

 numbers, swarming in myriads iu the places occupied by the poultry, and in places 

 contiguous, literally overrunning the fowls, and almost deterring the keeper from en- 

 tering the premises devoted to them, for they will get upon one's hands and clothes and 

 are so iufiuitesimally small that they are with difficulty got rid of. This kind will 

 drive a setting hen from her nest, and cause all the fowls to dread their quarters. 

 They multiply to this extent through neglect. The remedy has been suggested. 



It may be remarked in concluding, that the care, management, and treatment of 

 fowls, in health and in disease, are essentially the same iu the case of the choice, pure 

 breeds in the yards of the *' fancier" and mongrels produced by any sort of cross be- 

 tween varieties that are found in numbers upon the fixrmer's premises. In either in- 

 stance, any measure adopted with a view to supplying the natural requirements of the 

 creatures will be the most eftectual means of improving their condition and enabling 

 them to ward off disease, which in most cases, in my opinion, results from neglect. 



George Y. Parry, V. S., Newtown, Bucks County, Pa., says ; 



Typhus or Texas fever and pluro pneumonia in cattle are the only diseases that 

 exist in this section of Pennsylvania that we have any trouble iu managing. The 

 usual diseases have prevailed for the past few years that are common to horses and 

 cattle, too numerous to write out a diagnosis. 



If anything can be done by Congress to wipe out the two first-named diseases, I 

 ■will he glad to assist in any way to accomplish it. 



