70 



aiuuiij; all vaiiclics of barnyard I'owls. It is charader- 

 ized by the occasioual oceur-rpnte of tils which do not 

 terminate faljilly, disappear after a time and leave the 

 fowl in a normal condition. During the fit, the fowl 

 will make beating movements with its wings, its legs 

 will draw up and it will fall down, sometimes turn over 

 on its back, or it may stand upright with its legs apart, 

 head turned backwaid and the mouth and eyes open- 

 ing and closing spasmodically. Epilepsy is sometimes 

 caused by intestinal ])arasites, and is cured by the re- 

 moval of these ^orms. It is claimed that bromide of 

 potash given in quantities of a few grains each day in 

 the drinking water is of value in these cases, but it is 

 not probable that treatment will prove to be at all 

 profitable. 



3. FEATHER EATING. 



This habit is classed among the affections of the ner- 

 vous system because if it is not nervous disease it is 

 such an overpo\^enng habit that it can scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished from the disease. 



Where this habit is prevalent in a poultry yard, the 

 fowls present a most untidy appearance, the feathers 

 about the neck and upper part of the breast are 

 plucked out. and sometimes they are partially removed 

 from other parts of the body. If the flo-ck is watched 

 for a little while it will be noticed that the birds pluck 

 the feathers fr(»m each othei'. Tliis habit usuall.v 

 starts with one fowl and sjtrcads by foi-ce of examj)le 

 to Ihe others. 



