262 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



cold and moisture, but often ascribed to improper feeding, want 

 of cleanliness and exercise. 



The roup affects fowls of all ages, and is either acute or 

 chronic ; sometimes commencing suddenly, on exposure ; at 

 others, gradually, as the consequence of neglected colds, or 

 damp weather or lodging. Chronic roup has been known to 

 extend through two years. 



Symptoms. The most prominent symptoms of roup are 

 difficult and noisy breathing, gaping, terminating in a rat- 

 tling in the throat. The head swells and is feverish. The 

 eyes are swollen, and the eye-lids appear livid ; the sight 

 decays, and sometimes total blindness ensues. There are 

 discharges from the nostrils and the mouth, at first thin and 

 limpid, afterwards thick, purulent and fetid. In this stage, 

 which resembles the glanders in horses, the disease becomes 

 infectious. As secondary symptoms, it may be noticed that 

 the appetite fails, except for drink, the crop feels hard, and the 

 feathers are staring, ruffled, and without the gloss which 

 appears in health. The fowl mopes by itself, and seems to 

 suffer much pain. 



Remedy. When fowls are infected with roup, they ought 

 to be kept warm, and have plenty of water and scalded bran, 

 or other light food. When chronic, change of food and air 

 is advisable. The common remedies, such as salt dissolved 

 in water, are inefficacious. Richardson gives the following 

 formula : powdered gentian and ginger, each one part ; epsom 

 salts, one and a half part, and flour of sulphur, one half part, 

 to be made up with butter, and given every morning. 



But for roup and all putrid affections, I confidently prescribe 

 the following, and consider it the only true treatment. Take 

 finely pulverized, fresh-burnt charcoal, and new yeast, of each 

 three parts ; pulverized sulphur, two parts ; flour, one part ; 

 water, quantity sufficient ; mix well, and make into boluses of 



