DISEASES OF POULTRY. 265 



blood itself is composed of a yellowish substance, called 

 serum, and a red-colored mass, or crassamentum. 



The blood of fowls is liable to several diseases, the chief of 

 which may be described as fever and inflammation. 



1. FEVER. 



The most decided sort of fever to which fowls are subjected 

 occurs at the period of hatching. At this time the animal 

 heat is so increased that it is perceptible to the touch. A 

 state of fever may also be observed when fowls are about to 

 lay. This is generally of small consequence when the birds 

 are otherwise healthy, but is of moment if any other disorder 

 is present, as in such case the original disorder will be aggra- 

 vated. Fighting frequently occasions fever also, and some- 

 times proves fatal. 



Symptoms. An increased circulation of the blood, excessive 

 heat, and restlessness. 



Remedy. Light food and change of air, arid, if necessary, 

 aperient medicine, such as castor-oil, with a little burnt butter. 

 " In a case of highly inflammatory fever in a chicken, supposed 

 to have been caused by sudden hot weather in May, so that it 

 burned the hand like hot water, a dose of nitre, in milk and 

 water, at night, produced so great a change that the chicken 

 was cool and brisk in the morning. The dose was repeated, 

 and brought on a cold fever fit, like ague, which, however, 

 changed to an intermittent, and the chicken completely recov- 

 ered." Dickson. Such symptoms are probably rare, at 

 least in this climate ! 



In the country, it is common to stop the hatching fever by 

 turning the hen rapidly round, in order to produce giddiness, 

 which effects a reduction in the velocity of the blood. The 

 fever produced by the excitement of fighting may be abated by 

 plunging the fowl in cold water. In this case, the patient 

 must be immediately dried and housed. 

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