DISEASES OF POULTRY. 269 



II. MELANCHOLY AND MOPING. 



Under these terms, such symptoms as want of appetite, 

 drooping, and other effects of indigestion, are mentioned as 

 indicating a separate disease. It is reasonable, however, to refer 

 these characteristics to a disordered state of the nervous sys- 

 tem. Such remedies as have already been mentioned, for cos- 

 tiveness, &c., should be attended to ; and if any symptoms of 

 greater gravity appear, such treatment as belongs to nervous 

 affections will be indicated. 



V. DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 

 I. MOULTING. 



Moulting is a natural process of annual occurrence ; and, 

 though it can scarcely be called a disease, yet it is necessary to 

 treat it as if it were such, from the effects produced by it. It 

 not unfrequently happens that young fowls do not pass the sea- 

 son of moulting safely, but sicken and die. Chickens of the 

 latest broods are most liable to bad effects, because the season 

 of moulting comes to them so late, when the weather is most 

 unfavorable. The summer moult is usually gradual, but few 

 feathers falling at a time, and these being at once replaced. On 

 the contrary, when the moult happens in autumn, the feathers 

 fall faster, and are not so speedily replaced. The consequence 

 is, that the fowl is in a degree naked, and suffers from the 

 necessary exposure. 



It is the remark of Dr. Bechstein, that, in a state of nature, 

 moulting occurs to wild birds precisely when their food is most 

 plenty ; hence, nature points out that the fowl should, during 

 that period, be furnished with an extra supply of food. 



After the third year, it has been observed that fowls begin 

 to moult later every succeeding year, so that it is frequently as 

 late as January before the older fowls come into full feather ; 

 ' 23* 



