DISEASES OF POULTRY. 295 



in hottish water is of service. Under this regimen the bird 

 will soon recover, unless the attack has been long unper- 

 ceived and neglected. Cramp in very young chickens has 

 been dealt with in Chapter IV. 



Liver Disease presents many and various symptoms. 

 The chronic form much resembles consumption, being also 

 due to tuberculosis ; but there is seldom any cough, and 

 the failure of the appetite is the first and most marked 

 symptom, with moping and listlessness, and often shrunk 

 and dark comb. This is practically incurable; but when 

 cases occur the owner should consider whether his stock 

 is tainted, or if his* yard does not present such unsanitary 

 conditions particularly damp ground as need prompt 

 treatment ; or if he is using potatoes or maize. 



Without this constitutional taint, the liver may become 

 congested, or even inflamed. The symptoms are not very 

 defined, consisting mainly of evident distress and depression, 

 quick respiration, loss of appetite and weight, and often 

 bilious evacuations or dysentery. If there be a yellow look 

 about the face and lameness in one leg, the case is nearly 

 certain, but these symptoms are not at all universal. 

 Acidulate the water with nitric acid, and give at once half 

 a grain of calomel and half a grain of opium, with a second 

 dose of same next morning or evening. The bird should be 

 kept quiet and in darkness in a pen on some hay, and fed 

 very sparingly on bread and milk. If there should be 

 improvement soon after the second dose of calomel and 

 opium, follow with 10 grains tartrate of potash, morning 

 and evening for a few days, and recovery is probable. If 

 not, the case is probably hopeless. 



Nervous Debility is not uncommon in fowls much 

 exhibited. Many are barbarously overshown ; but far short 

 of this there may be much suffering, which is manifested 

 without any actual disease, much as in human beings. 



