POULTRT-CRAFT. 211 



Entire prevention of disease is not possible when any considerable stock of 

 poultry is kept ; nor is it continuously possible under any conditions. In a 

 small flock of fowls, healthy and well cared for, one, two or three seasons may 

 pass without a sick fowl, even though the rate of loss, as finally determined is 

 greater than in a large stock in which there are deaths every month in the 

 year. There are people who claim to breed poultry on quite an extensive 

 scale without losses from disease ; but such statements are not credited by per- 

 sons who have had experience in handling fowls in large numbers. 



312. Hints to Guide in the Diagnosis of the Ailments of Fowls. - 



The common diseases of poultry, their causes, symptoms and simplest remedies, 

 are given in the next paragraph. The hints given in this are to help the 

 reader to go as quickly as possible to the information he needs. Such hints 

 cannot be infallible, but will be found right in the great majority of cases. 



When a fowl sneezes, waters slightly at the nostrils and eyes, the face puffs 

 up any or all of these symptoms indicate a common cold. 



When it rattles in the throat, it has a cold with bronchitis. 



When it experiences great difficulty in breathing, it has, probably, pneumonia. 



When cankers form in the mouth and throat, it has diphtheria or diphthe- 

 ritic roup. 



When discharges from the nostrils are profuse and ill-smelling, it has 

 common roup, influenza. Looseness of the bowels accompanies many dis- 

 eases, and if there are symptoms indictating the presence of another disease 

 (not intestinal), that should be treated first. 



Looseness of the bowels, the feathers around the vent smeared and gummed 

 with the discharges, is diarrhoea. 



A bloody diarrhrea may be either dysentery or enteritis. 



Greenish discharges, turning to frothy white, are given as a symptom of 

 cholera; but greenish yellow, frothy white discharges frequently accompany 

 roup, and are often found under such conditions that it is impossible to 

 suppose cholera. 



A dark purplish comb and face, generally ruffled appearance, and brownish, 

 watery discharge, indicate congestion of the liver. 



Symptoms as above, but more pronounced, and with yellowish discharges, 

 indicate that the disease has developed into inflammation of the liver. 



Small hard lumps under the skin of the face, occur in roup. 



Ulcers about the head and face are generally chicken pox. 



A yellowish looking head and face, indicate general debility, ancemia, or 

 consumption. 



General listlessness without symptoms of specific disease, indicates 

 indigestion. 



Lameness is generally the result of an accident, or of rheumatism. 



Twisting of the head and neck is due to cramps, rheumatism, giddiness. 



Jerking of the head is due to pressure of blood on the brain, that is, to head- 

 ache. 



