POULTRY FOR PROFIT 171 



parently no other reason for their existence, yet even 

 these diseases will be found to attack the weaker 

 stock first. Chicken-pox, particularly, is very infec- 

 tious, and may be carried in coops or on the hands or 

 clothing, and the germs will remain year after year 

 in a house where it has been. When any contagious 

 disease is prevalent, the greatest care should be ob- 

 served to avoid carrying the disease in any way. 

 When any sick fowl has been treated, the hands 

 should always be thoroughly cleansed before other 

 fowls or feed troughs or water fountains are 

 handled. 



4. ACCIDENT. Such diseases as crop bound, rup- 

 ture of the ovary or egg tube, are in a way accidental, 

 and yet they may very often be traced in the final 

 analysis to a weakened constitution. 



Prevention is better than any sort of treatment, 

 but when disease does appear, promptness in dealing 

 with it may effect a cure, when delay means sure 

 death. 



SIGNS OF DISEASE 



The poultry keeper should train his eye to discern 

 any lapse from health on the part of a single one of 

 his fowls; the dark or pale comb, the lagging step, 

 the ruffled plumage, the "humped up" attitude, the 

 failure to be on hand at meal time, are all indications 

 that something is wrong. Now is the time to find out 

 what is the trouble. Don't wait till they are past 

 help. 



Diseases of fowls, like those of human beings, are 

 acute and chronic. The chronic disease comes on 

 slowly and gradually ; the only symptoms at first may 

 be the color of the comb or a disposition to stay on 

 the roost. Acute disease comes on more rapidly. 

 Sometimes the only symptom is a dumpiness or 

 drowsiness that increases till the fowl dies. 



